Alan joined RHAC when he was 14 years old. He lived in Rotherham, and still does but was born in Coventry. His first breakthrough came when he won a Sheffield & district cross country in 1957. Alan did travel to Sheffield to train with another athlete & coach – Peter Keeling. His best events were cross country and the half mile – where he ran for RHAC. He won the RH junior 880 yds event at the 1959 club track & field championships	Alan winning the Whirlow park Sheffield &District XC,1957
His first international success came in 1961 when he finished second (behind Colin Robinson of GB) in a junior cross country event	During the early 1960’s he continued to improve his times at both 1500m and one mile, and represented England and GB in both track and cross country, where he ran against Gammoudi of France – arguably one of the best distance runners in the world at that time.
On the track Alan caused some surprises and upsets, beating the then world’s fastest 1500 meters runner in Warsaw. This was certainly not expected, since Alan was only in the race to replace Ken Wood – a fellow Yorkshire athlete. As can be seen, Alan ran in his RHAC vest.	Alan won the 1963 AAA’s mile race – beating his training partner Peter Keeling.
He went on to win the 1963 World games 1500m race. The finishing photo shows two Simpson trademarks; absolute, total effort and winning by a very narrow margin.	Another photo taken at Helsinki in July 1964 (link) shows Alan again displaying those trademarks, this time beating team mate John Whetton in the process.
As the 1964 Olympic’s approached, Alan ran 3:39.1 for 1500m, just weeks before the Tokyo games. This was the 6^th fastest time in the world and anew UK record, and did put some pressure on Alan, with the British press stating that he could beat the favourite for the 1500m title – Peter Snell. It is interesting to look back now, when our athletes are mainly full time and supported or sponsored, to when Alan was preparing for his Olympic effort - going out training from work in the steel industry during his lunch break. In the event Alan finished fourth – just out of the medals, in what the American magazine Track & Field called “the greatest ever race for second place”. The race was won by Peter Snell in 3:38.1, 2^nd place went to the Czech Odlozil in 3:39.6, in 3^rd place was John Davies of New Zealand with the same time. Alan’s time was 3:39.7. Alan later said that he had put in too much effort trying to go with the pace set by Peter Snell, having to then run very wide to get back into contention. He felt sure that if he had sat in and let Snell go he could have got a silver medal. The following link shows the race finish http://www.sporting-heroes.net/athletics-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=2751 Alan’s efforts to get a medal caused him to collapse onto the track, and he had to be helped up by John Whetton, who had finished 8^th

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In 1965 – which Alan considered to be his best year – he set an indoor world best time for 5000m; 13:58.4. It is interesting to note that he was persuaded ( by Bruce Tulloh – the then leading UK 5000m runner) to concentrate on the mile and 1500!

This he did, going on to set a new UK mile record of 3:56.6. He further improved the record to 3:55.3 later in the same year. Alan was coached by Ian Ward at this time.

In 1966 Alan finished second in the Commonwealth Games mile race, running 3:57.1.

The race was won by the legendary Kip Keino, in 3:55.3. Alan considers Keino to be the best mile racer he ran against.

In that year Alan also finished fourth in the European 1500m championships

After 1966 Alan lost the drive and determination to compete internationally.

He did continue to run – and still does.

Alan also coached Angela Creamer, and guided her to her own Olympic appearance.

Alan held the UK record for 1500m for 5 years , and the UK mile record for 7 years.

Personal Bests

880 yds; 1:49.1

1500m; 3:39.1

Mile; 3:55.7

3000m 8:06.6

2m; 8:41.6

3m; 13:30.4

5000m 13:58.4