Last Saturday night, when D.C. United took on the New England Revolution, Clyde Simms was in the house. Battling Kidney Disease, the talented midfielder had to retire from Major League Soccer to focus on his health. With the help of the National Kidney Foundation, Simms aims to spread awareness about the disease, while hopefully awaiting a donor.
Along with New England, D.C. United wants to help spread the word. Starting on Saturday, Simms' efforts via a PSA were launched and support from #OurFriendClyde started to pour in.
In Saturday's Matchday Program, we featured a timeline of Clyde Simms' career, along with quotes from former teammates and coaches. Below are the wonderful words his friends had to say, along with tweets and pictures from Saturday.
Bruce Arena- USMNT Coach
My association with Clyde Simms goes back to 2005 when I first saw him play. At the onset, I admired his character and ability on the field and thought he would be a great addition to MLS and D.C. United. Over the course of his career, Clyde has been revered for his ability, work ethic and impact on the community everywhere he has played. He is an outstanding young man and I wish him all the best.
Kurt Morsink: D.C. United teammate
Clyde was an extremely hard worker on the field, and a great guy off the field. He was a good, calm personality to have in the locker room. He was a role model and beloved here in D.C. by the fans and the community. Clyde was admired throughout MLS for always being willing to help his teammates and those less fortunate in the community. He was just a great guy to be around as a person and a teammate.
Devin O’Neill: ECU head coach from 1999 to 2002
“Clyde is one of the hardest working players that I have had the pleasure of coaching. We used to joke at ECU that if we designed fitness to push Clyde we would kill the rest of the team. Sometimes in games, it would seem that he ran enough for 3 players. His engine was unreal! I was always impressed with Clyde’s calm demeanor, his composure and his desire to improve. He worked as hard at developing himself in the off season as anyone with whom I worked. He was a great example to his teammates and an inspiration.”
Michael Benn: ECU head coach from 2003 to 2005
We could tell from the moment we started recruiting Clyde that there was something special about him. He always made everything look so effortless while he put his stamp on every game. His work rate was unmatched and he was always a great teammate. He is the best player I have had the privilege to coach but more importantly he is also one of the best people I've ever met. I'm proud to say that I coached him and that he is a friend.
Santino Quaranta- D.C. United teammate
The thing I would say about Clyde is his presence and laugh were contagious in the locker room. More importantly, he was a guy I knew would battle for 90 minutes with me no matter what.
Chris Pontius: D.C. United teammate
Clyde was one of those guys that people just flocked to. He took me under his wing when I arrived in DC and help me get settled in. He made sure to go out of his way for other players because he wanted the team to succeed. His play on the field spoke for itself. Clyde was a tireless worker and was a great asset to the DC community on and off the field. He was great player, but an even better person.
Ben Olsen: D.C. United teammate, Coach
Clyde was a fantastic teammate and valuable unsung piece to the black and red for many years. I wish him nothing but the best.
Dave Kasper: D.C. United General Manager
Clyde was a team leader in minutes played for several years. He was a winner and true team player who helped bring silverware to the club, and we appreciate his service to the club. We wish Clyde the best of luck.
Darrius Barnes: New England Revolution teammate
Clyde is the definition of a true professional. Throughout his brief time here in New England he became a close friend of mine and a brother figure. Through his experiences, he was able to offer insightful advice on and off the pitch to everyone in the locker room. His genuine personality is something that was contagious in the locker room and he had a positive effect on each one of his teammates.
Kevin Alston: New England Revolution teammate
Clyde is a genuine stand up person. I knew him through friends when he was with DC and was very happy when he joined New England. Clyde was the standard when it came to being a true professional, in early out late and doing everything possible to get better and succeed and it showed on the field. Clyde was one of my best friends on the team and was someone I could talk to and lean on.
Leigh Cowlishaw: Richmond Kickers Coach
We first noticed Clyde when he played against the Kickers as an amateur in the US Open Cup. He was the best player on the field that day and we followed his progress with interest. We signed him the following season and he didn't disappoint. Clyde was smooth in possession, an excellent striker of the ball from distance and the consummate team player. We were fortunate to have Clyde play for our club.
