Originally a defender, Simon Ainge was converted into an attacker during the 2016/17 season, while playing for Harrogate Town.
He started his career at Bradford City, playing for them 18 times in League One and League Two, before moving briefly to Bradford Park Avenue at the start of season 2009-10.
He then moved to Guiseley, and helped them win promotion from the Northern Premier League to Conference North (as was) and stayed with them until season 2012-13, making 134 appearances.
He moved to Luton Town in season 2012-13 , making 27 appearances, and then on to FC Halifax Town (64 appearances), before going back to Bradford PA halfway through the 2014-15 season.
He moved to Harrogate Town at the start of the 2016-17 season, and it was in January 2017 when he was converted to a striker, scoring 23 goals in the remainder of that season – he scored four in his first game as a striker against Alfreton -- and earned several awards. He scored 13 goals in 15 games in the 2017-18 season, but then he was injured and lost his place to the incoming Mark Beck.
He scored his first goal for Darlington in the home game against Curzon Ashton in August 2018
