The number 23 is now up and running in her fourth season as a Moneys player, and with two PDFA trophies to her name so far, Simmonds is looking to help Karl Watson’s side achieve the ultimate goal at the end of the season

Simmonds joined in the summer of 2022 from Selsey Women FC, and his since become an integral part of Watson’s playing squad.

So far this season, Simmonds has made ten appearances, with seven of those being starts, racking up a total of 687 minutes and scoring one goal.

Speaking on her time at Moneyfields, Gemma said: “I was telling Karl the other day, this is the longest I have been at a club. I have really enjoyed my time here, and it is really good to play with the group of girls that we have now.”

In the summer, Watson bolstered the midfield with the addition of first-team captain Ali Hall from AFC Bournemouth, as well as the versatile Dream Surin from WSL2 side Southampton, who can also play in the middle of the park.

On the competition for places, Simmo believes: “It’s good to have that competition, it definitely makes us all up our game, and ultimately a better team all round. Ali has added really well with her leadership, and Dream has added some real quality and wants to learn and get better every day.”

Last Sunday, Moneys progressed to the quarter finals of the FA WNL Plate after they defeated Maidenhead United 5-3 on penalties.

Simmonds went on to play a grueling full 90 minutes as well as two 15-minute halves of extra time at York Road.

On last Sunday’s cup win, Gemma believes: “It was difficult, they made it really hard for us to play football, and fair play to them, they had a game plan and it worked.

But we managed to be clinical when it mattered most, and I feel we can go far in the competition too. We want to win every game, whether it’s cup or league.”

However, Moneys’ focus now lies on the remainder of the month left, with two fixtures agaisnt the other fellow teams in the top three of the division.

First up is Bristol Rovers, who sit 3rd and were originally above Moneys, but Moneys managed to leapfrog Rovers after they lost to top of the table Swindon Town a few weeks ago.

On Sunday and the next few weeks, Simmo stated: “We know how vital these next two games are; they are both so important for our season, and we have to make sure we do everything right to get the results we want.

“We know how difficult it is going to be”

But I believe we have the group of players and the coaching staff to help us get through it, pick up as many points as we can.”