Rick Simons

Attacking Midfielder (R) - Excelsior U18
13 Jun 2027
Sunday
Process

Marked for Rick Simons

2 Edition

The Excelsior Gazette

10 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

Irakli Yegoian signs on for more

“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Irakli Yegoian and Excelsior agree another 4 years.

Squad

Tempers go at Excelsior

Szymon Włodarczyk was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Boardroom

Graduation day at Excelsior

4 boys move up, and somewhere in the building the people who coached them at twelve are quietly having the best morning of their working year. Nothing about this shows up in a result and it is why the academy exists.

Market

One of our own: Nathan Stengs joins the Excelsior first team

Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Nathan Stengs is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.

Market

Excelsior promote Jordy Van de Beek from within

The academy exists for exactly this morning. Jordy Van de Beek has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.

Market

Marco Brobbey steps up from the Excelsior academy

There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Marco Brobbey has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.

In brief