U21 NEWS

Everton Under-18s Boss On Why Simms Has Flourished In Loan Spell

Everton Under-18s boss Paul Tait believes Ellis Simms’ successful loan spell at Blackpool highlights the progression of his all-round centre-forward play, as the talented youngster prepares for Sunday’s League One play-off final at Wembley.

Simms joined the Seasiders on loan from Everton in January and has gone on to hit 10 goals in 23 league and play-off appearances for Neil Critchley’s side.

His most important Blackpool goals to date came in their play-off semi-final first-leg win at Oxford United when the 20-year-old struck a clinical brace on the way to a convincing 3-0 victory. A 3-3 draw in the return game at Bloomfield Road set up a Wembley final against Lincoln City.

Having joined Everton from Manchester City aged 16, Simms flourished under Tait’s tutelage and scored a remarkable 46 goals for the Blues' Under-18 side in 2018/19.

Simms then made the step up to David Unsworth's Under-23s, becoming the team's top scorer in 2020/21 before moving to the Seasiders in January.

Tait says he has maintained regular contact with Simms during his time at Blackpool and outlined the key benefits the youngster will gain from performing regularly at senior level.

“What Ellis has had to do is grow up quickly,” Tait told evertonfc.com.

“He’s a powerful lad and when he was bigger and stronger than the other lads in Under-18s football, he could out-strength them, but that doesn’t happen automatically now.

“He has to find a way to showcase other parts of his game like his technique and his reading of the game.

“One thing Ellis has always done is score goals. His anticipation skills in the box are very good.

“But the biggest thing he’ll take from this loan spell is the mentality. To play Tuesday and Saturday every week in League One can be gruelling.

“He’s been in and out of the team, too. He hasn’t played every game, as Neil has rotated his forwards at times. That’ll be really good for him, developing that mentality you need to be a seasoned professional.

“And it will be amazing for him to play in those big play-off matches.”


Tait added: “I’ve been in contact with Ellis. I send him texts, little bits just to help and mostly to encourage him, when he’s scored a goal or played well and not scored.

“We’ve followed him and he’s shown himself to be a proven goalscorer in that division.”

Tait worked with Simms for two years before he moved up to Unsworth’s Under-23s side ahead of the 2019/20 season.

He believes Simms’ impressive transition to senior football is testament to the striker’s work-ethic and determination to develop his game.

“I’m delighted he’s doing so well as I loved working with Ellis,” Tait said.

“We took a bit of a chance, taking him from Manchester City at 16.

"We saw something in him that we could help develop. He certainly did that and had a phenomenal second season with us when he scored almost 50 goals.

“We always say to the boys about using every day to try to improve – and Ellis really grasped that, working on different parts of his game to make himself better.

“He’s done great at Blackpool and met that challenge head on.

“He’s just got to keep working hard and I'm sure he will do.”