Lewis Simmons, from Premier League dream to Basque Amaranth

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, but for those with courage, discipline and the will to fight, even an interrupted dream can turn into a new beginning. This is the case with Lewis Simmonsformer footballer of the Preston North End, English Serie B team, which today wears the uniform of the British Army Parachute Regiment.

A broken dream, but not the will

Lewis started playing football as a child, and considered a very talented youngster, entering the Preston academy at the age of eight, signing his first contract at 16. For two seasons he gave everything to earn a professional first-team place, but at the end of the road, in 2019, the long-awaited confirmation did not come.

After a short period in non-professional football, which was useful to keep his form up and look for new opportunities, came the Covid, which complicated things and led to the suspension of the championships. It was at that moment that Simmons decided to take a new path: enrolling in the army.

From the playing field to the training ground

Attracted by the toughest physical and mental challenges, Lewis chose to test himself with one of the most selective units: the Parachute Regiment.

Ironically, it is assigned to the legendary 2nd Battalion (2 PARA), the unit that first entered Port Stanley on 14 June 1982, in the famous image with amaranth berets instead of helmets and British flags in the wind, returning the Falkland Islands to Britain at the end of the bitter conflict against Argentina.

"I went to Estonia for cold weather survival training. It was -22 degrees: absurdly cold. I was there for five weeks. I was also in North Macedonia for an airborne exercise, working with armed forces from other countries. These are training missions, to keep yourself ready for a possible real deployment."

Immediately in operation in Afghanistan

After weeks of intensive training, he found himself immediately operational. In June 2021, he was sent to Afghanistan as part of theOperation Pittingto evacuate British personnel during the Taliban takeover.

"We were there to evacuate British personnel as the Taliban took control. I was in Afghanistan for 14 days, practically straight out of training - it was all new to me, I was a bit like a rabbit in the headlights, but it was an important moment in my life. I was the youngest and least experienced in the unit, but surrounded by extraordinary men. Despite the initial fear, I found strength in my comrades. We were a team, a family."

Football has never abandoned him

Despite the radical change of life, Lewis never stopped loving football. Within the army he found new opportunities to continue playing at a high level.

"In the British Army, football is much more developed than one can imagine. There are teams for each unit and an official team representing the entire British Army. There are players who, like me, come from professional or semi-professional backgrounds."

Today Lewis is a regular starter in the 2 PARA football team, which plays in the league Army FA Midlands League.

The sports structure of the British Army is strikingly similar to that of football clubs: physiotherapists, nutritionists, sports kit provided free of charge, and a high-level competitive environment.

A new life, but with the same passion

Today, Lewis Simmons is a Paratrooper, proud to belong to one of the UK's most prestigious units. But he is also an example to all those young people who, seeing a dream fade away, believe that all is lost. His story shows that, with resilience and determination, every ending can become an exciting new beginning.

Curiously, on the renowned international website TransferMarkt, Lewis is still classified as 'released'.. But have no illusions: Lewis has already found his team.

Condoralex

Born Alessandro Generotti, C.le Maj. Parachutist on leave. Military Parachutist Patent no. 192806. 186th RGT Par. Folgore/5th BTG. Par. El Alamein/XIII Cp. Par. Condor.
Founder and administrator of the website BRIGATAFOLGORE.NET. Blogger and computer scientist by profession.