Gard Simenstad (born 12 April 1999) is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a wing back or midfielder for Hamkam.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 April 1999 | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hamkam | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Vind | ||
| 2015–2016 | Gjøvik-Lyn | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Gjøvik-Lyn | 64 | (14) |
| 2019–2023 | Raufoss | 86 | (9) |
| 2024– | Hamkam | 24 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 November 2024 | |||
He started his youth career in Vind IL and then SK Gjøvik-Lyn. For the latter team he started his senior career, but experienced relegation from the 2016 2. divisjon.[1] In the summer of 2017, during a russ trip to Kos, he experienced the 2017 Aegean Sea earthquake.[2] After the 2018 season he started training with First Division club Raufoss IL. His older brother Stian already played for that team.[3]
Simenstad progressed from played a third of Raufoss' league games in 2019, to half of their league games in 2020.[4] He then lost the entire 2021 season due to long-term injury. He made a comeback in March 2022, in the cup game against Strømsgodset, where he also scored.[5][6]
With Simenstad being a mainstay in the Raufoss team in 2022 and 2023, his contract was due to expire and he was followed by a number of teams, choosing to sign for Eliteserien club Hamkam.[7][8] At Hamkam, Simenstad made a breakthrough and especially became known as one of Eliteserien's most proficient free kick takers. On 8 May he scored from about 25 metres against Vålerenga in the cup.[9] The NRK commentators Tete Lidbom and Carl-Erik Torp said, respectively: "It's David Beckham against Greece for England!" and "Give the man his own documentary film!".[10] On 20 May he scored the winning goal against reigning champions Bodø/Glimt, and on 1 June he scored against Brann.[11][12] Comparisons to Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Ward Prowse were drawn as well.[13]
References
edit- ^ Gard Simenstad at the Norwegian Football Federation (in Norwegian)
- ^ Hagen, Trond Ivan (21 July 2017). "Guttegjeng fra Gjøvik: – Følte vi var i livsfare" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "En ny Simenstad på laget" (in Norwegian). Raufoss IL. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Gard Simenstad at Soccerway
- ^ "Drømmescoringen som betyr mye for Gard (22) etter et langt skademareritt". Oppland Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 12 March 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Blystad, Arve Hovelstuen (19 May 2024). "Fra frustrasjon til pur glede: – Jeg var en liten tur nedom kjelleren". Oppland Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Hagen, Fredrik (22 December 2023). "Bekrefter møte med flere klubber: – En lærerik prosess". Oppland Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "HamKam hentet vingback fra Raufoss" (in Norwegian). TV 2. NTB. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Tveito, Sjur (8 May 2024). "Vålerenga til kvartfinale i cupen etter straffedrama". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Hansen, Jonathan Simchai; et al. (8 May 2024). "Dommer innrømmer kjempetabbe: Annullerte scoring for hands fra spiller på feil lag" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Hagen, Knut-Øyvind; et al. (20 May 2024). "HamKam med sjokkseier over Bodø/Glimt" (in Norwegian). NRK. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ "Raste mot norske dommere etter surt tap: – De dømmer for topplagene, de er feige". Hamar Arbeiderblad (in Norwegian). 1 June 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
- ^ Hovland, Tobias; et al. (21 May 2024). "Får ros: – Trent Alexander-Arnold på steroider" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 6 November 2024.