Southend United have brought Jack Sims back to Roots Hall, eleven years after the goalkeeper left the club’s youth setup for Blackpool.
The 27-year-old has signed a one-year deal with a club option for a second. Born in Southend-on-Sea, he spent six years coming through the Blues’ age groups before moving north as a scholar in 2015.
There is an obvious emotional pull to the move. Sims told the club’s official website that returning was extra special and that it felt like he was coming home.
More than a homecoming
The important part is what Sims brings back with him.
After a senior debut for Blackpool and a productive spell with Welling United, he helped Braintree Town win promotion through the National League South play-offs. Sutton United then took him to Gander Green Lane in 2024.
Sims made 82 appearances in all competitions during two seasons with Sutton. He finished 2024/25 as the club’s joint Player of the Season, and Southend’s announcement credits him with five clean sheets in his first seven league starts for the U’s before another six in 2025/26.
Shrimpers supporters have already seen some of his strengths at close range. When Sutton visited Roots Hall last December, Sims saved Harry Cardwell’s penalty and made further sharp stops. Gus Scott-Morriss forced in the rebound for the only goal, but the goalkeeper made Southend work for the win.
What the signing adds
The local connection gives this deal its warmth. The recent football gives it its substance.
Sims returns with promotion experience, two full seasons at National League level and a Player of the Season award on his record. Sutton praised his reflexes, reactions and penalty saving when confirming his departure, qualities that should sharpen the competition among Southend’s goalkeepers.
That does not make the shirt his automatically, and Southend have made no such promise. What Kieron Dyer now has is another senior goalkeeper with a body of work at this level and something personal invested in the move.
The homecoming is the headline. The seasons Sims has put together since leaving Southend are the reason it carries weight.