Ainge, 30, was originally a defender and was successfully converted into a striker at Harrogate.
He started his career at Bradford City, playing for them in League One and League Two, before moving briefly to Bradford Park Avenue at the start of season 2009/10.
He then moved to Guiseley AFC and helped them win promotion from the Northern Premier League to the Conference North and stayed with them until the 2012/13 season, making 134 appearances.
He moved to Luton Town in 2012/13, making 27 appearances, and then on to FC Halifax Town (64 appearances), before going back to Bradford PA halfway through the 2014/15 campaign.
He moved to Harrogate at the start of the 2016/17 season, and it was in January 2017 when he was converted to a striker, scoring 23 goals in the remainder of that season - he scored 4 in his first game as a striker against Alfreton Town - earning several awards.
He scored 13 goals in 15 games in the 2017/18 season, but then he was injured, lost his place to the in-coming Mark Beck and in turn was loaned out to Wrexham for the rest of the season.
Darlington manager Tommy Wright told his club`s official; website: “Simon has plenty of experience at this level and above, and he will form a very good partnership with Reece Styche in our forward line, this is a great signing for Darlington Football Club and demonstrates the ambition that the chairman, directors and supporters’ group currently have and I’m thankful for the fans boost the budget scheme which helped secure the deal”. |