John Sims, a well-known lower division striker who scored 86 times in a 345-game Football League career, enjoyed two spells with Exeter City. He first arrived from Notts County in the late 1970s before leaving for Plymouth Argyle where he made almost exactly half of his professional appearances. Returning to St James’ Park from Torquay United he later headed back to Plainmoor to conclude his playing career and briefly take charge of the team. In total he made nearly sixty league appearances for the Grecians.   

John started his career with Derby County turning professional in August 1970 and making three appearances together with loan periods with Luton Town, Oxford United and Colchester United. Moving to Notts County in December 1975 for a fee of £10,000, he scored 13 goals in 61 league matches for his new club before joining Exeter City in December 1978 for a fee of £12,000. 

Making a goalscoring debut against Walsall on Boxing Day 1978, John scored eleven league goals in 25 starts during the second-half of the season to finish as joint-highest scorer with Keith Bowker. Adding one goal from eight league appearances at the start of 1979/80, John soon followed former manager Bobby Saxton to Plymouth Argyle in a £22,500 transfer in October 1979. 

Quickly establishing himself at Home Park, John made 183 appearances and scored 48 goals whilst being voted Player of the Season in 1982. Eventually leaving the club to sign for Torquay United in August 1983, he scored eight league goals during his time at Plainmoor before returning to Exeter City in February 1984.  

Appearing firstly against Newport County on 25 February 1984, John appeared in fourteen games during the remainder of the season and netted on three occasions. Then as history strangely repeated itself, he featured in 11 of the first 15 league games in 1984/85 (scoring three times) before moving to Torquay United in November 1984.

Appointed player-coach at Plainmoor, John became manager when David Webb left the club although his spell in charge was to last just 33 days with just one win and one draw in eight matches. Later returning to playing with Saltash United, he subsequently turned out for Waldon Athletic in Torquay before running the Post Horn in the South Devon town.