Sidcup born Sam started out with the Long Lane youth system but came through the ranks at Cray Wanderers emerging from the very successful reserves side and made his Wands first team debut in 2003. Sam was a key part of the side which won back to back Kent League titles in 2002-03/2003-04 and in the latter season also won the Kent Senior Trophy and helped Cray to the last 8 of the FA Vase. The Wands reached the playoffs in their first season in the Isthmian League Division One in 2004-05 and scored the goal of the season in the 2-0 win against AFC Wimbledon at Hayes Lane in December 2004. At the end of the season Sam moved on to Cray Wanderers landlords Bromley and helped them to promotion from the Isthmian Premier in 2006-07.
Sam third left front row – Kent League Champions 2003-04 – Back row – John De Palma, Paul Foley, Robert Browning, Danny Evans, John Mayall, Micky Simmons, David Gray, James Taylor, Richard Dimmock, Danny Whelan, Ian Rawlings, John Allwright – Front row: Andy Silk, Jamie Wood, Sam Wood, Adam Heaslewood, Joe Francis, Gary Hillman, Ian Jenkins, Jamie Kempster, Ross Lover, Matt Woolf, Ricky Bennett
Sam’s performances attracted the interest of Brentford in the Football League and in 2008 joined the Bees and helped them to promotion from League 2 in 2008-09 making 126 appearances. In 2011-12 he spent a year on loan at Rotherham United and then in 2012 joined Wycombe Wanderers spending 5 seasons with the Buckinghamshire club making 213 appearances.
Sam was released in 2017 and returned to non-league football with Eastleigh in 2017-18 and then back to Bromley up to 2020 and then on to Dover Athletic in the National League. Sam’s career turned full circle when he re-signed for Cray Wanderers on 1st February and made his first appearance since 2005 at Potters Bar Town. We welcome Sam back to Cray Wanderers and one we can say is one of our own.
