Sam Russell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Ian 'Sam' Russell (born 4 October 1982) is an English
footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Darlington
.
and signed as a professional on 7 July 2000 for his hometown team
. He had a successful loan spell at Gateshead
during the tail end of the 2001–02 season, followed by a brief period at Darlington
on loan in 2002 after Mick Tait
brought him in during a keeping crisis. He played in only one game, a 1–1 draw against Torquay United
.
In August 2003 he was sent to Scunthorpe United
on loan where he stayed for three months and made 10 appearances. He finally left Middlesbrough in the summer of 2004, moving to Darlington
on a permanent basis. He never appeared in Middlesbrough's first team.
in August 2004. With the retirement of goalkeeping legend Andy Collett
, the club only had two goalkeepers on their books in Michael Price and youth team player Jack Norton. Russell was a target for Hodgson after he heard that Middlesbrough were releasing the youngster. Initially it was thought Russell would be number two to Price, but performances during pre-season meant that Russell got the nod. Assistant manager Mark Proctor
said that both Price and Russell were of virtual equal quality but Russsell's distribution was slightly better.
In the opening game of the 2004–05
season Russell made his mark with a superb performance which earned him the man of the match. His superb saves kept Darlington in the game and meant Darlington hung on to an opening day victory. He was an ever-present in the first team in the 2004–05 season, and signed a new two-year contract in July 2005.
He seemed to have established himself as the number one until just before the start of the 2007–08
season when they brought in keeper Andy Oakes
. With David Stockdale
also in the squad, Russell was unable to get a game and he left the club in June 2007 after three years in which he made 107 league appearances.
, making his first start for the club in the Football League Trophy
second round tie against Bury
in October 2007. Following an injury to regular keeper James Spencer, Russell was next called upon in the FA Cup
defeat at Southend United
. He retained his place in the side and in December 2007, signed a contract until the end of the season having been on non-contract terms. He broke a finger in the 2-1 defeat at Lincoln City
in February 2008 and was expected to be out of action until April.
In the 2008–09 season Russell was handed the number one shirt for Rochdale. He had made some important saves for Rochdale that season, however he made the occasional mistake, such as scoring an own goal in the Rochdale and Bury
derby, and slipping in a late equaliser by Jamie Ward
against Chesterfield
despite a Tom Kennedy
late winner. In February he was replaced by Blackburn loanee Frank Fielding
after James Spencer was loaned out to Chester City
.
side Wrexham after impressing on trial.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
.
Middlesbrough
Russell was born in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
and signed as a professional on 7 July 2000 for his hometown team
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
. He had a successful loan spell at Gateshead
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
during the tail end of the 2001–02 season, followed by a brief period at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on loan in 2002 after Mick Tait
Mick Tait
Michael 'Mick' Tait was an English footballer and later a manager at the end of his playing career. His 760 league games puts him 13th in the list of English footballers. His clubs were Oxford United, Carlisle United, Hull City, Portsmouth, Reading, Darlington and Hartlepool United as well as...
brought him in during a keeping crisis. He played in only one game, a 1–1 draw against Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
.
In August 2003 he was sent to Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
on loan where he stayed for three months and made 10 appearances. He finally left Middlesbrough in the summer of 2004, moving to Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on a permanent basis. He never appeared in Middlesbrough's first team.
Darlington
He was brought to Darlington by David HodgsonDavid Hodgson (footballer)
David James Hodgson , is an English former footballer who played for Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Norwich City, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, as well as lower division clubs and teams in France, Japan, and Spain....
in August 2004. With the retirement of goalkeeping legend Andy Collett
Andy Collett
Andrew "Andy" Collett is a retired English professional goalkeeper. He is currently the goalkeeping coach at Oldham Athletic, following manager Dave Penney from Darlington....
, the club only had two goalkeepers on their books in Michael Price and youth team player Jack Norton. Russell was a target for Hodgson after he heard that Middlesbrough were releasing the youngster. Initially it was thought Russell would be number two to Price, but performances during pre-season meant that Russell got the nod. Assistant manager Mark Proctor
Mark Proctor (footballer)
Mark Proctor is an English former footballer and former football manager. He is currently first team coach of Middlesbrough.-Playing career:...
said that both Price and Russell were of virtual equal quality but Russsell's distribution was slightly better.
In the opening game of the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season Russell made his mark with a superb performance which earned him the man of the match. His superb saves kept Darlington in the game and meant Darlington hung on to an opening day victory. He was an ever-present in the first team in the 2004–05 season, and signed a new two-year contract in July 2005.
He seemed to have established himself as the number one until just before the start of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season when they brought in keeper Andy Oakes
Andy Oakes (footballer)
Andrew Mark 'Andy' Oakes is an English former football goalkeeper. His uncle is the legendary Manchester City midfielder Alan Oakes...
. With David Stockdale
David Stockdale
David Adam Stockdale is an English footballer who plays for Ipswich Town as a goalkeeper, on loan from Fulham.Stockdale started his career with the Huddersfield Town youth system before joining York City's youth system in 2000, where he became a trainee in 2002. He made his first team debut on the...
also in the squad, Russell was unable to get a game and he left the club in June 2007 after three years in which he made 107 league appearances.
Rochdale
In July 2007 he signed for RochdaleRochdale A.F.C.
Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921...
, making his first start for the club in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
second round tie against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in October 2007. Following an injury to regular keeper James Spencer, Russell was next called upon in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
defeat at Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. He retained his place in the side and in December 2007, signed a contract until the end of the season having been on non-contract terms. He broke a finger in the 2-1 defeat at Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
in February 2008 and was expected to be out of action until April.
In the 2008–09 season Russell was handed the number one shirt for Rochdale. He had made some important saves for Rochdale that season, however he made the occasional mistake, such as scoring an own goal in the Rochdale and Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
derby, and slipping in a late equaliser by Jamie Ward
Jamie Ward
Jamie John Ward is an English-born Northern Irish international professional footballer, who plays as a midfielder or forward for Derby County...
against Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
despite a Tom Kennedy
Tom Kennedy (footballer)
Thomas Gordon Kennedy is an English footballer who plays for Peterborough United on loan from Leicester City. Kennedy has had previous spells at Bury and Rochdale. He mostly plays at left-back.-Career:...
late winner. In February he was replaced by Blackburn loanee Frank Fielding
Frank Fielding
Francis David "Frank" Fielding is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Derby County.-Club career:Born in Blackburn Lancashire, Fielding is a product of Blackburn Rovers Academy. He joined League Two side Wycombe Wanderers on 28 September 2007 on a three-month loan deal alongside...
after James Spencer was loaned out to Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
.
Wrexham
After being released by Rochdale at the end of the season, Russell signed for Conference NationalConference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
side Wrexham after impressing on trial.