Sammy Clingan
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sammy" Clingan is a Northern Irish
international footballer
who is currently the club captain of Coventry City
.
. He was captain of the Wolves reserves in 2003–04, but never broke into the first team – although twice being an unused substitute during their Premier League campaign of that year – and was loaned out to Chesterfield
on two occasions to gain experience. Between October 2004 and January 2006, he played 29 times for the Spireites and scored three goals – quickly becoming a fans' favourite.
confirmed their interest in him. The original deal fell through because of the existing loan deal with Chesterfield, but when his loan period ended on 15 January, Forest made a second bid. Despite the player's wish to remain at Chesterfield, the club were unable to match the offer, and Clingan joined Forest on the 23rd for an undisclosed fee, making his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Barnsley
.
Clingan had been a regular in the Forest side in 2006–07 but sustained a broken ankle during a 5–1 victory over in early March 2007, sidelining him for the rest of the season. He returned fit for the next campaign and got his first goal for the Reds after 22 months and 59 games, with a 22-yard free-kick in a 2–0 win over Crewe
on 24 November 2007. The season ended with Forest gaining automatic promotion to the Championship
.
Clingan was offered a new deal by the club at the end of the season, which he rejected. He was attracting interest from Championship rivals QPR
, Ipswich
and Norwich
.
when his Forest contract expired, consequently signing a two-year deal, becoming Glenn Roeder
's first summer signing. During the 2008–09 season, Clingan became the club's established penalty
taker, scoring all four spot-kicks he took. His other goals were an impressive free-kick in a 1–1 draw away to Birmingham City
and a similar effort in the final day 4–2 defeat to Charlton Athletic
which sealed the club's relegation to League One
. Since Norwich were relegated, Clingan had been linked with a move to Championship
side Coventry City
.
, Clingan signed for Coventry City
on 24 July 2009, signing a 3 year deal for an undisclosed fee. He was happy to move to a Championship club. In the summer between the 2010/11 season and 2011/12 due to the departures of Keiren Westwood, Marlon King and Lee Carsley, Sammy Clingan was announced as club captain.
at Under 17, Under 19 and Under 21 levels. He gained six Under 21 caps and captained the side. He made his senior debut at the Giants Stadium
in New York
against Uruguay
during Northern Ireland's two-game tour of the USA in May 2006.
His first competitive senior cap came in the 3–0 home defeat by Iceland
on 2 September 2006, in the first match of the Euro 2008 qualifying
campaign, and he has remained a fixture in the side since then, missing only two matches in the campaign through injury. His free kick set up David Healy
's second goal in the 3–2 home victory over Spain
on 6 September 2006, and he was named man of the match by the BBC commentary team in the 2–1 home victory over Denmark
on 17 November 2007.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
international footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who is currently the club captain of Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
.
Early career
Clingan began his career in August 2001 as a youth trainee at Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. He was captain of the Wolves reserves in 2003–04, but never broke into the first team – although twice being an unused substitute during their Premier League campaign of that year – and was loaned out to 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...
on two occasions to gain experience. Between October 2004 and January 2006, he played 29 times for the Spireites and scored three goals – quickly becoming a fans' favourite.
Nottingham Forest
In early 2006, Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
confirmed their interest in him. The original deal fell through because of the existing loan deal with Chesterfield, but when his loan period ended on 15 January, Forest made a second bid. Despite the player's wish to remain at Chesterfield, the club were unable to match the offer, and Clingan joined Forest on the 23rd for an undisclosed fee, making his debut in a 2–0 defeat to Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
.
Clingan had been a regular in the Forest side in 2006–07 but sustained a broken ankle during a 5–1 victory over in early March 2007, sidelining him for the rest of the season. He returned fit for the next campaign and got his first goal for the Reds after 22 months and 59 games, with a 22-yard free-kick in a 2–0 win over Crewe
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
on 24 November 2007. The season ended with Forest gaining automatic promotion to the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
Clingan was offered a new deal by the club at the end of the season, which he rejected. He was attracting interest from Championship rivals QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, Ipswich
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
and Norwich
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
Norwich City
On 17 June 2008 he agreed to join Norwich CityNorwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
when his Forest contract expired, consequently signing a two-year deal, becoming Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
's first summer signing. During the 2008–09 season, Clingan became the club's established penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
taker, scoring all four spot-kicks he took. His other goals were an impressive free-kick in a 1–1 draw away to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and a similar effort in the final day 4–2 defeat to Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
which sealed the club's relegation to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. Since Norwich were relegated, Clingan had been linked with a move to Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
side Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
.
Coventry City
After a protracted transfer saga in the summer transfer windowTransfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, Clingan signed for Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 24 July 2009, signing a 3 year deal for an undisclosed fee. He was happy to move to a Championship club. In the summer between the 2010/11 season and 2011/12 due to the departures of Keiren Westwood, Marlon King and Lee Carsley, Sammy Clingan was announced as club captain.
International career
Clingan has represented Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
at Under 17, Under 19 and Under 21 levels. He gained six Under 21 caps and captained the side. He made his senior debut at the Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
against Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
during Northern Ireland's two-game tour of the USA in May 2006.
His first competitive senior cap came in the 3–0 home defeat by Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
on 2 September 2006, in the first match of the Euro 2008 qualifying
2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying
This page describes the qualifying procedure for the UEFA Euro 2008.- Seedings :Qualification coefficients were used to rank the teams according to their results in both UEFA Euro 2004 and FIFA World Cup 2006 qualifying stages. Only the group matches, and not any additional playoffs, counted...
campaign, and he has remained a fixture in the side since then, missing only two matches in the campaign through injury. His free kick set up David Healy
David Healy (footballer)
David Jonathan Healy, MBE is a Northern Ireland international footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premier League champions Rangers...
's second goal in the 3–2 home victory over Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
on 6 September 2006, and he was named man of the match by the BBC commentary team in the 2–1 home victory over Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
on 17 November 2007.
Honours
- League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
runner-up with Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest F.C.Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, 2008The Football League 2007-08The Football League is contested through three divisions in England and Wales. The divisions are the League Championship, League One and League Two. The winner and the runner up of the League Championship will be automatically promoted to the Premier League and they will be joined by the winner of...
(Promotion)