Sam Foley
 Foley playing for Newport County in 2012. | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Robert Foley | ||
| Date of birth | 17 October 1986 | ||
| Place of birth | St Albans, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Port Vale | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Cheltenham Town | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2008 | Cheltenham Town | 0 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Bath City (loan) | 6 | (2) |
| 2008–2009 | Kidderminster Harriers | 0 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Redditch United (loan) | 7 | (2) |
| 2009 | → Newport County (loan) | 14 | (4) |
| 2009–2012 | Newport County | 118 | (32) |
| 2012–2015 | Yeovil Town | 88 | (7) |
| 2014 | → Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 9 | (0) |
| 2015– | Port Vale | 58 | (6) |
| National team | |||
| Republic of Ireland U18 | |||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:00, 23 October 2016 (UTC). | |||
Samuel Robert "Sam" Foley (born 17 October 1986) is a professional footballer who plays for League One club Port Vale as a midfielder.
A former Republic of Ireland youth international, he began his career at Cheltenham Town, and though he played on loan at Bath City he left Cheltenham in 2008 without making a first team appearance. He then spent a year with Kidderminster Harriers, who in turn loaned him on to Redditch United and Newport County. He joined Newport in June 2009, and helped them to win the Conference South title in 2009–10 and to the 2012 FA Trophy Final. He returned to the Football League with Yeovil Town in July 2012, and played in the club's 2013 League One play-off Final victory that took them into the Championship. He lost his first team place in the 2013–14 season and joined Shrewsbury Town on loan, before winning Yeovil's Player of the Year award in the 2014–15 season as the club dropped into League Two. He joined Port Vale in June 2015.
Playing career
Early career
Foley graduated out of the Cheltenham Town youth team to win a two-year professional contract in 2006. However he spent much of time at Whaddon Road out injured with osteitis pubis and never made a first team appearance for the "Robins".[1] He spent part of the 2007–08 season on loan at Conference South Bath City, and scored two goals in seven appearances for the "Romans".
In August 2008 he signed a one-year contract with Kidderminster Harriers after impressing manager Mark Yates during a trial spell.[2] He was sent out on loan to Conference North side Redditch United in October 2008.[3] He scored two goals in seven games and "Reds" manager Gary Whild wanted an extended loan spell, but Foley was recalled to Kidderminster in December.[4] He went on to spend the second half of the 2008–09 season on loan at Conference South club Newport County, scoring four goals in 14 appearances. He left Aggborough without making a first team appearance for the Harriers after rejecting the offer of a new contract.[5]
Newport County
In June 2009, Foley was signed by Newport County manager Dean Holdsworth. Foley was immediately a regular in the team, filling all midfield and forward roles at various times but mostly played as a supporting striker alongside Craig Reid. In the 2009–10 season County were crowned Conference South champions with a record 103 points, 28 points ahead of second placed Dover Athletic.
He remained a key player in the 2010–11 season, scoring five goals in 44 games as Newport posted a ninth-place finish in the Conference Premier. Three of his goals came on 11 October, in a 4–1 win over Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium, in what was new manager Justin Edinburgh's first win at the club.[6]
On 12 May, Foley played at Wembley Stadium in the 2012 FA Trophy Final, which Newport lost 2–0 to York City.[7] He scored 12 goals in 49 appearances during the 2011–12 season and rejected the offer of a new contract at the end of the season.
Yeovil Town
Foley signed for League One side Yeovil Town on a one-year contract in July 2012.[8] On 14 August, Foley made his Yeovil debut in the League Cup in a 3–0 victory over Colchester United,[9] and scored his first competitive goal for the side on 4 September in a 3–0 Football League Trophy win at Bristol Rovers.[10] On 19 May, Foley played in the 2013 League One play-off Final as Yeovil beat Brentford 2–1 to secure promotion to the Championship.[11] In total he scored seven goals in 51 appearances in the 2012–13 campaign, mostly from left-wing.[12] He signed a new two-year contract in June 2013.[13]
He played just nine times in the 2013–14 season as the "Glovers" were relegated out of the Championship. On 7 March 2014, Foley joined League One side Shrewsbury Town on an initial one-month loan.[14] After making nine appearances for the "Shrews", Foley was recalled to Huish Park on 16 April.[15]
With Yeovil back in League One Foley was restored to the first team for the 2014–15 campaign and featured 45 times, mainly in central midfield, as the club suffered a second successive relegation.[12] Though the season was a poor one for the club Foley managed to find success on an individual level, winning the Western Gazette's Player of the Year award.[16] He rejected the offer of a new contract in the summer in favour of a move to remain in League One.[17]
Port Vale
In June 2015, Foley signed a two-year contract with League One side Port Vale.[17] He said his aim was to secure a regular first team place in central midfield.[18] He went on to score six goals in 50 appearances throughout the 2015–16 season, and was also the club's penalty-taker, converting two of four penalty kicks.[19] Manager Rob Page played him both in central midfield and on the left-side of midfield throughout the campaign, and told the media that Foley was "outstanding" in both roles.[20]
He remained a key player under new manager Bruno Ribeiro, and missed just two of the opening 15 league games of the 2016–17 season, before he was forced to undergo surgery on a long-standing ankle injury in October.[21]
Style of play
Foley can operate on the left or centre of midfield, and has good dribbling, passing and ball control skills.[20] He is an intelligent player with a good work rate, but lacks natural pace.[20]
Statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cheltenham Town | 2006–07[22] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007–08[23] | League One | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Bath City (loan) | 2007–08 | Conference South | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| Kidderminster Harriers | 2008–09 | Conference Premier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Redditch United (loan) | 2008–09 | Conference North | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| Newport County (loan) | 2008–09 | Conference South | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 4 | |
| Newport County | 2009–10 | Conference South | 38 | 17 | 2 | 0 | — | 4[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 44 | 17 | |
| 2010–11[24] | Conference Premier | 40 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | 3[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 44 | 5 | ||
| 2011–12[24][25] | Conference Premier | 40 | 10 | 2 | 1 | — | 7[lower-alpha 2] | 1 | 49 | 12 | ||
| Total | 132 | 36 | 5 | 1 | — | 14 | 1 | 151 | 38 | |||
| Yeovil Town | 2012–13[26] | League One | 41 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7[lower-alpha 3] | 2 | 51 | 7 |
| 2013–14[27] | Championship | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15[28] | League One | 40 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 45 | 2 | |
| Total | 88 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 105 | 9 | ||
| Shrewsbury Town (loan) | 2013–14[27] | League One | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Port Vale | 2015–16[29] | League One | 45 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 6 |
| 2016–17[30] | League One | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 6 | ||
| Career totals | 300 | 53 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 343 | 57 | ||
- ↑ Appearance in Somerset Premier Cup
- 1 2 3 Appearances in FA Trophy
- ↑ Four appearances and two goals in Football League Trophy, three in League One play-offs
- ↑ Appearance/s in EFL Trophy
Honours
Individual
- Yeovil Town F.C. Player of the Year (Western Gazette): 2014–15[16]
Newport County
- Conference South champion: 2009–10
- FA Trophy runner-up: 2012[7]
Yeovil Town
References
- ↑ "'Keep believing and an opportunity will come'". Gloucestershire Echo. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Harriers sign on four trialists". BBC Sport. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ↑ "Foley joins United on loan". The Shuttle. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Sam Foley's chance to impress at Harriers". Birmingham Mail. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Foley tipped for bright future". Express and Star. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Fleetwood 1-4 Newport". BBC Sport. 11 October 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- 1 2 Woodcock, Ian (12 May 2012). "FA Trophy: Newport County 0-2 York City". Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Yeovil Town sign Marsh-Brown, Foley and Hinds". BBC Sport. 29 May 2012.
- ↑ "Yeovil 3–0 Colchester". BBC Sport. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ↑ "Bristol Rovers 0–3 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- 1 2 "Brentford 1–2 Yeovil". BBC Sport. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
- 1 2 "New signing Sam Foley targets central midfield spot". The Sentinel. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Yeovil: Kevin Dawson & Sam Foley re-sign as Sam Hoskins arrives". BBC Sport. 26 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ↑ "Shrewsbury Town: Andy Morell and Yeovil's Sam Foley join". BBC Sport. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ↑ "Shrewsbury Town: Sam Foley recalled and Dave McAllister out". BBC Sport. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- 1 2 "Sam Foley wins Player of the Season award after impressive year with Yeovil Town". Western Gazette. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- 1 2 "Sam Foley: Port Vale sign Yeovil Town midfielder". BBC Sport. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ↑ "Port Vale: New signing Sam Foley targets central midfield spot". The Sentinel. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ Baggaley, Mike (17 October 2015). "Port Vale 1, Peterborough 1 report: Missed penalties cost Vale in dramatic draw". The Sentinel. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- 1 2 3 Baggaley, Mike (19 March 2016). "Port Vale v Burton: Super Sam Foley emerging as key Vale player". The Sentinel. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
- ↑ Sharpe, Rich (27 October 2016). "Port Vale midfielder Sam Foley set for extended spell on the sidelines". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ↑ "Games played by Sam Foley in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Sam Foley in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- 1 2 Sam Foley profile at Soccerway
- ↑ "Games played by Sam Foley in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Sam Foley in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- 1 2 "Games played by Sam Foley in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Sam Foley in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Sam Foley in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ↑ "Games played by Sam Foley in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
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