Sam Russell (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Sam Russell
fullname = Samuel Ian Russell
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|10|4|df=y
cityofbirth = Middlesbrough
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=6|in=0
currentclub = Rochdale
clubnumber = 21
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2000–2004
2002–2003
2003
2004–2007
2007–
clubs = Middlesbrough
→ Darlington (loan)
→ Scunthorpe (loan)
Darlington
Rochdale
caps(goals) = 000 (0)
001 (0)
010 (0)
107 (0)
015 (0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
pcupdate = 13:05, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate =

Samuel Ian Russell (born 4 October 1982) is an English footballer, who plays as a goalkeeper for Rochdale.

Career

Middlesbrough

Russell was born in Middlesbrough and signed as a professional on 7 July 2000 for local club Middlesbrough. He had a brief spell 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 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.

Darlington

He was brought to Darlington by David Hodgson 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 Michael 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 2004–2005 season, [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Hodgson unsure on Russell future| work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-06-17 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/4104022.stm| accessdate =2008-03-14 ] and signed a new two-year contract in July 2005. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Darlington secure three signings | work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2005-07-15 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/4687549.stm| accessdate =2008-03-14 ]

He seemed to have established himself as the number one at the Quakers, 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. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Darlington sign defender Austin | work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-06-26 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/6242598.stm | accessdate =2008-03-14 ]

Rochdale

In July 2007 he signed for Rochdale, making his first start for the club in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2nd round tie against Bury in October 2007.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Sam Russell | work =Soccerbase | publisher =Racing Post | date = | url =http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=28571 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-03-15] Following an injury to regular custodian James Spencer, Russell was next called upon in the FA cup defeat at Southend United. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Rochdale rocked by Spencer injury | work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-11-09 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/7087795.stm| accessdate =2008-03-15] 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. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Russell rewarded with Dale deal | work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2007-12-31 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/7166310.stm | accessdate =2008-03-14 ] He broke a finger in the in the 2-1 defeat at Lincoln City in February 2008 and was expected to be out of action until April. [cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title =Rochdale suffer goalkeeping blow | work = | pages = | language = | publisher =BBC Sport | date =2008-02-22 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rochdale/7258465.stm | accessdate =2008-03-15]

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=28571|name=Sam Russell
* [http://www.rochdaleafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10441~7160,00.html Profile at Rochdale AFC website]