Sam Stockley

Samuel Joshua Stockley (born 5 September 1977) is an English former footballer. A veteran of the English third and fourth tiers, he made 457 appearances in a fourteen-year career in the English Football League.

Sam Stockley

Stockley at Ferencvárosi TC in July 2010.
Personal information
Full name	Samuel Joshua Stockley[1]
Date of birth	(1977-09-05) 5 September 1977
Place of birth	Tiverton, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Playing position(s)	Right-back
Youth career
1994–1996	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–2001	Barnet	182	(2)
2001–2002	Oxford United	41	(0)
2002	→ Colchester United (loan)	10	(1)
2002–2006	Colchester United	130	(2)
2006	→ Blackpool (loan)	7	(0)
2006–2008	Wycombe Wanderers	56	(1)
2008–2009	Port Vale	31	(0)
2010–2011	Ferencvárosi TC	17	(0)
2010–2011	Ferencvárosi TC II	1	(0)
2011	Telford United	0	(0)
2011	Droylsden	1	(0)
2011	F.C. New York	16	(0)
2012–2013	Carolina RailHawks	17	(0)
Total		509	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

A youth player at Southampton, he made his name at Barnet in the late 1990s. A short time at Oxford United was followed with a four-year spell with Colchester United between 2002 and 2006. After helping Colchester to win promotion out of League One in 2005–06, he then spent two seasons with Wycombe Wanderers, before signing with Port Vale in May 2008. He announced his retirement as a professional player in November 2009. However he returned to the game in 2010 with Hungarian side Ferencvárosi TC, before becoming a non-league player in England with Droylsden via Telford United in 2011. He spent 2011 at American club F.C. New York, before joining Carolina RailHawks a year later.

Playing career

Barnet

Stockley began his career as a trainee at Southampton but was unable to break into the first team. He moved to Third Division outfit Barnet during the 1996–97 season, making his debut under Terry Bullivant in a 3–0 defeat by Swansea City at Vetch Field on 14 January. He played a further 20 league games that season, before making a total of 49 appearances in league and cup in 1997–98. He continued to be an almost constant presence at Underhill under John Still in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, making 45 and 39 appearances respectively, and scoring his first league goal in a 3–1 win over Hull City at Boothferry Park on 24 April 2000. He played 52 games for new boss Tony Cottee in 2000–01, scoring his second senior goal on 19 August in a 3–3 home draw with Mansfield Town. He was also named as the club's Player of the Year for 2001, and also picked up the club's 'Most Improved Player' award.[3] Having played 209 games for the "Bees", he was sold on to Oxford United for a fee of £150,000 in July 2001 after becoming dissatisfied with his wages at Barnet.[4]

Oxford to Colchester United

He played 44 games for Oxford under Mark Wright and Ian Atkins in 2001–02 as the "Yellows" struggled to retain their Football League status. He was loaned out to Second Division Colchester United at the start of the 2002–03 season, then managed by Steve Whitton,[5] before moving permanently on a free transfer in October 2002.[6] He scored his third ever goal on 29 October, in a 1–1 draw with Barnsley at Layer Road,[7] and finished the campaign with 35 appearances to his name. He signed a new contract for Phil Parkinson's side after he missed just two of United's 60 matches in the 2003–04 season.[8] He played 44 games in 2004–05, scoring on the opening day of the season with a "stunning strike" from 25 yards in a 3–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in League One.[9] He played 34 games for the "U's" in the promotion season of 2005–06, scoring his fifth career goal from 25 yards in a 3–1 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall on 29 August.[10] He joined Blackpool on loan in March 2006, featuring seven times for Simon Grayson's "Seasiders".

Wycombe Wanderers

After his release from Colchester following 171 appearances for the club,[11] Stockley moved to Paul Lambert's Wycombe Wanderers of League Two in July 2006.[12] He spent the 2006–07 season as the club's regular right-back, but also filled in as centre-back and sweeper during tactical changes. He played a total of 42 times, scoring his sixth and final league goal at London Road in a 3–3 draw with Peterborough United on 31 March.[13] He lost his place at right-back to Russell Martin in the 2007–08 season, but was used as a left-back on many occasions, featuring 23 times throughout the campaign. In February 2008, he had a trial with American club FC Dallas.[14]

Port Vale

Stockley left Wycombe and signed for Port Vale in May 2008,[15] signing a two-year deal. He was appointed as captain in July of that year by manager Lee Sinnott.[16] By mid-season Stockley found himself regularly on the Vale bench under new boss Dean Glover, but said "I think that Port Vale haven't seen the best of me yet, but I believe they will because I'm really happy here".[17] He managed to battle his way back into the first team and win back his captaincy (from Marc Richards) during the latter part of the 2008–09 season.[18] Stockley admitted that at times in the season he had considered retirement, but after winning back his first team spot he said he was enjoying his football.[19]

He renegotiated his contract in August 2009 in order to gain more first team football in the 2009–10 season; a clause that entitled Stockley to a 12-month contract extension after fifty games was removed.[20] He started the season fighting with new signing Adam Yates for a regular place, but was transfer-listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat.[21] After twelve appearances in the campaign, the defender shocked Vale fans by announcing his retirement in November 2009, at the age of 32. He took the decision to retire on medical advice, having suffered an eye injury.[22]

"This has undoubtedly been the most difficult decision in my career and it's not one I've taken lightly. I've had 16 years in professional football and have some fantastic memories, but it's important I put my health and my family first. My eyesight is something which has been troubling me and, unfortunately, I've had to make the decision to stop playing... I've had sixteen fantastic years playing at a professional level, playing for great managers, great clubs in front of some fantastic supporters and it has been fantastic... I get caught up with it, and have always said to the lads, when I finish football I want to walk away and I want people to say, you know, he was a real good lad, a real nice lad, he worked hard, he trained hard, he played hard and he was an okay player, and that is all I ever wanted."

— Stockley reflects upon his career.[23][24]

Later career

In January 2010 he came out of retirement to sign with Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC in a coaching capacity, then managed by Craig Short.[25] He played 15 Nemzeti Bajnokság I (top flight) games in 2009–10, also featuring four times in 2010–11 under László Prukner.

In January 2011, he joined Conference North club Telford United.[26] However, without making a single first team appearance for the "Bucks", Stockley signed for league rivals Droylsden the following month – to the frustration of Telford manager Andy Sinton.[27] Later in the year he travelled to the US to sign with F.C. New York of the newly formed USL Pro (third tier). They fared poorly in 2011, not reaching the play-offs having finished fifth in the six team division. Professional football did not return to the Belson Stadium in 2012, as the club did not enter a league competition.[28] In April 2012, Stockley signed for the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League for the 2012 season.[29]

Personal life

Stockley has completed his coaching badges at 'C' level with the intention to go into management.[30] He studied broadcast journalism at Staffordshire University during his time at Port Vale, hoping to pursue a career in the media upon his retirement as a player,[22] specifically as a pitch-side reporter.[31] During his time at Wycombe Wanderers he also had his own column in the club programme.[32]

"I'm doing a degree in sports journalism, that's something which really interests me, I don't mind talking a little bit and to talk about football, or any sport, just really interests me and it was an opportunity I wanted to take."

— Stockley aiming for a career in journalism, in November 2009.[33]

Statistics

Club	Season	Division	League		National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Barnet	1996–97[34]	Third Division	21	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	21	0
	1997–98[35]	Third Division	41	0	1	0	4	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	47	0
	1998–99[36]	Third Division	41	0	1	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	45	0
	1999–00[37]	Third Division	34	1	0	0	2	0	3[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]	0	39	1
	2000–01[38]	Third Division	45	1	2	0	2	0	3[lower-alpha 1]	0	52	1
	Total		182	2	4	0	10	0	8	0	204	2
Oxford United	2001–02[39]	Third Division	41	0	1	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	44	0
Colchester United	2002–03[40]	Second Division	33	1	1	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	35	1
	2003–04[41]	Second Division	44	0	6	0	2	0	6[lower-alpha 1]	0	58	0
	2004–05[42]	League One	37	1	5	0	2	0	0	0	44	1
	2005–06[43]	League One	26	1	3	0	1	0	4[lower-alpha 1]	0	34	1
	Total		140	3	15	0	5	0	11	0	171	3
Blackpool (loan)	2005–06[43]	League One	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
Wycombe Wanderers	2006–07[44]	League Two	34	1	2	0	4	0	2[lower-alpha 1]	0	42	1
	2007–08[45]	League Two	22	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	23	0
	Total		56	1	3	0	4	0	2	0	65	1
Port Vale	2008–09[46]	League Two	22	0	1	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	25	0
	2009–10[47]	League Two	9	0	0	0	2	0	1[lower-alpha 1]	0	12	0
	Total		31	0	1	0	3	0	2	0	37	0
Ferencvárosi TC	2009–10[48][49]	NB I	15	0	–	–	1	0	0	0	16	0
	2010–11[48][49]	NB I	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
	Total		17	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	20	0
Ferencvárosi TC II	2010–11[48][49]	NB II	1	0	–	–	–	–	0	0	1	0
Telford United	2010–11	Conference North	0	0	0	0	–	–	0	0	0	0
Droylsden	2010–11	Conference North	1	0	0	0	–	–	0	0	1	0
F.C. New York	2011	USL Pro	16	0	–	–	–	–	0	0	16	0
Carolina RailHawks	2012	NASL	13	0	–	–	–	–	0	0	13	0
	2013	NASL	4	0	–	–	–	–	0	0	4	0
	Total		17	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
Career total			509	6	25	0	25	0	24	0	583	6

1. Appearance/s in the EFL Trophy.
2. Appearance/s in the play-offs.

Honours

Individual

• Barnet F.C. Player of the Year: 2001[3]

Colchester United

• League One runner-up: 2005–06[50]

References

1. "Player Registrations" (PDF). thefa.com. November 2009. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
2. "FootballSquads - Port Vale - 2009/10". www.footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
3. "Barnet Football Club Supporters Association". www.onlybarnet.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
4. "Oxford sign Barnet defender". BBC Sport. 11 July 2001. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
5. "Stockley to stay with U's". BBC Sport. 26 September 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
6. "Stockley signs for U's". BBC Sport. 31 October 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
7. "Colchester vs Barnsley". cu-fc.com. 29 October 2002. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
8. "Colchester pair pen deals". BBC Sport. 12 May 2004. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
9. "Sheffield Wed vs Colchester". cu-fc.com. 7 August 2004. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
10. "Southend vs Colchester". cu-fc.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
11. "Parkinson allows quartet to leave". BBC Sport. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
12. "Stockley completes Wycombe switch". BBC Sport. 17 July 2006. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
13. "Peterborough vs Wycombe". theposh.com. 31 March 2007. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
14. "Stockley in MLS trial with Dallas". BBC Sport. 6 February 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
15. "I'm here for promotion - Stockley". BBC Sport. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
16. "Stockley named new Vale captain". BBC Sport. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
17. "More to come from me - Stockley". BBC. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
18. "Stockley aims to take Vale chance". BBC Sport. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
19. Shaw, Steve (7 April 2009). "Port Vale: Stockley back on track after difficult time on sidelines". The Sentinel. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
20. "Stockley changes Port Vale deal". BBC Sport. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
21. "Adams puts Vale squad up for sale". BBC Sport. 27 September 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
22. "Defender Stockley set to retire". BBC Sport. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
23. "Stockley hangs up his boots". The Sentinel. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
24. "Sam says his goodbyes". port-vale.co.uk. 2 November 2009. Archived from the original on 5 November 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
25. "Sam Stockley and Anthony Elding set for Hungarian move". BBC Sport. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
26. "AFC Telford sign former Port Vale captain Sam Stockley". BBC Sport. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
27. "Sam Stockley set to leave AFC Telford to join Droylsden". BBC Sport. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
28. "USL PRO 2012 Schedule Released". uslpro.uslsoccer.com. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 15 January 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
29. "Three new additions to the Carolina RailHawks". ABC News. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
30. "Stockley plans managerial career". BBC Sport. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
31. Shaw, Steve (3 November 2009). "Port Vale: Stockley has write stuff for new career". The Sentinel. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
32. "Sam Stockley is an experienced full-back who joined the Blues in the summer of 2006 after a long association with Colchester United". wycombewanderers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
33. Burton, Chris (2 November 2009). "From full-back to hack". Sky Sports. Retrieved 3 November 2009.
34. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
35. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
36. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
37. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
38. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
39. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
40. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
41. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
42. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
43. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
44. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
45. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
46. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
47. "Games played by Sam Stockley in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
48. Magyarfutball.hu. "Stockley Sam (Tiverton 1977.09.05 - ) • People • Magyarfutball.hu - Hungarian football database". www.magyarfutball.hu. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
49. "SAM JOSHUA STOCKLEY - FERENCVÁROSI TC - MLSZ adatbank". adatbank.mlsz.hu. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
50. "Sam Stockley - Players - Colchester United". www.coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2019.