Craig Samson

Craig Ian Samson (born 1 April 1984 in Irvine, Scotland) is a Scottish football player and coach, who is currently a player / goalkeeping coach with Hibernian. Samson is a former Scotland under-21 internationalist, having made six appearances between 2004 and 2005.

Craig Samson
Samson playing for St Mirren
Personal information
Full name Craig Ian Samson[1]
Date of birth (1984-04-01) 1 April 1984
Place of birth Irvine, Scotland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Hibernian (player / goalkeeping coach)
Number 30
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2005 Kilmarnock 1 (0)
2004 → Queen of the South (loan) 12 (0)
2004 → Queen of the South (loan) 0 (0)
2005 → St Johnstone (loan) 12 (0)
2005–2006 Dundee United 8 (0)
2006–2007 Ross County 29 (0)
2007–2008 Dundee 31 (0)
2008–2009 Hereford United 11 (0)
2009–2010 Ayr United 32 (0)
2010–2013 St Mirren 87 (0)
2013–2015 Kilmarnock 73 (0)
2015–2017 Motherwell 36 (0)
2017–2018 St Mirren 49 (0)
2020– Hibernian 0 (0)
National team‡
2004–2005 Scotland U21 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 31 December 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:44, 31 March 2013 (UTC)

He began his career with Kilmarnock, but made only one league appearance and spent time on loan to Queen of the South and St Johnstone before leaving the club in 2005. He then spent a season each with Dundee United, Ross County, Dundee, Hereford United and Ayr United. In 2010, Samson joined St Mirren, where he played for three years and won the Scottish League Cup in 2013. He rejoined his first club, Kilmarnock, in May 2013. Samson left Kilmarnock in August 2015 and subsequently signed for Motherwell.

After a second spell with St Mirren, Samson retired as a player to become goalkeeping coach at Sunderland. He has since held similar positions with Rochdale and Hibernian.

Playing career

Early career

Samson began his career with Kilmarnock and made his senior debut on 3 January 2004, in a Scottish Premier League match away to Aberdeen.[2] That turned out to be his only appearance for the club.

In February 2004, 19 year old Samson moved to Queen of the South on loan[3] and ahead of the 2004–05 season, joined the club on loan again, however he was recalled early by Kilmarnock having only played one match.[4] On 1 January 2005, he went out on loan again, this time to St Johnstone.[5]

In July 2005, after turning down a new contract at Kilmarnock, Samson signed for Dundee United.[6]

On 1 June 2006, Samson joined Ross County[7] On 12 November 2006, Ross County beat Clyde 5–4 on penalties, following a 1–1 draw, with Samson saving penalties from Neil McGregor and Chris Higgins during the shoot-out.[8]

After spending a season with Dundee, Samson moved to England, signing for Hereford in July 2008.[9] Samson left the English club by "mutual consent" in April 2009.[10]

On 7 July 2009, Samson signed for newly promoted Scottish Division One club Ayr United.[11]

St Mirren

On 13 July 2010, Samson signed for Scottish Premier League side St Mirren.[12] After the departure of goalkeeper Paul Gallacher, Samson was made first choice goalkeeper for St Mirren for the 2011–12 season. Samson soon became a fans favourite for his willingness to dribble the ball out of his goal and for his incredible flying saves, after seven early season shut-outs, Samson's form was rewarded with a full international call up on 6 November 2011.

At the end of season 2011–12, Samson had two of his saves nominated for 'SPL Save of the Season', one being a stunning reflex to stop Sone Aluko. Outside the Old Firm, Samson and Motherwell 'keeper Darren Randolph kept the most clean sheets in the division, despite St Mirren finishing 8th in the table. On 17 March 2013, Samson played as St Mirren beat Hearts 3–2 to win the League Cup.[13]

Kilmarnock

After rejecting a new contract offer by St Mirren, 29-year-old Samson signed a two-year deal with Kilmarnock.[14] On 6 August 2015, Samson left Kilmarnock, agreeing a release from his contract having lost his first team place to new signing Jamie MacDonald.[15]

Motherwell

In September 2015, Samson signed a contract with Motherwell.[16] He made his debut on 23 April 2016, in a 1–0 win against Hearts.[17] On 26 May 2016, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[18] He was released by the club in May 2017, at the end of his contract.[19]

St Mirren return

After four years away from St Mirren, Samson rejoined the club on 7 June 2017, signing a two-year deal.[20] Samson played every league match as Saints won the Scottish Championship title, and also broke a club record by keeping eight consecutive clean sheets in home league matches.[21] Samson then signed an extension to his contract in May 2018, which was due to keep him at the club until the summer of 2020.[21] Despite playing regularly for St Mirren during the 2018–19 season, Samson opted to retire from playing in November 2018 when he was offered a coaching position at Sunderland.[22]

International career

Having previously played for the Scotland under-21 side, Samson was called into the full Scotland squad in November 2011[23] and was also named in squads during 2012[24] and 2015.[25]

Coaching career

Samson took up a coaching position at Sunderland in November 2018.[22] He left the club in November 2019[26] and was then appointed as the first team goalkeeping coach of League One club Rochdale the following month.[27] He moved to Hibernian during the 2020 close season.[28] Samson also registered as a player with Hibs, and was listed as a substitute for a League Cup match with Brora Rangers on 7 October.[29]

Career statistics
As of match played 10 November 2018[30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kilmarnock 2003–04[31] Scottish Premier League 1000000010
2004–05[32] 0000000000
Total 1000000010
Queen of the South (loan) 2003–04[31] Scottish First Division 120000000120
Queen of the South (loan) 2004–05[32] Scottish First Division 0000100010
St Johnstone (loan) 2004–05[32] Scottish First Division 120000000120
Dundee United 2005–06[33] Scottish Premier League 8000000080
Ross County 2006–07[34] Scottish First Division 29010203[lower-alpha 1]0350
Dundee 2007–08[35] Scottish First Division 31[36]020201[lower-alpha 1]0360
Hereford United 2008–09[37] League One 11020001[lower-alpha 2]0140
Ayr United 2009–10[38] Scottish First Division 32030101[lower-alpha 1]0370
St Mirren 2010–11[39] Scottish Premier League 110000000110
2011–12[40] 380603000470
2012–13[41] 380305000460
Total 8709080001040
Kilmarnock 2013–14[42] Scottish Premiership 380101000400
2014–15[43] 350102000380
2015–16[44] 0000000000
Total 730203000780
Motherwell 2015–16[44] Scottish Premiership 2000000020
2016–17[45] 340105000400
Total 360105000420
St Mirren 2017–18[46] Scottish Championship 360203000410
2018–19[47] Scottish Premiership 130004000170
Total 490207000580
Career total 3810220290604380
  1. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearance in the Football League Trophy

Honours
Ross County
St Mirren

References
  1. The Bell's Scottish Football Review 2005.06. Cre8 Publishing. 2005. p. 20. ISBN 978-0-95485-561-1.
  2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/3363393.stm
  3. "Duffy leaves Sons". BBC Sport. 21 February 2004. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. "Keeper Samson returns to Killie". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  5. "Killie's Dillon to Morton on loan". BBC Sport. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  6. "Samson wins a Tannadice contract". BBC Sport. 29 July 2005.
  7. "Ross County make double signing". BBC Sport. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  8. "Ross County 1–1 Clyde (aet)". BBC Sport. 12 November 2005. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. "Bulls snap up keeper". Sky Sports. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  10. "Samson exits Bulls". Sky Sports. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  11. "Ayr United snap up ex-Killie keeper Craig Samson". Daily Record. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  12. "St Mirren sign Craig Samson as Mark Howard replacement". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  13. Murray, Keir (17 March 2013). "St Mirren 3–2 Hearts". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  14. Lindsay, Clive (19 May 2013). "Kilmarnock return is best option for goalkeeper Craig Samson". BBC Sport.
  15. "Kilmarnock and Craig Samson agree to part ways". BBC Sport. 6 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  16. "Motherwell sign up goalkeeper Craig Samson". BBC Sport. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  17. McLaughlin, Chris (23 April 2016). "Motherwell 1–0 Heart of Midlothian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  18. "Trio agree contract extensions". Motherwell F.C. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  19. "Motherwell: Eight first-team players to exit Fir Park this summer". BBC Sport. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  20. "New signing: Craig Samson". St Mirren FC. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  21. "Craig Samson agrees new contract". St Mirren FC. 4 May 2018. Archived from the original on 6 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  22. "Goalkeeper leaves St Mirren for coaching job at Sunderland". BBC Sport. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  23. O'Rourke, Pete (6 November 2011). "Scots lose six for Cyprus". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  24. "Craig Samson called into Scotland squad with doubts over two goalkeepers". STV Sport. 10 September 2012. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  25. "Scotland: Craig Samson replaces Scott Bain in squad". BBC Sport. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  26. "CHECKED IN:Butler joins backroom staff". Official Sunderland AFC website. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  27. Berry, Gavin (6 January 2020). "Craig turns back Tyne". Daily Record. Glasgow. Retrieved 13 May 2020 – via PressReader.
  28. Delaney, James (15 June 2020). "Hibs hoping to add new goalkeeping coach as Jack Ross looks to recruit former member of Sunderland backroom staff". Edinburgh Live. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  29. "Hibernian 3–1 Brora Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
  30. Craig Samson at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  31. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  32. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  33. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  34. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  35. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  36. Includes one appearance not recorded on Soccerbase or Soccerway. "Dundee 0–1 Clyde". BBC Sport. 11 November 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  37. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  38. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  39. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  40. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  41. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  42. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  43. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  44. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  45. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  46. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  47. "Games played by Craig Samson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
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