Sam Baldock

Sam Baldock

Baldock warming up for West Ham United in 2012
Personal information
Full name Samuel Edward Thomas Baldock[1]
Date of birth (1989-03-15) 15 March 1989
Place of birth Buckingham, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 9
Youth career
2003–2004 Wimbledon
2004–2005 Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2011 Milton Keynes Dons 102 (33)
2011–2012 West Ham United 23 (5)
2012–2014 Bristol City 83 (34)
2014– Brighton & Hove Albion 56 (10)
National team‡
2009 England U20 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:00, 16 October 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:38, 5 February 2014 (UTC)

Samuel Edward Thomas "Sam" Baldock (born 15 March 1989) is an English professional football striker who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion.

He grew up in the village of Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, while attending the Royal Latin School in Buckingham. His younger brother, George Baldock, is contracted to Sam's former club Milton Keynes Dons.

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Baldock was born in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire.[2] Having joined the Wimbledon F.C. youth system following the club's 2003 relocation to Milton Keynes,[3] Baldock signed as a trainee in July 2004, just after the club renamed itself as Milton Keynes Dons.[4][5] Danny Wilson handed Baldock his first team debut on 20 December 2005 in the 2–1 Football League Trophy loss to Colchester United as a late substitute in his only appearance of the season.[6]

Martin Allen as Dons manager for the 2006–07 season gave Baldock two further games in the first team in his only year in charge. Baldock failed to score as a substitute in either game as the Dons lost 4–1 away to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Football League Trophy and drew 1–1 at home to Mansfield Town.

As Paul Ince took the role as manager, Baldock became more involved in matches, first making a substitute appearance in the FA Cup away to Crewe Alexandra, before making five substitute appearances in League Two. He also made his full debut in the Football League Trophy victory over Gillingham, and made two further appearances as a substitute, including one in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on 30 March 2008, helping MK Dons win their first ever trophy.[7]

As new manager Roberto Di Matteo joined MK Dons, Baldock made his break-through season as he became a regular in the first-team, scoring his first senior goal in the Dons' 2–1 loss against Reading in a friendly match at stadium:mk on 19 July 2008. He then made his first competitive start in the MK Dons' opening day League One defeat to Leicester City on 9 August 2008.

Baldock's first competitive goal came as the Dons beat Norwich City 1–0 in the Football League Cup at stadium:mk on 12 August 2008.[7] On 12 March 2011, having been named in the starting line-up to face Colchester United away, he scored his first ever senior hat-trick with all three goals coming in the second half to overturn a 1–0 half-time deficit. The final score was 3–1.[7]

On 15 May 2011 Baldock scored a long range free-kick in the 2011 Football League play-offs Semi-Final First Leg as MK Dons beat Peterborough United 3–2 at stadium:mk. MK Dons lost in the second leg as Peterborough gained promotion, beating Huddersfield Town in the final.[7]

On 29 June 2011, Peterborough United had a £1.2 million bid accepted for Baldock, however, after meeting with the club, Baldock decided to decline the offer to join Peterborough and pledged his future to MK Dons.[8]

In August 2011 at the start of the 2011–12 season, Baldock scored six goals in six appearances including a hat-trick against newly promoted side Chesterfield in a 6–2 win and a goal in a 4–0 away victory in the League Cup against Premier League side Norwich City. Fittingly his last goals for the club came against the opponents he scored his first goal against, Norwich[7]

West Ham United

On 26 August 2011 Baldock joined West Ham United for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract with an option for an additional year. He was allocated the number 7 shirt.[7] Baldock made his West Ham debut on 17 September 2011 coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Henri Lansbury in a 0–0 draw away with Millwall.[9] His first two West Ham goals were scored in 4–0 win on 15 October 2011 against Blackpool at Upton Park.[10] He then got his second two-goal haul in successive home matches helping the Hammers to a 3–2 victory over Leicester City.[11] Despite scoring five goals in his first six starts, an injury reduced his first team opportunities, as did the arrival of Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te.

Bristol City

Baldock joined Bristol City in August 2012 for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.[12][13] He made his debut on 25 August, in a 4–2 win against Cardiff, in which he scored and assisted a goal.[14] He scored again on 15 September, in a 5–3 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers[15] and a brace in the club's following match, a 2–1 win away at Peterborough to take his tally to four goals in four matches for Bristol City. Sam finished the 2012/2013 season with 10 goals but couldn't help Bristol city survive as they were relegated to League 1.[16] During the pre season Baldock failed to score. Fellow striker Steven Davies moved to Blackpool[17] and it left Sam Baldock the only recognized goal scorer at Bristol City. Sean O'Driscoll made Baldock Captain at the start of the season and his first goal came in a 2–0 away win in the Capital one cup round 1.[18] He scored a brace against Coventry in a thrilling game which city lost 5–4.[19] He continued his great start by scoring his 2nd brace of the season against old club MK Dons. He chose not to celebrate either goal after saying it was an emotional day.[20] Baldock finished the League One 2013–14 season with the Golden Boot as top scorer with 24 goals.[21]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 27 August 2014, Baldock signed for Brighton for an undisclosed fee[22] in the region of £2m.[23]

International career

On 26 August 2009, Baldock was called up to an initial 30-man squad for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.[24] Later, on 11 September, he made the final squad of 21 players, MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman commented: "The standard of players he will now be rubbing shoulders with underlines what a wonderful talent he is."[25]

Career statistics

As of 21 April 2014.[26]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Play-offs FL Trophy Total
AppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssistsAppsGoalsAssists
Milton Keynes Dons 2005–06 000000000000100100
2006–07 100000000000100200
2007–08 500100000000300900
2008–09 4212400021000000044134
2009–10 205032000000043027100
2010–11 3012320011121000035144
2011–12 441000221000000662
Total 1023386205422109301244310
West Ham United 2011–12 21511000000000002251
Total 21511000000000002251
Bristol City 2012–13 3410300000000000034103
2013–14 4223541031100010051256
Total 7633841031100010084369
Career total 1997117113095321010302379120

Honours

Milton Keynes Dons

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players – 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. ↑ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 550. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ↑ "Sam Baldock". Milton Keynes Dons. Retrieved 17 October 2011. Sam ... joined the club as a 14-year-old. As Baldock was born on 15 March 1989, joining "as a 14-year-old" would mean he entered the youth system before 15 March 2004. Wimbledon F.C. did not become Milton Keynes Dons until July 2004.
  4. ↑ "Saints hit sorry Dons for six (MK Citizen 16 September 2004)". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Dons under-16s beat Spurs (MK Citizen 17 December 2004)". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "MK Dons 1, Colchester United 2 (MK Citizen 20 December 2005)". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hammers bag Baldock". whufc.com. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "Baldock transfer talk ends in Posh war of words". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Millwall 0–0 West Ham". BBC Sport. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  10. ↑ "Blackpool rout pleases Big Sam". whufc.com. 15 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Big Sam hails Little Sam". whufc.com. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Baldock departs". West Ham United FC. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  13. ↑ "Brilliant Baldock signs". Bristol City FC. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  14. ↑ ""Bristol City 4–2 Cardiff"". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  15. ↑ ""Bristol City 3–5 Blackburn Rovers"". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Bristol City relegated to League One". Bristol Post. 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  17. ↑ "Steven Davies: Blackpool sign Bristol City striker". BBC Sport. 2013-07-26. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  18. ↑ "Gillingham 0–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  19. ↑ "Coventry 5–4 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 2013-08-11. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  20. ↑ "It was emotional – Baldock". Bristol City Football Club. 2013-08-26. Retrieved 2016-07-21.
  21. ↑ "Bristol City striker Sam Baldock lands the League One Golden Boot and thanks his team-mates".
  22. ↑ "BBC Sport — Sam Baldock: Brighton & Hove Albion sign Bristol City striker". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  23. ↑ "Sale of Sam Baldock earned Bristol City "close to" £2 million — Bristol Post". Bristol Post. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  24. ↑ James Chard (26 August 2009). "Baldock suprised [sic] by England call". MK Citizen. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  25. ↑ "Baldock set for U20 World Cup". Milton Keynes Dons. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  26. ↑ "Sam Baldock". Soccerbase. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
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