Sam Baldock

Last updated

Sam Baldock
SamBaldock.jpg
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 (age 35)
Place of birth Buckingham, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) [2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
2003–2004 Wimbledon
2004–2005 Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005–2011 Milton Keynes Dons 100 (33)
2011–2012 West Ham United 23 (5)
2012–2014 Bristol City 83 (34)
2014–2018 Brighton & Hove Albion 81 (18)
2018–2021 Reading 65 (10)
2021–2022 Derby County 13 (2)
2022–2023 Oxford United 11 (4)
Total376(106)
International career
2009 England U20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Samuel Edward Thomas Baldock (born 15 March 1989) is an English former professional footballer who last played as a striker for Oxford United. He also played for Milton Keynes Dons, West Ham United, Bristol City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Reading, Derby County and made two appearances for England U20.

Contents

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Baldock was born in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire. [3] Having joined the Wimbledon F.C. youth system following the club's 2003 relocation to Milton Keynes, [4] Baldock signed as a trainee in July 2004, just after the club renamed itself as Milton Keynes Dons. [5] [6] 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. [7]

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 2008 Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on 30 March 2008, helping MK Dons win their first ever trophy. [8]

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. [8] 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. [8]

On 15 May 2011, Baldock scored a long range free-kick in the play-off 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. [8]

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. [9]

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 [8]

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. [8] 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. [10] His first two West Ham goals were scored in 4–0 win on 15 October 2011 against Blackpool at Upton Park. [11] He then got his second two-goal haul in successive home matches helping the Hammers to a 3–2 victory over Leicester City. [12] 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 Tê.

Bristol City

Baldock joined Bristol City in August 2012 for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract. [13] [14] He made his debut on 25 August, in a 4–2 win against Cardiff, in which he scored and assisted a goal. [15] He scored again on 15 September, in a 5–3 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers [16] 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. Baldock finished the 2012–13 season with ten goals but could not help Bristol City survive as they were relegated to League 1. [17]

During the pre-season, Baldock failed to score but fellow striker Steven Davies moved to Blackpool [18] leaving Baldock as the only recognised 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 first round of the League Cup. [19] He scored a brace against Coventry City in a 5–4 loss. [20] He continued his great start by scoring his second brace of the season against old club MK Dons. He chose not to celebrate either goal after saying it was an emotional day. [21] Baldock finished the League One 2013–14 season with the Golden Boot as top scorer with 24 goals. [22]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 27 August 2014, Baldock signed for Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee [23] in the region of £2 million. [24]

Reading

On 30 July 2018, Baldock transferred to Reading on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee. [25] Baldock left Reading when his contract expired at the end of the 2020–21 season. [26]

Derby County

On 17 August 2021, after training with the club over pre-season, Baldock joined Derby County on a short-term contract until January 2022. [27] A day after signing he made his debut scoring the only goal of the game in the 1–0 away victory over Hull City. [28] On 13 January 2022, manager Wayne Rooney announced that Baldock would leave the club upon the expiration of his short-term deal the following week. [29]

Oxford United

On 4 February 2022, Baldock signed a contract with League One club Oxford United until the end of the season. [30] He scored in his first League One start for Oxford, netting the third goal in a 4–0 away victory over Charlton on 19 February 2022. [31] On 16 May 2022, he signed a new two-year deal with the club. [32] Baldock retired because of injury on 14 September 2023 and accepted a role at Oxford United as a business development analyst. [33]

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. [34] 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." [35]

Personal life

Born in England, Baldock is of Greek descent through his grandmother. His late younger brother George was also a professional footballer, and his other brother James is the club doctor at Sam's former club Oxford United. [36]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Milton Keynes Dons 2005–06 [37] League One 0000001 [lower-alpha 1] 010
2006–07 [38] League Two 1000001 [lower-alpha 1] 020
2007–08 [39] League Two5010003 [lower-alpha 1] 090
2008–09 [40] League One401200212 [lower-alpha 2] 04413
2009–10 [41] League One21532004 [lower-alpha 1] 32810
2010–11 [42] League One291220112 [lower-alpha 2] 13414
2011–12 [43] League One442266
Total10033625413412443
West Ham United 2011–12 [43] Championship 23510245
Bristol City 2012–13 [44] Championship3410003410
2013–14 [45] League One452441312 [lower-alpha 1] 05426
2014–15 [46] League One400040
Total83344131209236
Brighton & Hove Albion 2014–15 [46] Championship2032100224
2015–16 [47] Championship28410202 [lower-alpha 2] 0334
2016–17 [48] Championship311100313412
2017–18 [49] Premier League 20300050
Total81186151209420
Reading 2018–19 [50] Championship2150020235
2019–20 [51] Championship2452120286
2020–21 [52] Championship2001020230
Total65103160007411
Derby County 2021–22 [53] Championship1321000142
Oxford United 2021–22 [53] League One74000074
2022–23 [54] League One40000040
2023–24 [55] League One00000000
Total114000000114
Career total376106215196174433121

Honours

Milton Keynes Dons

West Ham United

Brighton & Hove Albion

Individual

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References

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