Sam Fisher (Scottish footballer) explained

Sam Fisher
Birth Date:26 July 2001
Birth Place:Tillicoultry, Scotland
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Dunfermline Athletic
Clubnumber:15
Youthclubs1:Alloa Athletic
Youthclubs2:Dundee
Years1:2019–2023
Clubs1:Dundee
Caps1:10
Goals1:0
Goals2:0
Caps2:3
Years2:2019–2020
Clubs2:East Kilbride (loan)
Years3:2020–2021
Clubs3:Forfar Athletic (loan)
Caps3:6
Goals3:0
Years4:2021–2022
Clubs4:Forfar Athletic (loan)
Caps4:4
Goals4:1
Years5:2022
Clubs5:Forfar Athletic (loan)
Caps5:6
Goals5:0
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Dunfermline Athletic (loan)
Caps6:14
Goals6:0
Years7:2023–
Clubs7:Dunfermline Athletic
Caps7:26
Goals7:0
Club-Update:17:00, 10 August 2024 (UTC)

Sam Fisher (born 17 May 2001) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for club Dunfermline Athletic. He came through the youth ranks of Dundee and has also played on loan for East Kilbride, Forfar Athletic (in three separate spells) and Dunfermline, before signing permanently with the latter in 2023.

Career

Dundee

2019–20 season

Fisher joined Lowland Football League side East Kilbride on loan in September 2019.[1] Fisher's season was cut short due to an ACL injury picked up in a reserve game, which required surgery and kept him out for six to nine months.[2]

2020–21 season

After making his return, Fisher signed a new deal with Dundee, keeping him at the club until 2023. He then immediately joined Scottish League One side Forfar Athletic on loan until January.[3] Fisher made his league debut in a scoreless draw at home against Dumbarton.[4] In January 2021, following the three-week suspension of League One by the SFA and SPFL due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in Scotland, Fisher was recalled by Dundee.[5] [6]

Fisher made his first start for Dundee in January 2021, in an away loss to Raith Rovers.[7] He would come on as a substitute in a home win over Arbroath.[8] Fisher would make four league appearances in total during the season, and would be an unused substitute when Dundee defeated Kilmarnock to win the Premiership play-offs and achieve promotion to the Premiership.[9]

2021–22 season

In July 2021, Fisher would return on loan to Forfar Athletic, now in the Scottish League Two.[10] In August, Fisher would suffer an injury during training which would "rule him out for some time."[11] After sitting on the bench for the previous few games, Fisher would make his return to the pitch against Angus rivals Arbroath in the Scottish Cup.[12] After making a league start shortly after, Fisher would again suffer injury misfortune, taking a knock which worried manager Gary Irvine.[13] Fortunately this time, Fisher would recover much quicker and would return on Boxing Day, scoring his first senior goal for the Loons in a home game against Stenhousemuir.[14] On 29 January 2022, Fisher was recalled by Dundee.[15] He returned on loan to Forfar on 3 February for the remainder of the season.[16]

2022–23 season

On 16 August 2022, Fisher joined Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic on a season-long loan.[17] He would make his debut off the bench on 3 September, in an away league victory over Queen of the South.[18] Fisher would be named to SPFL's Team of the Week in October after keeping a clean sheet and creating the winning goal in a league victory over F.C. Edinburgh.[19] After impressing throughout his loan spell with the Pars and helping them top League One, Fisher was recalled by Dundee on 20 January 2023.[20] [21] The following week, Fisher played his first league game of the season for Dundee at right back, and helped defeat league leaders Queen's Park in a 3–0 victory.[22] Fisher would receive two medals in two weeks at the end of the season, after receiving a league winner's medal from Dunfermline Athletic after playing a part in their Scottish League One triumph, and with Dundee after winning the Scottish Championship with them.[23]

Dunfermline Athletic

Despite being offered a new deal, Fisher decided to leave Dundee in June 2023 and sign permanently for Dunfermline on a three-year deal.[24] [25] Fisher spent the first half of the season interspersed between starting for the Pars and recovering from injuries, including a bad facial injuries and two concussions in two weeks in a Fife derby against Raith Rovers in January 2024, but would make his return before the end of the month.[26] [27] However, he suffered a calf injury in training within a week of returning, keeping him out until mid-March, when he came on in a win over Dundee United.[28] [29]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dundee2019–20[30] Scottish Championship0000000000
2020–21[31] 4000000040
2021–22[32] Scottish Premiership0000000000
2022–23Scottish Championship60200080
Total100002000120
East Kilbride (loan)2019–20Lowland League3010002[33] 060
Forfar Athletic (loan)2020–21Scottish League One6000300090
Forfar Athletic (loan)2021–22Scottish League Two4110100061
Forfar Athletic (loan)2021–22Scottish League Two6000002080
Dunfermline Athletic (loan)2022–23Scottish League One140102[34] 0170
Dunfermline Athletic2023–24Scottish Championship240104100291
2024–25Scottish Championship2000400060
Total400208120521
Career total6914014160932
  1. Web site: 5 September 2019. Sam joins East Kilbride on loan. 18 October 2020. dundeefc.co.uk.
  2. Web site: Nicolson. Eric. 19 December 2019. Young Dundee centre-back ruled out for the season as injury situation takes a turn for the worse. 18 October 2020. thecourier.co.uk.
  3. Web site: 12 October 2020. Sam signs new deal and joins Forfar on loan. 18 October 2020. dundeefc.co.uk.
  4. Web site: 17 October 2020. Forfar Athletic v Dumbarton. 18 October 2020. BBC.
  5. Web site: 11 January 2021. Lower leagues in Scotland suspended for three weeks. 13 January 2021. Sky Sports.
  6. Web site: 13 January 2021. Lyall and Sam recalled. 13 January 2021. dundeefc.co.uk.
  7. Web site: 30 January 2021. Raith Rovers v Dundee. 30 January 2021. BBC.
  8. Web site: 13 March 2021. Dundee v Arbroath. 13 March 2021. BBC.
  9. Web site: 24 May 2021. Dundee promoted as Kilmarnock drop down for first time in 28 years. 24 May 2021. BBC.
  10. Web site: 12 July 2021. Luke and Sam join Forfar on loan. 12 July 2021. dundeefc.co.uk.
  11. Web site: 9 August 2021. Forfar Athletic v Formartine United - Match Details/Preview. 27 August 2021. forfarathletic.co.uk.
  12. News: Arbroath v Forfar Athletic. en-GB. BBC Sport. 28 November 2021.
  13. Web site: Lorimer. Scott. Forfar boss Gary Irvine 'really worried' about injury to Dundee loanee Sam Fisher but provides positive update on other key players. 17 December 2021. The Courier. en-GB.
  14. News: Forfar Athletic v Stenhousemuir. en-GB. BBC Sport. 26 December 2021.
  15. Web site: Coutts. Christopher. One in One out at Station Park. 29 January 2022. www.forfarathletic.co.uk. en-gb.
  16. Web site: Coutts. Christopher. Sam returns as Steven arrives at Station Park. 3 February 2022. www.forfarathletic.co.uk. en-gb.
  17. Web site: Sam Fisher Dunfermline Athletic Football Club . 16 August 2022 . www.dafc.co.uk.
  18. News: Queen of the South v Dunfermline Athletic . en-GB . BBC Sport . 3 September 2022.
  19. Web site: Team of the Week SPFL . 19 October 2022 . spfl.co.uk.
  20. Web site: Cran . George . Dundee manager Gary Bowyer keeping tabs on Sam Fisher's 'great' progress at Dunfermline . 20 January 2023 . The Courier . en-GB.
  21. Web site: 20 January 2023 . Sam recalled . 20 January 2023 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  22. News: Dundee v Queen's Park . en-GB . BBC Sport . 28 January 2023.
  23. News: Dundee back in Premiership after eight-goal epic . en-GB . BBC Sport . 5 May 2023.
  24. Web site: 20 June 2023 . Sam Fisher leaves the club . 20 June 2023 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2023-06-24 . Athletic move has Sam 'buzzing' . 2024-02-22 . Dunfermline Press . en.
  26. Web site: Collin . Iain . 2024-01-02 . Dunfermline Athletic boss James McPake reveals extent of Sam Fisher's latest injury and plans to plug defensive gaps in transfer window . 2024-01-03 . The Courier . en-GB.
  27. News: Dundee Utd go point clear despite draw with Dunfermline . 2024-01-28 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  28. Web site: Cairns . Craig . 2024-02-03 . James McPake 'embarrassed' by Dunfermline defeat as Pars boss explains Sam Fisher absence . 2024-02-21 . The Courier . en-GB.
  29. News: Dunfermline ease aside leaders Dundee Utd 3-1 . 2024-03-15 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  30. Web site: Games played by Sam Fisher in 2019/20. 18 October 2020. Soccerbase.
  31. Web site: Games Played by Sam Fisher in 2020/2021. 18 October 2020. Soccerbase.
  32. Web site: Games Played by Sam Fisher in 2021/2022. 2 June 2021. Soccerbase.
  33. Appearances in the South Challenge Cup.
  34. Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Dundee

Dunfermline Athletic