Sammy Irvine Explained

Sammy Irvine
Fullname:Samuel Irvine
Birth Date:7 January 1956
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Midfielder
Years1:1972–1978
Caps1:207
Goals1:18
Years2:1978–1980
Clubs2:Stoke City
Caps2:67
Goals2:10
Totalcaps:274
Totalgoals:28

Samuel Irvine (born 7 January 1956) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for Shrewsbury Town and Stoke City.[1]

Career

Irvine was born in Glasgow but started his career at English side Shrewsbury Town where he made 229 league appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals in six seasons.[2] Under the guidance of Alan Durban the "Shrews" gained promotion from the Fourth Division in 1974–75 and were able to establish themselves in the third tier. In January 1978 Alan Durban joined Second Division Stoke City and less than six months later he signed Irvine for £60,000.[1]

His first season with Stoke was full of promise for Irvine as he played well as Stoke finished in 3rd position and gained promotion back to the First Division.[1] In 1979–80 with Stoke playing at the highest level and Irvine's career seemingly improving it came as a shock when in February 1980 he was involved in a near fatal car crash when his Triumph TR7 collided into a tree.[1] His injuries meant that he had to bring an end to his professional football career at the age of 24.[1]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shrewsbury Town1972–73Third Division40000040
1973–74Third Division3900010400
1974–75Fourth Division4222020462
1975–76Third Division4163030476
1976–77Third Division3705110431
1977–78Third Division441030204910
Total207181319022919
Stoke City1978–79Second Division4171042469
1979–80First Division2631041314
Total671020837713
Career total2742815117330633

Honours

Shrewsbury Town

Stoke City

Notes and References

  1. Book: Matthews, Tony. The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. 1994. Lion Press. 0-9524151-0-0.
    • Jones, Mike: "Breathe on 'em Salop - The Second Coming" (Salop Sporting Services,).