Sammy Irvine
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]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Irvine[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 January 1956[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1972–1978 | Shrewsbury Town | 207 | (18) |
| 1978–1980 | Stoke City | 67 | (10) |
| Total | 274 | (28) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
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
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Shrewsbury Town | 1972–73 | Third Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973–74 | Third Division | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 1974–75 | Fourth Division | 42 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 2 | |
| 1975–76 | Third Division | 41 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 6 | |
| 1976–77 | Third Division | 37 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1 | |
| 1977–78 | Third Division | 44 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 49 | 10 | |
| Total | 207 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 229 | 19 | ||
| Stoke City | 1978–79 | Second Division | 41 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 46 | 9 |
| 1979–80 | First Division | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 31 | 4 | |
| Total | 67 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 77 | 13 | ||
| Career total | 274 | 28 | 15 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 306 | 33 | ||
Honours
Shrewsbury Town
- Football League Fourth Division runner-up: 1974–75
Stoke City
- Football League Second Division third-place promotion: 1978–79
References
- Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
-
- Jones, Mike: "Breathe on 'em Salop - The Second Coming" (Salop Sporting Services, ISBN 0-9548099-1-2).
- Sammy Irvine at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
External links
- Sammy Irvine at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database