Conor Sammon
Encyclopedia
Conor Sammon is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a striker for English Premier League club Wigan Athletic
.
Sammon started his career at League of Ireland Premier Division side University College Dublin
. In 2008 he signed for Derry City
and one season later he moved to Scottish Premier League
club Kilmarnock
. In January 2011 Premier League side Wigan
signed him for £600,000.
. He then signed a scholarship deal with U.C.D.
ahead of the 2005 season. The club's fans humorously dubbed him Sammon of college, before a number of impressive performances saw him snapped up by fellow League of Ireland
side Derry City
in December 2007.
His single goal knocked Derry City
out of the 2007 FAI Cup with a deft near post finish at the Brandywell.
in July 2008 for an undisclosed fee, and made his debut on 9 August 2008 in a 1–0 win against Hibernian
. He scored his first goals for the club on 24 September 2008, scoring a brace in a 4–2 Scottish League Cup
win against Aberdeen
. Sammon struggled in his first two seasons at the club, scoring just seven times in all competitions. In the 2010–11 season
, his record was more prolific, scoring 18 goals in 27 games. In January 2011, Sammon turned down a move to Scunthorpe United
after Kilmarnock had accepted a bid for him.
for an undisclosed fee, believed to be worth an initial £600,000. He made his Premier League debut on 5 March in a 1–0 defeat against Manchester City
. On 15 May, Sammon scored his first goal for Wigan in a 3–2 win against West Ham United.
for the qualifying game against Portugal U-21s
on 7 September 2007. He played for the under-21's on three occasions, and also represented the under-23's
in a match against Slovakia
.
of St Patrick's Athletic
.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
Sammon started his career at League of Ireland Premier Division side University College Dublin
University College Dublin A.F.C.
University College Dublin Association Football Club known commonly as UCD is the football team of University College Dublin. They play in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1895 was elected to the league in 1979 under the management of Dr. Tony O'Neill. Since the 2008 season they have...
. In 2008 he signed for Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
and one season later he moved to Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
. In January 2011 Premier League side Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
signed him for £600,000.
UCD
Sammon started his career with Cherry OrchardCherry Orchard F.C.
Cherry Orchard Football Club is an Irish football club founded in 1957 known locally as "the Orchard." The club is one of the biggest producers of talent in Ireland. They are linked with Manchester City. Their main rival is Crumlin United, for whom Robbie Keane played at schoolboy level. The club...
. He then signed a scholarship deal with U.C.D.
University College Dublin A.F.C.
University College Dublin Association Football Club known commonly as UCD is the football team of University College Dublin. They play in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1895 was elected to the league in 1979 under the management of Dr. Tony O'Neill. Since the 2008 season they have...
ahead of the 2005 season. The club's fans humorously dubbed him Sammon of college, before a number of impressive performances saw him snapped up by fellow League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
side Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
in December 2007.
His single goal knocked Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
out of the 2007 FAI Cup with a deft near post finish at the Brandywell.
Derry City
Despite not being able to hold down a regular first-team place at the Brandywell, Sammon attracted interest from a number of Scottish clubs who had been made aware of his potential by former Candystripes manger John Robertson.Kilmarnock
After a short trial, Sammon signed a three-year deal with KilmarnockKilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in July 2008 for an undisclosed fee, and made his debut on 9 August 2008 in a 1–0 win against Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. He scored his first goals for the club on 24 September 2008, scoring a brace in a 4–2 Scottish League Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
win against Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
. Sammon struggled in his first two seasons at the club, scoring just seven times in all competitions. In the 2010–11 season
2010–11 in Scottish football
The 2010–11 season is the 114th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Overview:* Rangers won the SPL title, pipping rivals Celtic on the final day of the season, their third title in a row and their 54th Scottish league championship...
, his record was more prolific, scoring 18 goals in 27 games. In January 2011, Sammon turned down a move to Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
after Kilmarnock had accepted a bid for him.
Wigan Athletic
On 31 January 2011, Sammon signed a three and a half year deal with Wigan AthleticWigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
for an undisclosed fee, believed to be worth an initial £600,000. He made his Premier League debut on 5 March in a 1–0 defeat against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. On 15 May, Sammon scored his first goal for Wigan in a 3–2 win against West Ham United.
International career
Sammon earned his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U-21sRepublic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
for the qualifying game against Portugal U-21s
Portugal national under-21 football team
The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation . They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future...
on 7 September 2007. He played for the under-21's on three occasions, and also represented the under-23's
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
in a match against Slovakia
Slovakia national football team
The Slovakia national football team represents Slovakia in association football and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association , the governing body for football in Slovakia. Slovakia's home stadium is Štadión Pasienky and their head coach is Vladimír Weiss...
.
Awards
Nominated for 2007 PFAI Young Player of the year, Sammon lost out to Mark QuigleyMark Quigley
Mark Quigley is an Irish professional football player who currently plays for Dundalk.-Career:Quigley came to prominence as a schoolboy with noted Dublin club Belvedere from where he signed for Millwall in 2003. He spent the 2005 season at Shamrock Rovers where he made a total of 12 appearances...
of St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| U.C.D. University College Dublin A.F.C. University College Dublin Association Football Club known commonly as UCD is the football team of University College Dublin. They play in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1895 was elected to the league in 1979 under the management of Dr. Tony O'Neill. Since the 2008 season they have... |
2005 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 2006 | 31 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 8 | |
| 2007 | 31 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 39 | 11 | |
| Derry City Derry City F.C. Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division... |
2008 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 7 |
| Kilmarnock Kilmarnock F.C. Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park... |
2008/09 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 3 |
| 2009/10 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 4 | |
| 2010/11 | 22 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 25 | 17 | |
| Career total | 148 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 17 | 14 | 176 | 50 | |