Sam Baldock
Encyclopedia
Samuel Edward T. "Sam" Baldock (born 15 March 1989 in Aylesbury Vale
, England) is an English
professional football
striker
who plays for West Ham United
in the Football League Championship
.
He grew up in the village of Steeple Claydon
, Buckinghamshire
, while attending the Royal Latin School
in Buckingham
. He has a younger brother, George Baldock
, who is contracted to Milton Keynes Dons
.
youth system following the club's 2003 relocation to Milton Keynes
, Baldock signed as a trainee in July 2004, just after the club rebranded itself Milton Keynes Dons
. 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.
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 Johnstone's Paint Trophy
final at Wembley Stadium
on 30 March 2008, helping MK Dons win their first ever trophy.
As new manager Roberto Di Matteo
joined MK Dons, Baldock made his break-through season as he become 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. 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.
On 15 May 2011 Baldock scored a long range free-kick in the 2011 Football League play-offs
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.
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.
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
.
for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract with an option for an additional year. He was allocated the number 7 shirt. 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
.
His first two West Ham goals were scored in 4-0 win on 15 October 2011 against Blackpool
at Upton Park
. He then got his second two-goal haul in successive home matches helping the Hammers to a 3-2 victory over Leicester City
.
in Egypt
. 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."
Aylesbury Vale
The Aylesbury Vale is a large area of flat land mostly in Buckinghamshire, England. Its boundary is marked by Milton Keynes to the north, Leighton Buzzard and the Chiltern Hills to the east and south, Thame to the south and Bicester and Brackley to the west.The vale is named after Aylesbury, the...
, England) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who plays for West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
in the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
.
He grew up in the village of Steeple Claydon
Steeple Claydon
Steeple Claydon is a village and also a civil parish within the district of Aylesbury Vale in Buckinghamshire, England. It has an unusually high number of gingers, it is speculated that this is due to most people's mums also being their aunts. Steeple Claydon is located about four miles south of...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, while attending the Royal Latin School
Royal Latin School
The Royal Latin School is a co-educational grammar school in Buckingham, England. In September 2011 the school became an Academy.. It takes children from the age of 11 through to the age of 18 and has over 1260 pupils, including a sixth form of 390 pupils. It maintains a staff of over 160...
in Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
. He has a younger brother, George Baldock
George Baldock
George Baldock born in England is a footballer playing as a midfielder on loan for Northampton Town F.C.He made his debut for MK Dons on 8 May 2010 in the Football League One clash with Brighton & Hove Albion at the Stadium:mk which ended in 0–0 draw, coming on as a substitute for Daniel Powell in...
, who is contracted to Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
.
MK Dons
Having joined the Wimbledon F.C.Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
youth system following the club's 2003 relocation to Milton Keynes
Relocation of Wimbledon F.C. to Milton Keynes
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football prior to a "fairytale" rise through the divisions following election to The Football League...
, Baldock signed as a trainee in July 2004, just after the club rebranded itself Milton Keynes Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
. Danny Wilson handed Baldock his first team debut on 20 December 2005 in the 2–1 Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
loss to Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
as a late substitute in his only appearance of the season.
Martin Allen
Martin Allen
Martin James Allen is a former football player and current manager of Notts County. He played more than 100 games for each Queens Park Rangers and West Ham United before finishing his playing career with Portsmouth and Southend United. Five years later, he took his first job in management, at...
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
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
in the Football League Trophy and drew 1–1 at home to Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
.
As Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
took the role as manager, Baldock became more involved in matches, first making a substitute appearance in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
away to Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
, before making five substitute appearances in League Two. He also made his full debut in the Football League Trophy victory over Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, and made two further appearances as a substitute, including one in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy
Football League Trophy 2007-08
The Football League Trophy 2007–08, known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2007–08 for sponsorship reasons, was the 24th staging of the Football League Trophy, a knockout competition for English football clubs in Leagues One and Two...
final at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on 30 March 2008, helping MK Dons win their first ever trophy.
As new manager Roberto Di Matteo
Roberto Di Matteo
Roberto Di Matteo is a Swiss-born Italian former professional footballer and the current assistant manager of Chelsea. As a midfielder, he enjoyed spells at Schaffhausen, Zürich Aarau, Lazio, and Chelsea. He was capped by Italy 34 times, scoring two goals for the Italian national team, and played...
joined MK Dons, Baldock made his break-through season as he become a regular in the first-team, scoring his first senior goal in the Dons' 2–1 loss against Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
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
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
defeat to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
on 9 August 2008.
Baldock's first competitive goal came as the Dons beat Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
1–0 in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
at stadium:mk on 12 August 2008. On 12 March 2011, having been named in the starting line-up to face Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
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.
On 15 May 2011 Baldock scored a long range free-kick in the 2011 Football League play-offs
2011 Football League play-offs
The Football League play-offs for the 2010–11 season were held in May 2011. The Championship final took place at Wembley Stadium in London, but the League One and Two finals were held at Old Trafford in Manchester, due to a clash with the UEFA Champions League Final.The play-off semi-finals were...
Semi-Final First Leg as MK Dons beat Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
3–2 at stadium:mk. MK Dons lost in the second leg as Peterborough gained promotion, beating Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in the final.
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.
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
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
in a 6–2 win and a goal in a 4–0 away victory in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
against Premier League side Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
West Ham United
On 26 August 2011, Baldock joined West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract with an option for an additional year. He was allocated the number 7 shirt. Baldock made his West Ham debut on 17 September 2011 coming on as a 74th minute substitute for Henri Lansbury
Henri Lansbury
Henri George Lansbury is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United, on loan from Arsenal.-Arsenal:Lansbury was born in Enfield, London and grew up in Potters Bar. In 1999, he joined Arsenal as a schoolboy from the books of Norwich City. He has featured regularly for both the club's...
in a 0-0 draw away with Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
His first two West Ham goals were scored in 4-0 win on 15 October 2011 against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
at Upton Park
Boleyn Ground
The Boleyn Ground, more commonly referred to as Upton Park due to its location in Upton Park, London is the football stadium of West Ham United.-History:...
. He then got his second two-goal haul in successive home matches helping the Hammers to a 3-2 victory over Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
.
International career
On 26 August 2009, Baldock was called up to an initial 30-man squad for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, was the 17th U-20 tournament, which was hosted by Egypt from 24 September to 16 October, in the cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Port Said, Suez and Ismaïlia...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Later, on 11 September, he made the final squad of 21 players, MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman
Pete Winkelman
Pete Winkelman is currently the chairman of football club Milton Keynes Dons, as well as managing director of the property development consortium Inter MK that was responsible for developing the Denbigh North district of Milton Keynes...
commented: "The standard of players he will now be rubbing shoulders with underlines what a wonderful talent he is."
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Play-offs | FL Trophy Football League Trophy The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top... |
Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | ||
| Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes Dons F.C. .Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire... |
2005–06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006–07 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | 42 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Football League The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The... |
20 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 2010–11 Football League The Football League 2010–11, called the Npower Football League, was the 111th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2010 and concluded in May 2011, with the promotion play-off finals.... |
30 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 14 | 4 | |
| 2011–12 2011–12 Football League The Football League 2011–12, called the Npower Football League, is the 112th season of the Football League. It began in August 2011 and will conclude in May 2012, with the promotion play-off finals.... |
4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | |
| Total | 102 | 33 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 124 | 43 | 10 | |
| West Ham United | 2011–12 2011–12 West Ham United F.C. season The 2011–12 season is West Ham Uniteds first season back in the Football League Championship, after being relegated from the Premier League at the conclusion of 2010–11 campaign. They will also compete in the League Cup and the FA Cup... |
10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0 | |
| Career total | 112 | 38 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 134 | 48 | 10 | |