Sam Bone

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1998)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sam Bone

| full_name = Samuel Bone

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|8|25|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

| height =

| position = Centre-back

| currentclub = Shelbourne

| clubnumber = 15

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2016

| youthclubs1 = Charlton Athletic

| years1 = 2017–2019

| clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers

| caps1 = 41

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2019

| clubs2 = → Waterford (loan)

| caps2 = 9

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2020

| clubs3 = Waterford

| caps3 = 8

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2021

| clubs4 = St Patrick's Athletic

| caps4 = 32

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2022

| clubs5 = Dundalk

| caps5 = 16

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2023–2024

| clubs6 = Maidstone United

| caps6 = 54

| goals6 = 5

| years7 = 2024–

| clubs7 = Shelbourne

| caps7 = 4

| goals7 = 0

| club-update = 23:41, 22 December 2024 (UTC)

}}

Samuel Bone (born 6 February 1998) is an English footballer who plays as a centre-back for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shelbourne.

Early life

Bone was born in Malaysia but moved to England at the age of five.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/sam-bone-interview-5397473-Apr2021/|title='I want to prove myself in Ireland before I go back to England'|publisher=the42.ie}} At 18 years old, he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and had surgery to have the cancer removed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/sport/playing-with-a-smile-after-cancer-281476/|title=Playing with a smile after cancer|date=2 February 2023|website=Kent Online}}

Club career

As a youth player, Bone joined the youth academy of Charlton Athletic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/sam-bone-wants-fight-medals-23303450|title=Sam Bone wants to fight for medals after sealing move to St Pat's|publisher=irishmirror.ie}}

He started his career with Irish side Shamrock Rovers signing in February 2017 https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/shamrock-rovers-announce-signings-graham-9823185 He made his League of Ireland debut on 24 March.https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0325/862512-st-pats-v-shamrock-rovers/ During his time with The Hoops he played in four games in the UEFA Europa League.

In 2019, Bone signed for Waterford.{{Cite web|url=https://waterford-news.ie/2019/07/12/bone-very-grateful-for-reynolds-call/|title=BONE VERY GRATEFUL FOR REYNOLDS' CALL|publisher=waterford-news.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/26241/sam-bone-departs-waterford-incredibly-sour-taste/|title=Sam Bone departs Waterford with 'incredibly sour taste'|publisher=extratime.com}} Before the 2021 season, he signed for St Patrick's Athletic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/st-pats-sam-bone-out-23941275|title=St Pat's Sam Bone out to pile more misery on his old club Waterford|publisher=irishmirror.ie}} Before the 2022 season, he signed for Irish top flight side Dundalk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/sam-bone-becomes-third-player-to-follow-stephen-odonnell-from-st-pats-to-dundalk-41187771.html|title=Sam Bone becomes third player to follow Stephen O'Donnell from St Pat's to Dundalk|publisher=independent.ie}}

Before the second half of 2022–23, Bone signed for English fifth tier side Maidstone United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/maidstone/sport/bone-the-stone-280405/|title=Sam Bone joins hometown club Maidstone United after six years playing in Ireland|publisher=kentonline.co.uk}} He stayed with the Stones for the 2023–24 season, and helped them reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

International career

Bone is eligible to represent Malaysia internationally, having been born there.{{Cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230804/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/my/features/meet-kuching-born-midfielder-learning-his-trade-charlton-athletic|title=Meet the Kuching-born midfielder learning his trade at Charlton Athletic|publisher=fourfourtwo.com (Archived)}}

Style of play

Bone mainly operates as a centre-back but has played as a full-back and as a midfielder during his stint with Dundalk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/dundalk-defender-sam-bone-weve-put-ourselves-in-a-really-good-position-41915243.html|title=Dundalk defender Sam Bone – 'We've put ourselves in a really good position'|publisher=independent.ie}}

Personal life

Bone is the son of English professional footballer Billy Bone, who played in Malaysia and Singapore.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vocketfc.com/samuel-bone-berminat-sarung-jersi-harimau-malaya/|title=Samuel Bone Berminat Sarung Jersi Harimau Malaya?|publisher=vocketfc.com}} He has been a supporter of English Premier League side Chelsea.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/chelsea-fan-sam-bone-excited-9833530|title=Chelsea fan Sam Bone excited to be working with Damien Duff at Shamrock Rovers|publisher=irishmirror.ie}}

Career statistics

{{updated|match played 14 September 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup

!colspan="2"|League cup

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="4"|Shamrock Rovers

|2017{{Cite news |title=S. Bone |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/sam-bone/475317/ |website=Soccerway |accessdate=2 December 2023}}

|LOI Premier Division

|16

000202{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in the UEFA Europa League}}0200
2018

|LOI Premier Division

|20

200102{{efn|name=UEL}}0232
2019

|LOI Premier Division

|5

000100060
colspan="2"|Total

!41

2004040492
Waterford (loan)

|2019

|LOI Premier Division

|9

0100000100
Waterford

|2020

|LOI Premier Division

|8

110colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—91
St Patrick's Athletic

|2021

|LOI Premier Division

|32

131colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—352
Dundalk

|2022

|LOI Premier Division

|32

120colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—341
rowspan="3"|Maidstone United

|2022–23

|National League

|18

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—3{{efn|name=FAT|Appearances in the FA Trophy}}0212
2023–24For FA Cup Second Qualifying Round: {{Cite news |title=Steyning vs Maidstone Utd |url=https://maidstoneunited.co.uk/event/steyning-vs-maidstone-utd/ |publisher=Maidstone United F.C. |first=Ben |last=Austen |date=16 September 2023 |accessdate=2 December 2023}}
For FA Cup Third Qualifying Round: {{Cite news |title=Winchester vs Maidstone Utd |url=https://maidstoneunited.co.uk/event/winchester-vs-maidstone-utd/ |publisher=Maidstone United F.C. |first=Ruth |last=Pettifer |date=30 September 2023 |accessdate=2 December 2023}}

|National League South

|36

250colspan="2"|—1{{efn|name=FAT}}0423
colspan="2"|Total

!54

550colspan="2"|—40635
Shelbourne

|2024

|LOI Premier Division

|4

030colspan="2"|—4{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Conference League}}0110
colspan="3"|Career total

!180

101514012021111

{{notelist}}

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

Shelbourne

References

{{reflist}}