Sam Finley
{{short description|English footballer (born 1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sam Finley
| image = Sam Finley at Bristol Rovers.jpg
| caption = Finley with Bristol Rovers in 2022
| fullname = Samuel Joseph Finley{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/image/201920/efl-professional-retain-list--free-transfers---2018-19.pdf |title=Club list of registered players: As at 19th May 2019 |publisher=English Football League |access-date=10 August 2019}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|08|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Liverpool, England
| height = {{height|m=1.70}}
| currentclub = Tranmere Rovers
| clubnumber = 17
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = –2008
| youthclubs1 = Everton
| years1 = 2008–2010
| clubs1 = Southport
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2010–2011
| clubs2 = Warrington Town
| years3 = 2011–2015
| clubs3 = The New Saints
| caps3 = 64
| goals3 = 18
| years4 = 2015
| clubs4 = → Wrexham (loan)
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2015–2018
| clubs5 = AFC Fylde
| caps5 = 95
| goals5 = 17
| years6 = 2018–2020
| clubs6 = Accrington Stanley
| caps6 = 68
| goals6 = 3
| years7 = 2020–2021
| clubs7 = Fleetwood Town
| caps7 = 29
| goals7 = 3
| years8 = 2021–2024
| clubs8 = Bristol Rovers
| caps8 = 104
| goals8 = 5
| years9 = 2024–
| clubs9 = Tranmere Rovers
| caps9 = 33
| goals9 = 2
| club-update = 16:03, 25 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Samuel Joseph Finley (born 4 August 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|TranmerR}} club Tranmere Rovers.
Career
Finley was first picked up as a youth by Everton, where he stayed until he was 16.{{cite web|url=https://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/sport/16321916.stanley-new-boy-sam-finley-eager-to-prove-his-point-in-league-one/|title=Stanley new boy Sam Finley eager to prove his point in League One|work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=28 June 2018|publisher=This Is Lancashire|access-date=4 August 2018}}
Finley would then play for non-league clubs Southport and Warrington, before being released by the latter.{{cite news |title=Finley leaves Town |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/warringtontown/news/finley-leaves-town-488843.html |access-date=22 August 2018 |work=Warrington Town FC}} Following this, Finley was signed by Welsh Premier League side The New Saints.
He would spend 5 years at the Welsh club, making appearances in Champions League qualifying against Legia Warsaw and Anderlecht during his time there. He also won the Welsh Premier League with TNS four years in a row, along with 2 Welsh Cup victories and 1 Welsh League Cup.{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/sam-finley/92960/|title=S. Finley|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=4 August 2018}}
In February 2015, he was loaned to Conference side Wrexham.
In August 2015, Finley would move to AFC Fylde on a free transfer.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=81221|title=Sam Finley|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=4 August 2018}} He stayed at the club for 3 years, eventually becoming club captain.{{cite web|url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/afc-fylde/afc-fylde-captain-sam-finley-joins-accrington-stanley-1-9227243|title=AFC Fylde captain Sam Finley joins Accrington Stanley|date=29 June 2018|publisher=Blackpool Gazette|access-date=4 August 2018}}
On 29 June 2018, Finley signed a 2-year contract with League One side Accrington Stanley. He made his debut for the club on his 26th birthday, coming off of the bench in a 0–2 home defeat to Gillingham.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44989246|title=Accrington Stanley 0-2|date=4 August 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=4 August 2018}}
In April 2020, Finley picked up an 8 match ban as a result of an investigation around a comment made to Rochdale's former Irish international Paul McShane, during a League One fixture on New Year's Day 2020, regarding McShane's nationality.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52369355|title = Accrington's Finley gets eight-game ban|work = BBC Sport}}
On 15 September 2020, Finley left Accrington Stanley by mutual consent and became a free agent. His previous 8 match ban was cited as a reason for the decision.{{Cite web|url=https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2020/september/finley-leaves-the-reds-by-mutual-consent/#:~:text=Midfielder%20Sam%20Finley%20has%20parted,to%20run%20on%20his%20contract.|title = Finley leaves the Reds by mutual consent}}
=Fleetwood Town=
On 18 September 2020, Finley joined Fleetwood Town on a one-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2020/september/finley-joins-fleetwood-town/|title=Finley joins Fleetwood Town|website=www.fleetwoodtownfc.com|date=18 September 2020|access-date=27 May 2021}} He made his debut on 20 October, coming on as a substitute in the 84th minute of a 1–0 away defeat against Accrington, the club he had been released from just a month earlier.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54519065|title=Accrington Stanley 1–0 Fleetwood Town|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 October 2020|access-date=27 May 2021}} He scored his first goal for Fleetwood in a 5–1 win against Plymouth Argyle on 21 November 2020.{{cite news |title=Fleetwood 5-1 Plymouth|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54941052|access-date=21 November 2020}} At the end of the season, it was announced that Finley's contract would not be being renewed by the club and he would be one of nine players to be leaving the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2021/may/retained-list-announced/|title=Retained list announced|website=www.fleetwoodtownfc.com|date=13 May 2021|access-date=27 May 2021}}
=Bristol Rovers=
On 26 May 2021, Finley agreed to join League Two side Bristol Rovers on a two-year contract active from 1 July, linking back up with former-Fleetwood manager Joey Barton.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2021/may/joey-barton-summer-transfers/|title=First Summer Signings Announced!|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=26 May 2021}} Having missed all of pre-season after contracting COVID-19 as well as picking up a muscle injury,{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-rovers-preseason-talking-points-5733285|title=The key men, pleasant surprises and questions to answer from Bristol Rovers' pre-season|publisher=Bristol Post|date=3 August 2021|access-date=22 August 2021}} Finley missed Rovers' first two matches of the season and made his debut on 14 August in a 2–0 home defeat to Stevenage.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58124810|title=Bristol Rovers 0–2 Stevenage|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 August 2021|access-date=22 August 2021}} Finley scored his first goal for the club the following week when he curled a consolation goal into the top corner from 25 yards as Rovers lost 4–1 at Exeter City.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58209897|title=Exeter City 4–1 Bristol Rovers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 August 2021|access-date=22 August 2021}} Finley took the captain's armband for the final match of the season, a 7–0 win over Scunthorpe United that saw Rovers move into the final automatic promotion place on goals scored.
On 20 September 2022, Finley signed a new contract with the club that would see his stay extended until the summer of 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2022/september/new-finley-contract/|title=Finley Signs New Deal|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=20 September 2022|accessdate=20 September 2022}}
Following the departure of Paul Coutts, Finley was named club captain prior to the commencement of the 2023–24 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolworld.com/sport/football/bristol-rovers/bristol-rovers-boss-joey-barton-makes-decision-on-next-captain-after-hint-4244296|title=Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton makes decision on next captain after hint|publisher=Bristol World|last1=Jones|first1=Jordan|date=4 August 2023|accessdate=7 August 2023}} On 19 September 2023, he scored his first goal since April 2022 in a 3–1 EFL Trophy defeat to West Ham United U21s.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/2023/september/West-ham-match-report/|title=Match Report {{!}} Rovers v West Ham U21|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=19 September 2023|accessdate=20 September 2023}} In April 2024, following Rovers' penultimate match of the season, Finley announced that he would be departing the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/its-been-pleasure-sam-finley-9238868|title='It's been a pleasure' - Sam Finley confirms his Bristol Rovers departure after three seasons|publisher=Bristol Post|last=Hargraves|first=Daniel|date=22 April 2024|accessdate=22 April 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/20242/may/bristol-rovers-issue-202324-retained-list/|title=Bristol Rovers issue 2023/24 Retained List|website=www.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=1 May 2024|accessdate=1 May 2024}}
=Tranmere Rovers=
On 4 June 2024, Finley agreed to join League Two side Tranmere Rovers on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2024/june/tranmere-rovers-sign-sam-finley-on-two-year-contract/|title=Tranmere Rovers sign Sam Finley on two-year contract|website=www.tranmererovers.co.uk|date=4 June 2024|accessdate=4 June 2024}} On 25 April 2025, he was suspended for 13 games by the Football Association for homophobic abuse directed to Walsall striker Jamille Matt.{{Cite web |last=Association|first=The Football|title=Sam Finley sanctioned|url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2025/apr/25/sam-finley-sanctioned-250425|access-date=2025-04-25 |website=www.thefa.com|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cm2ekkpkjgxo |title=Tranmere's Finley gets 13-game ban for homophobic slur |website=BBC Sport|date=25 April 2025|accessdate=25 April 2025}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 1 April 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{{efn|Includes appearances in Welsh Cup and FA Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Champions League !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="7"|The New Saints
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011–12
|Welsh Premier League |5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2012–13
|Welsh Premier League |23 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 5 | |
| 2013–14
|Welsh Premier League |26 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 11 | |
| 2014–15
|Welsh Premier League |10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 4 | |
| 2015–16
|Welsh Premier League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 64 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 88 | 23 |
| Wrexham (loan)
|14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="4"|AFC Fylde
|38 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 4{{efn|name=FAT|Appearance(s) in FA Trophy}} | 0 | 43 | 8 | ||
| 2016–17
|National League North |23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 23 | 3 | ||
| 2017–18
|34 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 38 | 7 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total | 95 | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 104 | 18 |
| rowspan="3"|Accrington Stanley
|37 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | colspan=2|– | 3{{efn|name=EFT}} | 1 | 44 | 3 | ||
| 2019–20
|League One |31 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 5{{efn|name=EFT}} | 1 | 38 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2" |Total
!68 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 82 | 6 | |
| Fleetwood Town
|League One |27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 1{{efn|name=EFT}} | 0 | 29 | 3 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Bristol Rovers
|2021–22{{soccerbase season|81221|2021|access-date=22 August 2021}} |36 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1{{efn|name=EFT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 40 | 6 | ||
| 2022–23{{soccerbase season|81221|2022|accessdate=7 May 2023}}
|League One |38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|name=EFT}} | 0 | 43 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24{{soccerbase season|81221|2023|accessdate=22 April 2024}}
|League One |30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=EFT}} | 1 | 38 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!104 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 121 | 7 | |
| colspan="3" |Total
!372 | 46 | 24 | 5 | 12 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 438 | 55 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
- Welsh Premier League: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
- Welsh Cup: 2012, 2014
- Welsh League Cup: 2015
AFC Fylde
Bristol Rovers
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Tranmere Rovers F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finley, Sam}}
Category:Footballers from Liverpool
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Southport F.C. players
Category:Warrington Town F.C. players
Category:The New Saints F.C. players
Category:Wrexham A.F.C. players
Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players
Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. players
Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players
Category:Tranmere Rovers F.C. players
Category:Cymru Premier players
Category:Cymru Alliance players
Category:English Football League players