Sammie Szmodics

Sammie Szmodics
Personal information
Full name Samuel Joseph Szmodics[1]
Date of birth (1995-09-24) 24 September 1995[2]
Place of birth Colchester, England
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[3]
Playing position Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Colchester United
Number 10
Youth career
2002–2013 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013– Colchester United 112 (25)
2015 → Braintree Town (loan) 3 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:19, 14 October 2018 (UTC+1)

Samuel Joseph Szmodics (born 24 September 1995) is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for League Two club Colchester United. He started his career with Colchester United where he progressed through the club's Academy since the age of seven. He made his professional debut for the club in September 2013. He has also appeared for Braintree Town on loan.

Career

Born in Colchester,[3] Szmodics is a product of the Colchester United Academy, having progressed through the club's youth ranks since the age of seven.[4] He was a regular starter and scorer for the under-18 side, which included a goal in Colchester's 3–2 FA Youth Cup defeat by Chelsea on 1 December 2012, sweeping in Macauley Bonne's cross.[5]

2013–14 season

For Colchester United's 2013–14 pre-season campaign, Szmodics was drafted in to the first-team for their friendly fixtures. He was included in manager Joe Dunne's squad for a game at AFC Sudbury on 12 July 2013, and scored twice in two first-half minutes to hand Colchester a 2–0 lead in their eventual 5–0 win.[6] Szmodics was then drafted into the first-team squad during the season while the club were suffering an injury crisis.[7] He came on as a substitute for Craig Eastmond to make his professional debut on 28 September as Colchester drew 1–1 with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.[8]

While appearing in the first-team, Szmodics continued to play for the under-18s. He helped his side to a FA Youth Cup first round 4–1 win over AFC Wimbledon on 12 November by scoring the opening goal, which also helped to extend their unbeaten run to 13 wins from 13 league and cup games.[9]

Szmodics was shortlisted for the Football League Apprentice of the Year award in the League One category in January 2014, facing opposition from Preston North End's Josh Brownhill and Milton Keynes Dons' Brendan Galloway.[10] He finished as runner-up to Galloway in the awards held in March 2014.[11]

With the Colchester United under-18 side, Szmodics helped to earn the club a league title and cup winning double during the 2013–14 season. He scored a hat-trick in the Youth Alliance Cup final held against Bradford City at Valley Parade on 29 April in a 4–2 win for the U's.[12]

Szmodics ended the campaign with seven League One substitute appearances and one FA Cup substitute appearances to his name.[13]

2014–15 season

Szmodics made his first appearance of the season as a second-half substitute for Freddie Sears in Colchester's 4–0 away defeat to Charlton Athletic in the League Cup on 12 August 2014.[14] He then made his first professional start for the club on 30 August, when the U's were defeated 3–1 by Peterborough United at the Colchester Community Stadium. Szmodics was replaced by Dominic Vose after 57 minutes.[15]

Szmodics signed a three-and-a-half year contract extension with Colchester on 10 October to see him through to the summer of 2018.[16] He then scored his first professional goal for the club on 9 November. After coming on as an 81st-minute substitute for Alex Gilbey in the U's FA Cup first round tie against Gosport Borough, Szmodics lifted the ball over the Gosport goalkeeper in stoppage time, scoring Colchester's sixth goal in a 6–3 win.[17] He scored his first league goal on Boxing Day 2014 in Colchester's 2–1 home defeat by Gillingham, turning in Sean Clohessy's pass.[18] Having been confined mostly to substitute appearances, manager Humes admitted that Szmodics had been "very close" to being a regular starter for the club over the Christmas period, and that the player was "very much in our thoughts, going forward".[19] Szmodics then broke into the first-team with a string of starts, beginning with a goalless draw with Crawley Town on 28 December.[20]

After breaking into the first-team and making 35 appearances across the season, as well as scoring five goals,[21] Szmodics was named as Colchester United 'Young Player of the Year' in May 2015.[22]

2015–16 season and Braintree Town loan

After making six appearances in the first team in the early stages of the 2015–16 season, Szmodics was allowed to leave the club on loan in order to gain more first-team experience. He joined National League side Braintree Town on 30 October 2015 for an initial month-long loan.[23] He made a goalscoring debut the following day as his 75th-minute goal earned Braintree a 1–0 win against Macclesfield Town at Cressing Road.[24] Szmodics was recalled by his parent club on 27 November following manager Tony Humes' dismissal by Colchester on 26 November.[25]

A foot injury kept Szmodics out of action for several months, wearing a protective boot and requiring injections in order to avoid an operation across Christmas and the New Year.[26] He was ruled out for the rest of the season in March 2016 after undergoing surgery on his ankle.[27] He had made eight appearances for Colchester in addition to his three for Braintree.[28] Szmodics signed a three-year contract extension with the club on 21 June.[29]

2016–17 season

Szmodics scored his first goal of the 2016–17 season on 27 August 2016 in Colchester's 2–0 win at Adams Park against Wycombe Wanderers.[30] His ankle injury resurfaced during the latter stages of 2016, and in January 2017 he was forced to undergo surgery on his troublesome ankle which physio Tony Flynn estimated would keep Szmodics out of action for approximately six weeks.[31] He returned to action on 4 March 2017, replacing Sean Murray during Colchester's game against Cambridge United. Within eight minutes of being introduced, Szmodics scored an equaliser for Colchester to earn a 1–1 draw.[32] Following a challenge on Crewe Alexandra striker Chris Dagnall during Colchester's 2–0 away defeat on 18 March, it was confirmed that Szmodics had broken his leg and would be ruled out for the remainder of the campaign, having scored five goals in 23 games for Colchester.[33]

2017–18 season

Szmodics came off the bench to score his first goal of the season and Colchester's only goal on 5 August in their season-opening 3–1 defeat at Accrington Stanley.[34] After scoring five goals in five games throughout December, including a brace in a 3–1 win against Exeter City, Szmodics was nominated for the EFL League Two Player of the Month award.[35] His performances during the first half of the season led to speculation that he was to sign for Premier League side A.F.C. Bournemouth for a £1 million fee during the January transfer window.[36] He was subsequently named League Two Player of the Month on 12 January.[37]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 October 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colchester United 2013–14[13] League One 7010000080
2014–15[21] League One 31421101[lower-alpha 1]0355
2015–16[28] League One 5010101[lower-alpha 1]080
2016–17[38] League Two 19510102[lower-alpha 2]0235
2017–18[39] League Two 371200102[lower-alpha 2]14013
2018–19[40] League Two 14400112[lower-alpha 2]0165
Total 1122551518113028
Braintree Town (loan) 2015–16[28] National League 3200––32
Career total 1152751518113330
  1. 1 2 Appearance in Football League Trophy
  2. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

Honours

Colchester United U18

Individual

  • 2015 Colchester United Young Player of the Year[22]

References

  1. ↑ "Professional Retain List & Free Transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. ↑ Sammie Szmodics at Soccerbase
  3. 1 2 "Colchester United". FootballSquads. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Myers, Richard (31 July 2013). "Sammie Szmodics Q&A". St. Edmunds Youth FC (Colchester). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Marston, Carl (3 December 2012). "Chelsea coach Viveash gives credit to young U's". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Colchester United net weekend wins". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  7. ↑ Marston, Carl (9 October 2013). "Dunne's appeal to his injured players". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  8. ↑ "Bristol City 1–1 Colchester". BBC Sport. 28 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Marston, Carl (15 November 2013). "The U's successful conveyor belt". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Gregory, David (30 January 2014). "Sammie Up For FL Award". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "Brendan Galloway named LFE Apprentice of the Year for League 1". The Football League. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  12. 1 2 Marston, Carl (30 April 2014). "League-Cup double for super Colchester United Under-18s". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Games played by Sammie Szmodics in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  14. ↑ "Charlton 4–0 Colchester". BBC Sport. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Colchester 1–3 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  16. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (10 October 2014). "Szmodics pens new deal with U's". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "Gosport Borough 3–6 Colchester". BBC Sport. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  18. ↑ "Colchester 1–2 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 26 December 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  19. ↑ Marston, Carl (27 December 2014). "High praise for Colchester United's Sammie Szmodics, from the boss". East Anglian Daily Times. Ipswich. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  20. ↑ Marston, Carl (2 January 2015). "Sammie Szmodics looking forward to a big year at Colchester United". East Anglian Daily Times. Colchester. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  21. 1 2 "Games played by Sammie Szmodics in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  22. 1 2 Waldron, Jonathan (9 May 2015). "Eastman wins U's player of the year award for second successive year". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "Sammie Szmodics: Braintree Town sign Colchester United midfielder". BBC Sport. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  24. ↑ "Braintree 1–0 Macclesfield". BBC Sport. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  25. ↑ Hudson, Matt (27 November 2015). "Sammie Recalled". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  26. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (23 February 2016). "Colchester United hoping Sammie Szmodics can avoid a foot operation after two-month lay-off". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  27. ↑ "Colchester United forward Sammie Szmodics out for rest of the season". Sky Sports. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  28. 1 2 3 "Games played by Sammie Szmodics in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  29. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (21 June 2016). "Sammie Szmodics has committed his future to Colchester United". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  30. ↑ "Wycombe Wanderers 0–2 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  31. ↑ Gregory, David (4 January 2017). "Surgery For Szmodics". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  32. ↑ "Cambridge United 1–1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  33. ↑ Spurgeon, Simon (19 March 2017). "Another injury blow for Colchester as Szmodics confirms he's broken his leg". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  34. ↑ "Accrington Stanley 3–1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 5 August 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  35. ↑ Spurgeon, Simon (9 January 2018). "Sky Bet League Two monthly award nominations for John McGreal and Sammie Szmodics". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  36. ↑ Woods, David (7 January 2018). "Bournemouth transfer EXCLUSIVE: Sammie Szmodics to join from Colchester in £1m deal". Daily Star. London. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  37. ↑ "Player of the Month: Sammie Szmodics - Colchester United". English Football League. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Sammie Szmodics in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Sammie Szmodics in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Sammie Szmodics in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  41. ↑ "Newsletter 34" (PDF). The Football League. 14 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
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