Sam Baldock

Samuel Edward Thomas Baldock (born 15 March 1989) is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Reading.

Sam Baldock
Baldock warming up for West Ham United in 2012
Personal information
Full name Samuel Edward Thomas Baldock[1]
Date of birth (1989-03-15) 15 March 1989
Place of birth Buckingham, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Reading
Number 9
Youth career
2003–2004 Wimbledon
2004–2005 Milton Keynes Dons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2011 Milton Keynes Dons 100 (33)
2011–2012 West Ham United 23 (5)
2012–2014 Bristol City 83 (34)
2014–2018 Brighton & Hove Albion 81 (18)
2018– Reading 45 (10)
National team‡
2009 England U20 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 July 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18:38, 5 February 2014 (UTC)

He grew up in the village of Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, while attending the Royal Latin School in Buckingham. His younger brother, George Baldock, is contracted to Sheffield United.

Club career

Milton Keynes Dons

Baldock was born in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire.[3] Having joined the Wimbledon F.C. youth system following the club's 2003 relocation to Milton Keynes,[4] Baldock signed as a trainee in July 2004, just after the club renamed itself as Milton Keynes Dons.[5][6] 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.[7]

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 Football League Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on 30 March 2008, helping MK Dons win their first ever trophy.[8]

As new manager Roberto Di Matteo joined MK Dons, Baldock made his break-through season as he became 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.[8] 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.[8]

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.[8]

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.[9]

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. Fittingly his last goals for the club came against the opponents he scored his first goal against, Norwich[8]

West Ham United

On 26 August 2011 Baldock joined West Ham United for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract with an option for an additional year. He was allocated the number 7 shirt.[8] 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.[10] His first two West Ham goals were scored in 4–0 win on 15 October 2011 against Blackpool at Upton Park.[11] He then got his second two-goal haul in successive home matches helping the Hammers to a 3–2 victory over Leicester City.[12] Despite scoring five goals in his first six starts, an injury reduced his first team opportunities, as did the arrival of Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Tê.

Bristol City

Baldock joined Bristol City in August 2012 for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.[13][14] He made his debut on 25 August, in a 4–2 win against Cardiff, in which he scored and assisted a goal.[15] He scored again on 15 September, in a 5–3 defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers[16] and a brace in the club's following match, a 2–1 win away at Peterborough to take his tally to four goals in four matches for Bristol City. Baldock finished the 2012–13 season with 10 goals but couldn't help Bristol City survive as they were relegated to League 1.[17]

During the pre-season, Baldock failed to score but fellow striker Steven Davies moved to Blackpool[18] leaving Baldock as the only recognised goal scorer at Bristol City. Sean O'Driscoll made Baldock captain at the start of the season and his first goal came in a 2–0 away win in the first round of the League Cup.[19] He scored a brace against Coventry in a thrilling game which city lost 5–4.[20] He continued his great start by scoring his 2nd brace of the season against old club MK Dons. He chose not to celebrate either goal after saying it was an emotional day.[21] Baldock finished the League One 2013–14 season with the Golden Boot as top scorer with 24 goals.[22]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 27 August 2014, Baldock signed for Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee[23] in the region of £2 million.[24]

Reading

On 30 July 2018, Baldock transferred to Reading on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[25]

International career

On 26 August 2009, Baldock was called up to an initial 30-man squad for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.[26] 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."[27]

Career statistics
As of match played 21 July 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Milton Keynes Dons 2005–06[28] League One 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
2006–07[29] League Two 1000001[lower-alpha 1]020
2007–08[30] League Two 5010003[lower-alpha 1]090
2008–09[31] League One 401200212[lower-alpha 2]04413
2009–10[32] League One 21532004[lower-alpha 1]32810
2010–11[33] League One 291220112[lower-alpha 2]13414
2011–12[34] League One 44—22—66
Total 10033625413412443
West Ham United 2011–12[34] Championship 23510——245
Bristol City 2012–13[35] Championship 341000——3410
2013–14[36] League One 452441312[lower-alpha 1]05426
2014–15[37] League One 40—00—40
Total 83344131209236
Brighton & Hove Albion 2014–15[37] Championship 2032100—224
2015–16[38] Championship 28410202[lower-alpha 2]0334
2016–17[39] Championship 31110031—3412
2017–18[40] Premier League 203000—50
Total 81186151209420
Reading 2018–19[41] Championship 2150020–235
2019–20 Championship 2452120–286
Career total 332100195176174385115
  1. Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. Appearances in Football League play-offs

Honours

Milton Keynes Dons

Brighton & Hove Albion

Individual

References
  1. "List of Players – 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. "Sam Baldock - Forward - Reading FC". www.readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 550. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  4. "Sam Baldock". Milton Keynes Dons. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011. Sam ... joined the club as a 14-year-old. As Baldock was born on 15 March 1989, joining "as a 14-year-old" would mean he entered the youth system before 15 March 2004. Wimbledon F.C. did not become Milton Keynes Dons until July 2004.
  5. "Saints hit sorry Dons for six (MK Citizen 16 September 2004)". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  6. "Dons under-16s beat Spurs (MK Citizen 17 December 2004)". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  7. "MK Dons 1, Colchester United 2 (MK Citizen 20 December 2005)". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  8. "Hammers bag Baldock". whufc.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
  9. "Baldock transfer talk ends in Posh war of words". Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  10. "Millwall 0–0 West Ham". BBC Sport. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  11. "Blackpool rout pleases Big Sam". whufc.com. 15 October 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  12. "Big Sam hails Little Sam". whufc.com. 29 October 2011. Archived from the original on 31 October 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  13. "Baldock departs". West Ham United FC. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  14. "Brilliant Baldock signs". Bristol City FC. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  15. "Bristol City 4–2 Cardiff". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  16. ""Bristol City 3–5 Blackburn Rovers"". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  17. "Bristol City relegated to League One". Bristol Post. 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  18. "Steven Davies: Blackpool sign Bristol City striker". BBC Sport. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  19. "Gillingham 0–2 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  20. "Coventry 5–4 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 11 August 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  21. "It was emotional – Baldock". Bristol City Football Club. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  22. "Bristol City striker Sam Baldock lands the League One Golden Boot and thanks his team-mates". Archived from the original on 4 May 2014.
  23. "BBC Sport — Sam Baldock: Brighton & Hove Albion sign Bristol City striker". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  24. "Sale of Sam Baldock earned Bristol City "close to" £2 million — Bristol Post". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  25. "Sam Baldock is a Royal!". readingfc.co.uk. Reading F.C. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  26. James Chard (26 August 2009). "Baldock surprised by England call". MK Citizen. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  27. "Baldock set for U20 World Cup". Milton Keynes Dons. 11 September 2009. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  28. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  29. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  30. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  31. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  32. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  33. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  34. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  35. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  36. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  37. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  38. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  39. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  40. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  41. "Games played by Sam Baldock in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  42. "Albion could net almost £5 million from Sam Baldock's move to Reading". The Argus. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  43. "Baldock named Young Player of the Month". The Football League. 13 September 2010. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010.
  44. "Player and Supporter of the Year awards". 28 July 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
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