Sam Stockley

Stockley began his career as a trainee at Southampton but was unable to break into the first team. He moved to Third Division outfit Barnet during the 1996–97 season, making his debut under Terry Bullivant in a 3–0 defeat by Swansea City at Vetch Field on 14 January. He played a further 20 league games that season, before making a total of 49 appearances in league and cup in 1997–98. He continued to be an almost constant presence at Underhill under John Still in 1998–99 and 1999–2000, making 45 and 39 appearances respectively, and scoring his first league goal in a 3–1 win over Hull City at Boothferry Park on 24 April 2000. He played 52 games for new boss Tony Cottee in 2000–01, scoring his second senior goal on 19 August in a 3–3 home draw with Mansfield Town. He was also named as the club's Player of the Year for 2001, and also picked up the club's 'Most Improved Player' award.[3] Having played 209 games for the "Bees", he was sold on to Oxford United for a fee of £150,000 in July 2001 after becoming dissatisfied with his wages at Barnet.[4]

He played 44 games for Oxford under Mark Wright and Ian Atkins in 2001–02 as the "Yellows" struggled to retain their Football League status. He was loaned out to Second Division Colchester United at the start of the 2002–03 season, then managed by Steve Whitton,[5] before moving permanently on a free transfer in October 2002.[6] He scored his third ever goal on 29 October, in a 1–1 draw with Barnsley at Layer Road,[7] and finished the campaign with 35 appearances to his name. He signed a new contract for Phil Parkinson's side after he missed just two of United's 60 matches in the 2003–04 season.[8] He played 44 games in 2004–05, scoring on the opening day of the season with a "stunning strike" from 25 yards in a 3–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in League One.[9] He played 34 games for the "U's" in the promotion season of 2005–06, scoring his fifth career goal from 25 yards in a 3–1 defeat to Southend United at Roots Hall on 29 August.[10] He joined Blackpool on loan in March 2006, featuring seven times for Simon Grayson's "Seasiders".

After his release from Colchester following 171 appearances for the club,[11] Stockley moved to Paul Lambert's Wycombe Wanderers of League Two in July 2006.[12] He spent the 2006–07 season as the club's regular right-back, but also filled in as centre-back and sweeper during tactical changes. He played a total of 42 times, scoring his sixth and final league goal at London Road in a 3–3 draw with Peterborough United on 31 March.[13] He lost his place at right-back to Russell Martin in the 2007–08 season, but was used as a left-back on many occasions, featuring 23 times throughout the campaign. In February 2008, he had a trial with American club FC Dallas.[14]

Stockley left Wycombe and signed for Port Vale in May 2008,[15] signing a two-year deal. He was appointed as captain in July of that year by manager Lee Sinnott.[16] By mid-season Stockley found himself regularly on the Vale bench under new boss Dean Glover, but said "I think that Port Vale haven't seen the best of me yet, but I believe they will because I'm really happy here".[17] He managed to battle his way back into the first team and win back his captaincy (from Marc Richards) during the latter part of the 2008–09 season.[18] Stockley admitted that at times in the season he had considered retirement, but after winning back his first team spot he said he was enjoying his football.[19]

He renegotiated his contract in August 2009 in order to gain more first team football in the 2009–10 season; a clause that entitled Stockley to a 12-month contract extension after fifty games was removed.[20] He started the season fighting with new signing Adam Yates for a regular place, but was transfer-listed in late September, along with the entire Port Vale squad, after manager Micky Adams saw his team slip to a third consecutive defeat.[21] After twelve appearances in the campaign, the defender shocked Vale fans by announcing his retirement in November 2009, at the age of 32. He took the decision to retire on medical advice, having suffered an eye injury.[22]

"This has undoubtedly been the most difficult decision in my career and it's not one I've taken lightly. I've had 16 years in professional football and have some fantastic memories, but it's important I put my health and my family first. My eyesight is something which has been troubling me and, unfortunately, I've had to make the decision to stop playing... I've had sixteen fantastic years playing at a professional level, playing for great managers, great clubs in front of some fantastic supporters and it has been fantastic... I get caught up with it, and have always said to the lads, when I finish football I want to walk away and I want people to say, you know, he was a real good lad, a real nice lad, he worked hard, he trained hard, he played hard and he was an okay player, and that is all I ever wanted."

— Stockley reflects upon his career.[23][24]

In January 2010 he came out of retirement to sign with Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC in a coaching capacity, then managed by Craig Short.[25] He played 15 Nemzeti Bajnokság I (top flight) games in 2009–10, also featuring four times in 2010–11 under László Prukner.

In January 2011, he joined Conference North club Telford United.[26] However, without making a single first team appearance for the "Bucks", Stockley signed for league rivals Droylsden the following month – to the frustration of Telford manager Andy Sinton.[27] Later in the year he travelled to the US to sign with F.C. New York of the newly formed USL Pro (third tier). They fared poorly in 2011, not reaching the play-offs having finished fifth in the six team division. Professional football did not return to the Belson Stadium in 2012, as the club did not enter a league competition.[28] In April 2012, Stockley signed for the Carolina RailHawks of the North American Soccer League for the 2012 season.[29]