 Samson playing forSt Mirren | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Craig Ian Samson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-04-01)1 April 1984 (age 41) | ||
| Place of birth | Irvine, Scotland | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hibernian (Goalkeeping Coach) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2005 | Kilmarnock | 1 | (0) |
| 2004 | →Queen of the South (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2004 | →Queen of the South (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2005 | →St Johnstone (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Dundee United | 8 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | Ross County | 29 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Dundee | 31 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Hereford United | 11 | (0) |
| 2009–2010 | Ayr United | 32 | (0) |
| 2010–2013 | St Mirren | 87 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Kilmarnock | 73 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Motherwell | 36 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | St Mirren | 49 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Hibernian | 0 | (0) |
| 2022–2024 | Aberdeen | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Scotland U21 | 6 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Craig Ian Samson (born 1 April 1984[2]) is a Scottishfootball coach and a former player who is currently goalkeeping coach withHibernian. Samson is a formerScotland under-21 internationalist, having made six appearances between 2004 and 2005.
He began his playing career withKilmarnock, but made only one league appearance and spent time on loan toQueen of the South andSt Johnstone before leaving the club in 2005. He then spent a season each withDundee United,Ross County,Dundee,Hereford United andAyr United. In 2010, Samson joined St Mirren, where he played for three years and won theScottish League Cup in2013. He rejoined his first club, Kilmarnock, in May 2013. Samson left Kilmarnock in August 2015 and subsequently signed forMotherwell.
After a second spell with St Mirren, Samson retired as a player to become goalkeeping coach atSunderland. He has since held similar positions withRochdale,Hibernian and Aberdeen.
Samson began his career withKilmarnock and made his senior debut on 3 January 2004, in aScottish Premier League match away toAberdeen.[3] That turned out to be his only appearance for the club.
In February 2004, 19 year old Samson moved toQueen of the South on loan[4] and ahead of the 2004–05 season, joined the club on loan again, however he was recalled early by Kilmarnock having only played one match.[5] On 1 January 2005, he went out on loan again, this time toSt Johnstone.[6]
In July 2005, after turning down a new contract at Kilmarnock, Samson signed forDundee United.[7]
On 1 June 2006, Samson joinedRoss County[8] On 12 November 2006, Ross County beatClyde 5–4 on penalties, following a 1–1 draw, with Samson saving penalties fromNeil McGregor andChris Higgins during the shoot-out.[9]
After spending a season withDundee, Samson moved to England, signing forHereford in July 2008.[10] Samson left the English club by "mutual consent" in April 2009.[11]
On 7 July 2009, Samson signed for newly promotedScottish Division One clubAyr United.[12]
On 13 July 2010, Samson signed forScottish Premier League sideSt Mirren.[13] After the departure of goalkeeperPaul Gallacher, Samson was made first choice goalkeeper for St Mirren for the 2011–12 season. Samson soon became a fans favourite for his willingness to dribble the ball out of his goal and for his incredible flying saves, after seven early season shut-outs, Samson's form was rewarded with a full international call up on 6 November 2011.
At the end of season 2011–12, Samson had two of his saves nominated for 'SPL Save of the Season', one being a stunning reflex to stopSone Aluko. Outside the Old Firm, Samson andMotherwell 'keeperDarren Randolph kept the most clean sheets in the division, despite St Mirren finishing 8th in the table. On 17 March 2013, Samson played as St Mirren beatHearts 3–2 to win theLeague Cup.[14]
After rejecting a new contract offer by St Mirren, 29-year-old Samson signed a two-year deal with Kilmarnock.[15] On 6 August 2015, Samson left Kilmarnock, agreeing a release from his contract having lost his first team place to new signingJamie MacDonald.[16]
In September 2015, Samson signed a contract withMotherwell.[17] He made his debut on 23 April 2016, in a 1–0 win against Hearts.[18] On 26 May 2016, he signed a new one-year contract with the club.[19] He was released by the club in May 2017, at the end of his contract.[20]
After four years away fromSt Mirren, Samson rejoined the club on 7 June 2017, signing a two-year deal.[21] Samson played every league match as Saints won theScottish Championship title, and also broke a club record by keeping eight consecutive clean sheets in home league matches.[22] Samson then signed an extension to his contract in May 2018, which was due to keep him at the club until the summer of 2020.[22] Despite playing regularly for St Mirren during the 2018–19 season, Samson opted to retire from playing in November 2018 when he was offered a coaching position atSunderland.[23]
Having previously played for theScotland under-21 side, Samson was called into the fullScotland squad in November 2011[24] and was also named in squads during 2012[25] and 2015.[26]
Samson took up a coaching position atSunderland in November 2018.[23] He left the club in November 2019[27] and was then appointed as the first team goalkeeping coach ofLeague One clubRochdale the following month.[28] He moved toHibernian during the 2020 close season.[29] Samson also registered as a player with Hibs, and was listed as a substitute for aLeague Cup match withBrora Rangers on 7 October.[30] Hibs announced in February 2022 that Samson had left the club.[31] After leaving Hibernian, Samson signed a short-term deal withAberdeen in a player-coaching role due to an injury crisis at the club.[32]
