Collin Samuel

Collin Andrew Samuel CM (born 27 August 1981) is a Trinidad and Tobago former professional footballer who played as a winger or striker. He represented Trinidad and Tobago at senior international level and played in the 2006 World Cup. He played abroad professionally for a number of clubs in Scotland, including Falkirk, Dundee United and St Johnstone, as well as Toronto FC in Canada and Luton Town in England.

Collin Samuel
CM
Personal information
Full name Collin Andrew Samuel[1]
Date of birth (1981-08-27) 27 August 1981
Place of birth Manzanilla, Trinidad and Tobago
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger, striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Doc's Khelwalaas
2000–2002 San Juan Jabloteh
2002–2003 Falkirk 34 (11)
2003–2007 Dundee United 116 (14)
2007–2008 Toronto FC 19 (3)
2008–2011 St Johnstone 83 (13)
2011 Luton Town 1 (0)
2012 Arbroath 14 (4)
2012 East Fife 22 (3)
2013–2014 Sauchie
2014–2016 Guaya United
2016–2017 Ma Pau Stars
International career
2002–2009 Trinidad and Tobago 24 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Early career

Samuel began his career with Doc's Khelwalaas of his native Trinidad, where he played from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, he moved to one of the nation's largest clubs, San Juan Jabloteh, where he played the 2001 and 2002 seasons.

Falkirk

Samuel moved to Scotland in August 2002 when he was scouted by Simon Lindsay for Falkirk. He scored 16 goals in 42 appearances in his first season for the then-Scottish First Division side, including a first half hat-trick in a 4–0 Scottish Cup victory against Hearts. During his spell with Falkirk, he had an unsuccessful trial with Everton in the English Premier League.

Dundee United

Samuel moved to Scottish Premier League club Dundee United on 11 July 2003 for £100,000.

Samuel was not as prolific at Tannadice, scoring just 15 goals in total during his four seasons there. Despite scoring on his debut, Samuel managed just one more all season and failed to score at all during 2004–05. Samuel was part of the Dundee United match day squad which participated in the Scottish Cup final in season 2004–05 against Celtic. Despite losing that cup final 1–0, the team still qualified for the following season's UEFA Cup in which Samuel scored against Finnish team, MyPa, at Tannadice in the second leg of the qualifying round tie. Finding his form somewhat that particular season, he managed seven goals, including three in four games during December. In 2006–07, however, Samuel scored five times for United.[3] Generally starting from the bench, he was frequently used as a right midfielder or as a forward. Samuel was told he was free to leave Dundee United at the end of the 2006–07 season,[4] with interest shown by Major League Soccer side Toronto FC and Scottish First Division side, St Johnstone.[5] Samuel subsequently played his last game for Dundee United in their final game of the 2006–07 season, a 0–0 draw at home to Motherwell.

Toronto FC

After being released by Dundee United, media speculation increasingly linked him with moves to a team in the Major League Soccer and the aforementioned St Johnstone. Samuel eventually signed for MLS side Toronto FC, during which time he started every game for the Canadian club, making 19 appearances and scoring three goals for the injury-racked club in their inaugural season. He was released from Toronto FC in April 2008 due to personal reasons, with the club allowed a limited number of international players on their roster.

St Johnstone

Samuel then signed a two-year deal with Scottish First Division side St Johnstone on 6 May 2008 where he proceeded to play no small part in the campaign that led to promotion back to the Scottish Premier League for the 2009–10 season.[6]

Despite being injured for half of the season in St Johnstone's return to the SPL in 2009–10, he still managed seven SPL goals plus one in the cup. He has signed a one-year contract for the 2010–11 campaign, scoring three goals in 36 appearances over the season. He was released at the end of his contract in May 2011.

Later career

Samuel was signed on 31 August 2011, the transfer deadline day, by Luton Town of the English Conference Premier,[7] but left the club by mutual consent after playing one game.[8]

On 20 January 2012, Samuel signed for Scottish Second Division club Arbroath until the end of the 2011–12 season.[9] In the summer of 2012, Samuel moved to East Fife, another Second Division club until the end of the season.[10]

In August 2013, Samuel had a successful trial with Junior outfit Sauchie and signed a contract for the 2013–14 season.

In 2015 he became James Baird's player/assistant manager at Guaya United. In February 2016, he joined North East Stars as a player-coach

Samuel returned to Scotland for work and joined Mill AFC as player/coach.[11]

International career

Samuel played for the Trinidad and Tobago national team, having made his debut on 11 January 2002.[12] He played for the team in the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup and was called up to the 2006 World Cup squad. He started the opening group match against Sweden and helped the team earn a goalless draw.

As a member of the squad that competed at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Samuel was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold Class), the second highest state decoration of Trinidad and Tobago.[13]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[14]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Falkirk 2002–03 Scottish First Division 33114431––4016
Dundee United 2003–04 Scottish Premier League 2621020––292
2004–05 1803030––240
2005–06 357101011–388
2006–07 3752020––415
Total 116147080110013215
Toronto 2007 Major League Soccer 183–183
2008 10–10
Total 19300000000193
St Johnstone 2008–09 Scottish First Division 2861010––306
2009–10 Scottish Premier League 2750012––287
2010–11 2825130––363
Total 8313615200009416
Luton Town 2011–12 Conference Premier 1000–––10
Arbroath 2011–12 Scottish Second Division 1340000––134
East Fife 2012–13 Scottish Second Division 2230000–5[lower-alpha 1]1274
Career total 28748175163115132658
  1. Four appearances in Scottish Second Division play-offs; one appearance, one goal in Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

San Juan Jabloteh

Falkirk

Dundee United

St Johnstone

Arbroath

Sauchie Juniors

Individual

References
  1. "Collin Andrew Samuel". Player History. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  2. "Collin Samuel". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  3. "Collin Samuel Player Profile". arabarchive. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  4. "Samuel on way out at Tannadice". The Courier (Dundee). 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 20 May 2007.
  5. "Visa blow for Samuel". The Courier (Dundee). 16 May 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2007.
  6. "Samuel joins up at St Johnstone". BBC News. 6 May 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2008.
  7. "Luton sign forwards Stuart Fleetwood and Collin Samuel". BBC Sport. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  8. "Collin Samuel exits Luton Town after one game". BBC Sport. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 8 November 2011.
  9. "Arbroath sign-up international striker Collin Samuel". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
  10. "Scottish Division Two ins and outs". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  11. "Samuel now player/coach at North East Stars". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. Port of Spain. 12 February 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  12. "Collin Andrew Samuel". Soca Warriors. Archived from the original on 31 January 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  13. "Birchall and Bell up for award". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  14. "Collin Andrew Samuel". World-soccer.org. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  15. "Falkirk denied SPL promotion". The Guardian. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  16. "Stirlingshire Cup". SFHA. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  17. "Forfarshire Cup Final 2005". Arab Archives. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  18. "St Johnstone 3-1 Greenock Morton". BBC. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  19. "Super Sauchie show their mettle at both ends to secure historic East of Scotland Cup win". Alloa Advertiser. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
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