Kenny Sansom

Sansom was scouted by Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur, but went on to join the youth team at Crystal Palace.[9][10] He made his League debut against Tranmere Rovers on 7 May 1975.

In 1977, he captained the Palace junior team to FA Youth Cup success while also skippering the England youth team at the same level, collecting Palace's "Player of the Year" award in his first season.[11]

Quick, calm, strong in the tackle and an excellent crosser of the ball, Sansom missed just one league game in a consecutive run of 156 games, starting in 1976, when Palace were in the Third Division. In the 1978–79 season Crystal Palace won the Second Division championship with Sansom integral to the young team. They were quickly labelled as the "Team of The '80s".[10][12] and briefly topped the First Division at the start of the 1979–80 season although they ultimately finished in thirteenth position.[10]

Arsenal put in a bid of £1 million for Sansom in the summer of 1980, with striker Clive Allen going in exchange; this was an unusual move, as Allen was an equally prized young player and had only joined Arsenal weeks earlier, and had yet to play a competitive match for the club. Palace accepted the bid and Sansom left for Highbury. [13]

Sansom made his Arsenal debut against West Bromwich Albion on 16 August 1980 and was an ever-present for that season and the next, and a near-constant figure at left-back for Arsenal. He was bestowed with the honour of Arsenal Player of the Season in 1981.[14] Although a third-place finish did ensure European football was back on the agenda, no real title challenge was forthcoming. The next two seasons saw a top-five finish in 1982, and a disappointing tenth in 1983 when matters were not improved by semi-final failure in both domestic cups at the hands of Manchester United. Terry Neill was sacked in December 1983 and Don Howe took over. Arsenal finished sixth and seventh under Howe and although often tipped to challenge, usually flattered to deceive. Sansom though was remarkably consistent and ever present. In fact, after six seasons Sansom missed just seven games in all competitions. He was one of the few players who could really hold up his head in a time of under-achievement.[15] Meanwhile, silverware eluded both Sansom and Arsenal. In May 1986, Millwall manager George Graham, a former Arsenal player, was appointed as Howe’s long-term replacement, and it was the beginning of a new era of success at Highbury. Arsenal’s form immediately improved, so much so that the club were top of the League at Christmas 1986.[16]

Sansom finally won domestic silverware in 1987, captaining Arsenal to a League Cup final victory over Liverpool at Wembley; Arsenal came from a goal down to win 2–1, with Sansom starting the move which had led to Arsenal's late winner, scored by Charlie Nicholas.[13]

The following season, Sansom's relationship with his Arsenal manager Graham soured and he was replaced as captain by fledgling defender Tony Adams, who was just 21. Sansom did, however, keep his place in the side; although Graham had just signed a long-term replacement in Nigel Winterburn. Winterburn was played at right-back rather than left for his first season at the club. Arsenal reached the League Cup final again in 1987–88, only to lose 3–2 to Luton Town in a dramatic and exciting match.[13] Everton away at Goodison Park on 7 May 1988 was the last time Sansom pulled on the red and white shirt.

Sansom left Arsenal in December 1988, having not played a first team game at all for the first four months of 1988–89; Graham had signed Lee Dixon and had reshuffled the side, with Dixon playing at right-back and Nigel Winterburn on the left, replacing Sansom. Sansom had played 394 matches in total for Arsenal, scoring six goals.[13]

Arsenal sold Sansom to Newcastle United for £300,000 in December 1988. The 1988-89 season was a season of contrasting fortunes between the two clubs as Arsenal won the League Championship and his new club finished bottom of the First Division. Sansom transferred to Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 1989 for £300,000 and scored against Arsenal in a 2–0 FA Cup fourth round replay victory at Loftus Road.[17] After making 64 league appearances for QPR, he moved on to Coventry City for £100,000 in March 1991 and made 51 league appearances for 'The Sky Blues'. Sansom then had short spells at Everton (seven league appearances and one goal against Tottenham Hotspur[18]), who he joined on a free transfer in February 1993, and First Division Brentford (eight appearances), who he joined on a free transfer a month later, March 1993, but he could not prevent 'The Bees' from being relegated. After playing non-league football with Chertsey Town, Sansom returned to league football again by joining Glenn Roeder and First Division Watford, as player and first team coach.[19] [20]Sansom made one league appearance for Watford, before he retired from top class football, though he did play on for non-league clubs such as Croydon F.C. and Slough Town. Since retiring from the game, he has often appeared on Sky Sports as a football analyst.[21][22]