Sam Strong (soccer)

Samuel Strong (born August 23, 1996) is an American soccer player who currently plays for Rajpracha FC in the Thai League 2.

Sam Strong
Personal information
Full name Samuel Strong
Date of birth (1996-08-23) August 23, 1996
Place of birth Santa Barbara, California, United States
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Rajpracha
Youth career
Real So Cal
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos 30 (2)
2017 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers 14 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015 Ventura County Fusion 3 (0)
2017 Ventura County Fusion 12 (3)
2018–2019 Fresno FC 17 (0)
2020 Hartford Athletic 15 (2)
2021 San Diego 1904 16 (1)
2022 Monterey Bay 4 (0)
2022 → Central Valley Fuego (loan) 15 (0)
2023 Central Valley Fuego 6 (0)
2023– Rajpracha 8 (4)
International career
2015 United States U23 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 14, 2023

Career

College & Amateur

Born in Santa Barbara, Strong played youth soccer with Santa Barbara Soccer Club and Real So Cal. He also played one season of high school soccer with San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara where he graduated in 2014. Strong received a scholarship to play college soccer at UC Santa Barbara between 2015 and 2016, where he scored 2 goals in 30 appearances for the Gauchos.[1] In November 2016, Strong was charged with felony count of assault with a deadly weapon and a misdemeanor count of reckless driving. Strong had seen a UCSB parking official placing a clamp on one of his tires in a campus parking lot and responded by getting into his car and driving away, nearly hitting the officer. He was subsequently dismissed from the UCSB soccer team.[2] Strong later played one season of soccer at Coastal Carolina University in 2017.[3]

While at college, Strong played with USL PDL side Ventura County Fusion in 2015[4] and 2017.[5]

Professional

Strong signed with United Soccer League side Fresno FC on December 21, 2017, ahead of their inaugural season.[6] He made his professional debut on July 25, 2018, starting in a 0–0 draw with Oklahoma City Energy.[7] On December 2, 2019, Strong signed with Hartford Athletic.[8] During his time with Hartford Athletic, Strong was the 2020 club defender of the year as voted by the fans.

Strong signed with National Independent Soccer Association club San Diego 1904 FC on August 6, 2021, he scored on his debut in a match vs Maryland Bobcats on August 8, 2021.[9]

Strong was announced as a signing for USL Championship expansion side Monterey Bay FC on February 14, 2022.[10] Strong returned to Fresno on July 22, 2022, by way of a loan to Central Valley Fuego FC for the remainder of the 2022 USL League One season.[11] His contract option was declined by Monterey Bay at the end of the season.[12]

In March 2023, it was announced that Strong had signed with Central Valley Fuego on a permanent deal.[13] In July 2023 Strong and Central Valley Fuego mutually parted ways. Later that month Strong signed a contract with Rajpracha FC of the Thai League 2, being the first time Strong has played for a team outside of the United States.

References
  1. "Sam Strong". UC Santa Barbara.
  2. "UCSB Soccer Player Charged with Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Reckless Driving". noozhawk.com. November 8, 2016. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  3. https://coastal_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/sports/m-soccer/stats/2017-2018/teamcume.html
  4. "2015". USL PDL.
  5. "Statistics - 2016 Regular Season - Premier Development League". www.uslpdl.com.
  6. Moreno, Angel (21 December 2017). "Fresno FC adds Lamin Suma and Sam Strong".
  7. "2018 -OKC Energy FC vs Fresno FC- uslsoccer.com". www.uslsoccer.com.
  8. "Defender Sam Strong Joins Hartford Athletic". Hartfordathletic.com. December 2, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  9. [San Diego 1904 FC "Welcome Defender Samuel Strong to the squad!"]. Twitter.com. Retrieved 7 August 2021. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  10. "Monterey Bay F.C. Signs Santa Barbara Native Sam Strong". www.montereybayfc.com. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  11. "Central Valley Fuego FC Acquires Sam Strong on Loan from Monterey Bay F.C." FuegoFC.com. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  12. "Monterey Bay Football Club Announces 2023 Roster Moves".
  13. "Fuego FC Twitter". Twitter. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-09.


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