“ To play with Sam he was always a hard worker, who always gave 100% per cent. He played centre-mid or right-back when I played with him and you always knew what you were going to get with him. Nothing fancy, nothing special but always gave everything for the team. Done the dirty work. I would hate to play against him. ” (Danny Hutchins)

Samuel Peter Cox is a name that many Spurs fans will be familiar with because of his association with Spurs as a player, and now as an Academy coach. Part of a very talented Spurs youth side that played during the late 2000s, London born footballer Sam Cox joined Spurs as a schoolboy footballer, and later signed scholarship forms with the club for the start of the 2007/08 season. From there the talented and versatile player who can play as a holding midfielder or as a full-back progressed into the Spurs Under 18 side, where he became a regular for them. The then Spurs player played with the likes of Steven Caulker, Ryan Mason, John Bostock, Harry Kane, Andros Townsend and Danny Rose, to name just some of the members of what was an incredibly talented Spurs youth team. Sam later progressed up from the Under 18 side, and he even made a first team match-day squad for Spurs in a UEFA Cup tie against Shakhtar Donetsk at White Hart Lane back in the late 2000s. The defensive minded midfielder who always gave 100% on the pitch for Spurs during his days at the club was and still very much is a very difficult player to play against. Playing the game at a high intensity, Sam is a very determined player regardless of where he plays on the pitch, and he never allows players to have any time on the ball, such is his fantastic work rate. However, he is also a good technical player who has good skill on the ball as well.

While a part of the Spurs reserve side Sam went out on some loans, starting with a loan to Cheltenham Town, then a loan to Histon FC and then Torquay United. Sam left Spurs permanently at the end of the 2009/10 season to join Barnet, as he began a new footballing journey, one which would see him experience some of the highest levels of non-League football. After over a year with Barnet where he was part of the side who incredibly avoided relegation to the non-League, Sam joined Boreham Wood on loan until the February of 2012. Then after coming back to Barnet and seeing out the remainder of the 2011/12 season with them the former Spurs man joined up with Hayes & Yeading (he was the captain of the team) for the start of the 2012/13 season, and he played for them for that season. However, Sam would return to Boreham Wood for the following season, and he would spend just over three successful years with them. During his time with Boreham Wood Sam played with and was also coached by another former Spurs player, in Mario Noto. After those years spent at Boreham Wood during his second time there Sam moved onto another non-League side in Wealdstone. After a good time there he joined Hampton & Richmond Borough FC on an initial loan move in the autumn of 2018, and he would sign for them on a permanent transfer in the September of 2019. Sam has been with Hampton & Richmond Borough FC since then, where he has gone onto become an important player for the team, and he played for them as recently as last Saturday, in a 1-1 draw with Tonbridge Angels FC.

During the 2020/21 The Vanarama National League South season (it wasn’t completed that season) Sam helped Hampton & Richmond Borough FC to achieve a sixth place finish in the league, just ten points off of league leaders Dorking Wanderers. And he will no doubt be an important player for Hampton & Richmond Borough FC again this season in the league and in the FA Cup. Probably Sam’s greatest achievement to date in his footballing career has been captaining the Senior national team of Guyana, and he was an important part of the Guyana side that qualified for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, something which he must be incredibly proud of. In addition to his playing career with Hampton & Richmond Borough and Guyana, the one time Spurs player has since returned to the club where he started his playing career at, this time as an Academy coach. A promising young coach, Sam is helping Spurs’ very talented young players to improve their game, and I’m sure that as an ex-player that the current Academy players all look up to him. I actually asked a former Spurs Academy player what it was like to be coached by Sam during his time at the club. The former Spurs Academy player told me that he connected with the Academy players not only by being a coach, but also as somewhat a team as well (this ex-Spurs player actually played with Sam in a pre-season friendly back in 2018). The ex-Spurs Academy player also told me how that going through the same journey as some of the Academy players, how he knew what it took and also what coaches looked out for.

A player who has always made a positive impact on the pitch for the clubs that he has played for, Sam Cox was a very popular player at Spurs, and for all that he has achieved so far in his footballing career Sam should be very proud. As to be able to play at one of the highest levels of non-League football is something which is still a great achievement, as is playing international football. I would like to wish Sam all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season both on and off the pitch, and I definitely plan on catching a Hampton & Richmond game this season, as it’s always great to follow the progress of the ex-Spurs Academy lads.