view Igoe's match-by-match record
 
Sammy IGOE

A midfielder signed from Reading in the 2003/2004 pre-season, Igoe's last appearance at the County Ground before joining Swindon was with the Royals in February 2002, in a match which saw him sent off for a petulant push on Town player Bobby Howe. Despite this, a sparkling pre-season and a brilliant debut immediately endeared him to the Town fans - a performance which Igoe topped with a goal from a quickly taken free-kick in the opening match of the season versus Sheffield Wednesday.

Igoe continued to shine at the start of the season, but he was quick to show his bad side as well - having scored a magnificent goal in the 4-0 win over Notts County on August 23rd, fifteen minutes later, he reacted to a bad challenge from County's Paul Heffernan with an attempted headbutt, for which he received his marching orders. With the Town's creative midfielder facing a three match ban, manager Andy King sought to bring in a similar player on loan - and signed young starlet James Milner from Leeds. By the time Igoe returned to action, Milner had established himself in the side, and Igoe found himself relegated to the bench - though another sparkling performance from Igoe in the Carling Cup tie at Leeds prompted King to experiment in playing them both in the games with Peterborough and Luton - Milner scored in both games, Igoe struggled and was substituted in both.

When Milner returned to Elland Road, Igoe was restored to the right side of midfield, though it wasn't long before he found himself out of the side again, after a fall down the stairs at home left him with a broken arm. Having been out for a few weeks, Igoe ridiculously removed the plaster himself in an attempt at a quick return to action - only to find that he had potentially lengthened his absence from the side. When Igoe regained full fitness, his return to the side was most welcome - the Town finding themselves in a lowly mid-table position, and though they lost two of the first three games after his return, they went on to win nine and draw two of the next eleven. Igoe found himself in hot water again during this period however - having been hit by Blackpool midfieler Richie Wellens in the game at Bloomfield Road in January, Igoe admitted after the game to having stayed down to help persuade the referee to send Wellens off. The FA charged him with improper conduct, later fining him £800 and warning him over his future conduct.

Igoe remained an integral part of the Town side, scoring the goal in the last match of the season that ensured the Town's place in the play-offs, a fortunate cross early on against Hartlepool that ended in the back of the net. He didn't have much luck in the two games with Brighton - in the first leg, he hit the woodwork with a great effort, and in the second leg, he was forced off with a serious looking back injury in extra time - therefore missing the penalty shoot out that shattered the Town's promotion dreams.

A mystery illness at the start of July 2004 hampered Igoe's pre-season routine - with him complaining of breathing difficulties, at one point, he was hospitalised with fears of a blood clot, that later proved unfounded. Short-term knee and ankle injuries followed - but he recovered in time to start the season, and throughout the year, he was virtually ever-present, missing just three league games, starting in 42. Despite this, he never really rediscovered his form of the previous season, and was inconsistent throughout. He was however responsible for one of the highlights of a disappointing season, with a magnificent last-minute winning goal in a home game versus Bradford, a free-kick that he slammed into the top corner from fully thirty yards, the ball still rising as it hit the post before entering the net.

At the season's end, Igoe rejected the Town's initial contract offer, but made it clear through the papers that he wished to remain at Swindon, despite rumoured interest from Rotherham, Barnsley and Bristol City that the latter two clubs later denied. Even after his contract expired, Igoe returned to pre-season training with Swindon, but finally, after strong links with Brentford came to nothing, he surprisingly moved up to the Championship, signing for his old friend Steve Claridge at Millwall.

PLAYING RECORD:

Season LEAGUE FA CUP LEAGUE CUP OTHER TOTAL
Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls Played Gls
'04/'05 42 (+1) 4 3 - 1 (+1) - 1 (+1) - 47 (+3) 4
'03/'04 35 (+3) 5 - - 2 - - - 37 (+3) 5
TOTAL 77 (+4) 9 3 - 3 (+1) - 1 (+1) - 84 (+6) 9


TRANSFER INFORMATION:

DATE IN/OUT TRANSFER DETAIL
1 JUL 2003 IN Reading
(Bosman free transfer)
19 JUL 2005 OUT Millwall
(Bosman free transfer)


full name

Samuel Gary Igoe


 ENGLAND

date of birth
30 September 1975


             
         
             
             
             
             

usual positions
right-sided attacking midfield

other positions
attacking centre midfield

youth career
Portsmouth

senior career
Portsmouth
Reading
Luton Town (loan)
SWINDON TOWN
Millwall
Bristol Rovers (loan)
Bristol Rovers
Hereford United (loan)
AFC Bournemouth
Havant & Waterlooville
Gosport Borough
Bognor Regis Town (loan)
AFC Portchester