Sam Blackman

DOB: 9th July 1995

Position: Midfielder

Season of first appearance: 2017/18

Season of last appearance: 2024/25

Full Appearances: 136

Substitute: 9

Goals: 16

Also played for:

Kings Warriors, Leatherhead, Concord Rangers, Dartford, Hythe Town, Folkestone Invicta

Player Profile:

Combative midfielder who as a youth spent time with the academies at Dartford and Millwall before going to America to play for Kings Warriors while studying in the US.

He then returned to the UK and joined Isthmian Premier side Leatherhead. Sam started the 2017-18 season with the Surrey club and was in their team that won 2-1 at Hartsdown in an FA Cup 4QR tie on 14.10.17.

Sam signed for Margate later that season and made his debut on 1.1.18 in a 3-1 home defeat to Folkestone. He became a regular in midfield and made 17 appearances, plus five sub appearances, by the end of the season. He scored one goal, in a 3-2 win at home to Tooting on 20.1.18. He was sent off in a 2-2 draw at Leiston on 20.2.18, a second yellow card for simulation. Jordan Chiedozie was also red carded for Margate in the same game.

Sam left Hartsdown at the end of the season to join Concord Rangers of National League South. Sam signed for Dartford ahead of 2019-20 but he had an injury-hit season after breaking his leg in a friendly with Bromley on 23.7.19. He later had loan spells at Hythe Town and Leatherhead during 2019-20 before returning to Concord for 2020-21.

He was in the Concord team which took part in the delayed 2019-20 FA Trophy final at Wembley on 3.5.21. Concord lost 1-0 to Harrogate Town.

Sam re-joined Margate in 2021 for his second spell. Margate boss Jay Saunders told the club website: "I'm really pleased to bring Sam back to Margate. He's a player supporters will know well. He's a good technical player who brings a competitive edge and desire to get on the ball. It's a great one to get over the line as Sam knows the club well too and is pleased to be coming back."

Sam became a mainstay of our side in 2021-22. He scored in consecutive games - in a 6-2 defeat against Lewes at Hartsdown on 9.10.21 and in a 3-1 win at Merstham on 12.10.21. Sam scored three more times during the season, including in the 3-2 Isthmian League Cup semi-final win at Haringey Borough on 22.3.22.

Sam stayed at Hartsdown for 2022-23 and, towards the end of the season, clocked up 100 appearances for Margate. Manager Reece Prestedge told Kent Online: "Blacky is quite an important player for us, not just playing, but he's a big voice on the pitch, demanding more from the players and driving them on."

He was sent off twice that season - in a 2-0 home win over Canvey Island on 15.10.22 and in a 3-0 home defeat against Cray on 27.12.22. He scored five times from 37 appearances, including in our 3-2 win at title-chasing Hornchurch on 22.3.23. Sam was captain for the Kent Senior Cup Final on 3.5.23 against Chatham at Gillingham and memorably dropped the trophy following our victory.

Ahead of 2023-24, Sam was appointed captain. Explaining the decision, manager Reece Prestedge told the club website: "He is well liked in the changing room, by the whole club and it is a positive step forward for us all. Sam has all the required leadership skills and talents on the field to be a brilliant captain for Margate Football Club."

A mainstay of the side in the first half of the season, he scored three goals. However, he featured much less in the team following the appointment of Mark Stimson as manager, suffering injury problems.

On 2.3.24, he received a straight red card for a bad tackle after coming on as a sub in the second half of a 3-1 defeat at home to Horsham.

Sam had made 29 appearances, plus two as a sub, by the end of the season. He then signed for Folkestone Invicta.

In February 2025, Sam returned to Hartsdown on loan from Folkestone until the end of the season. He made nine appearances and scored once, which was in a 4-2 win at Eastbourne Town on 1.3.25.

In May 2025, it was announced that Sam would be staying at Hartsdown for 2025-26.