The curious career of Vinny Samways

By David Lee Wheatley

Technically-gifted central midfielder Vinny Samways made a mark at White Hart Lane during eight years on the books of Tottenham Hotspur, while coming close to an international call-up with England during that period. A fine passer of the ball, Samways never quite gained a full cap for his country and ended up embarking on an unusual adventure with Gran Canaria’s finest Las Palmas.

The talented Bethnal Green native played over 200 times for Spurs before a £2.2 million move to Everton in 1994. He’d flitted in and out of the Tottenham side due to the presence of established stars in his position such as Paul Gascoigne, Steve Sedgley, Nayim, Darren Anderton and Paul Allen, forcing him to seek a new challenge.

Some labelled him a player that never seemed to go forward, instead choosing to hold his position in the centre of the park. His range of passing and vision allowed him to do that, but it’s a trait that isn’t held in high regard in England. The fans generally expect midfielders to bomb forward and set up attacks quickly, unlike many countries on the continent where slower build-up play is the norm.

Samways failed to cement a spot in the starting line-up at Goodison Park and soon became disillusioned with his bit-part role on Merseyside. He was loaned out to Wolves and Birmingham City in search of more substantial game-time during the 1995-1996 season before the Londoner eventually chose to make the brave step to move abroad when offered regular football in Spain with Segunda Division side Las Palmas.

The diminutive midfielder settled quickly into his new surroundings and became team captain at the Estadio Insular. The Yellows finished 7^th, 3^rd and 6^th in the first three campaigns of Samways’ time with the club, before finally securing promotion to the top-flight as champions in 1999-2000.

A promising first season in La Liga ended with Las Palmas in 11^th place, as Samways got the opportunity to compete against top players including Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane, the man described by the Englishman as his hardest-ever opponent.

A fans’ favourite by then, the club captain was finally back in the big-time and his slow, deliberate style fitted perfectly with the general tactics employed in Spain at that time. He’d also added a hard edge to his game since leaving England, thus receiving several yellow and red cards from strict Spanish league referees, while simultaneously becoming a cult hero with supporters.

Unfortunately, the second season in La Liga was a much greater struggle, resulting in the bitter disappointment of relegation. The former Spurs and Everton man was out of contract that summer, which prompted a surprise switch to Sevilla. There he only featured in ten league matches before returning to England in 2003.

He played regularly for Division One side Walsall during a season and a half back in his homeland, before making the decision to go back to Spain to play for lower league club Algeciras. Samways retired from playing at the age of 36 and after a year out of the game took to coaching another lower league Spanish team San Pedro for two seasons.

A player of great ability, the story of Vinny Samways suggests the now 44-year-old didn’t quite fulfil his potential. If he’d come along at a separate time when Spurs were crying out for quality midfielders, things could have been markedly different. As it is, he enjoyed a fine spell in La Liga and got to perform on some of the biggest stages in world football, so it isn’t all bad!

Now settled in Spain, Samways runs several businesses including a bar and bookmakers.  

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