A Love Letter to Sam Foley
- 40 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Friend of the fanzine, Seb White pens a love letter to Sam Foley, midfield maestro, cult hero, and a player who always gives it everything
Originally published in our February 2025 edition, Yeovil Town supporter, friend of the fanzine, guest of the fanzine and fresh from clearing his name from accusations he was the Somerset Gimp, Seb White penned (typed) a love letter to Sam Foley. Ahead of our Friday night fixture and in typically Beans philanthropic style, you can now read it here, absolutely gratis.
The WhatsApp notification pings and my good mate Jonny says, “Just planning the next Give ‘Em Beans…how about a love letter to Sam Foley?”
13 years ago, a 27-year-old Sam was an integral part of the Yeovil Town team that incredibly got to the League One Play-Off Final. As former editor of the club’s fanzine ‘On To Victory’ I’ll never ever tire of talking about any of the players associated with that genuine once-in-a-lifetime season. And Jonny has never said no to me when I’ve asked for a favour - he’s a phenomenal DJ by the way and always plays World in Motion whenever I ask him. And Sam Foley meant I once got on the tele, which we’ll come to a bit later.
Sam joined Yeovil Town in the summer of 2012, initially on a trial basis. His career up to that point had been spent in non-league football, coming to prominence at Newport County. By his own admission he was just desperate to taste league football and wasn’t necessarily expecting to be a starter, but immediately impressed in preseason.
An injury to star player Gavin Williams, meant Sam got his chance sooner than expected and started the first game and the raw midfielder took his opportunity.
His tireless work rate, combined with the ability to find space in midfield whilst chipping in with regular goal contributions meant he played the vast majority of games and became an important part of a side that were starting to look like consolidating their place in League 1, despite being everyone's pre-season favourites for relegation. The arrival of Paddy Madden initially on loan gave Foley and his teammates a genuine focal point in attack, and after beating Sheffield United they went on a club record run, winning eight games in a row. It was a genuinely bizarre time to be a Yeovil Town fan, going to places like Coventry and just expecting to win; we started to dream of a highly unlikely play-off push. ‘Sir’ Gary Johnson in his second spell had moulded a real mix of players and there was great team spirit. Foley was the perfect example of that.
We headed to Stevenage in mid-April knowing a win would secure a place in the play-offs. In a tight game, it was Foley who broke the deadlock with a beautiful curled pass into the far left corner.
The ball arrowed in directly towards me, and the elation meant I raced down the steps and along the front to celebrate a hugely important goal.
Foley and his teammates were just yards in front of me and the relief was flowing out of all of us. We got another soon after and somehow little old Yeovil Town had made the play-offs. Historic enough for any Glovers fan but it was only when a little worse for wear that I checked the highlights that night and saw myself clearly in shot during said celebrations for Foley’s goal. Everytime I see the picture I chuckle and then curse myself for ever selling that Trango. I was wearing mine at least a decade before Liam Gallagher… just saying.
Despite losing the first leg of the play-offs 1-0 to Sheffield United, there was genuine hope heading to a sunny Huish Park that we might continue to exceed expectations. We beat ‘em 2-0, invaded the pitch and got giddy for a trip to Wembley. The opponents in the final were Brentford (does anyone know what happened to them?). When Foley’s deflected shot which he rightly claims as an assist landed at the feet of Paddy Madden in the sixth minute, we didn’t expect much. But then he volleyed it home, and incredibly, we took an early lead. Near the end of the first half, Dan Burn (yes that Dan Burn, then on loan from Brighton) headed home.
We were two up and the next 60 minutes were the most excruciating of my life. But Sam and his brilliant teammates held on. The team I had grown up watching play non-league football was inexplicably about to enter the second tier of English football. The celebrations were legendary, the town was alive for days afterwards, and Sam and his teammates deservedly kicked the arse out of the celebrations.
We weren’t to know then, but sadly it was all downhill from there on. Sam and the rest of the Yeovil side found the step up just one too far. Relegation came and came again the season after. In the second successive relegation no blame was put on Foley; he was Captain and roundly voted the Player of the Year. He had moved into centre-midfield from the wing, but couldn’t do it on his own. The fans loved him and he gave absolutely everything in every game he played for the club. In the summer, an out of contract Foley had a number of offers to move on.
His love for the club and what he had done in a short time meant his heart nearly ruled his head and he was close to signing on again. But Yeovil were on a slide on and off the pitch that would see them eventually return to non-league football and Sam made the right decision to move to Port Vale.
As dedicated as he always was when he stepped over that white line, I doubt many at the time expected the 27-year-old to still be playing league football over a decade later. However, given his application and ability we were wrong to doubt him, and the fact I can speak so fondly of him all these years on shows that Foley is one of the very good guys and footballers that the game could do with more of. And whatever he has gone on to achieve since he’ll always be forever remembered for being a part of THAT team.
For more on Sam Foley's career at Yeovil from the man himself, listen to the brilliant episode of Glovers Past number 21 with the brilliant guys at Gloverscast, who are the go-to people for anything Yeovil Town related.
@sebdwhite on Instagram and BlueSky
Footnote
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