You could almost claim that Sam Russell accidentally
ended up at Spotland. He came to the club in the Summer
of 2007 initially looking for somewhere to train after a
couple of potential moves to other League Two sides had
fallen through. And whilst he trained with the club, it
made perfect sense for him to sign non contract forms
with the club so that if needed, we could call upon his
services. And as a knock on effect of the transfer
window, he remained at the club becoming a permanent
fixture on the bench. However, once Dale number one
Jamie Spencer picked up a hip injury a day or two before
our FA Cup trip to Southend, meaning Russell was given a
chance in the first team, and as they say from that
moment on, he never looked back.
His introduction to the side coincided with the end
of the defensive injury crisis, and all these factors
ensured a massive turn around for Dale on the pitch as
the disappointing start to the season was ended.
Russell proved himself to be a very popular keeper
and it wasn't long before people were saying that he was
no longer filling in for Spencer, but rather that he was
the better keeper of the two and was full deserving of
his starting place.
He retained his place for the next four months till a
finger injury picked up in February ruled him out for
the remainder of the season. However, he'd done enough
during that time to be awarded a new contract by Keith
Hill and in what would appear to be a bold statement
from the club, he was given the squad number one meaning
that it is Russell that will be Dale's first choice
keeper for the forthcoming season, form withstanding.
Russell's career had kicked off at his hometown club
Middlesborough, but he was unable to make his way into
the first team reckoning, and it needed a loan move to
Darlington in 2002 for him to make his professional
debut, where he made a solitary appearance. He had a
further spell at Scunthorpe the following season, where
he saved a Leo Bertos penalty at a rain lashed Spotland.
That one game at Darlo obviously left quite an
impression on the North East club as he joined them
permanently in 2004 going on to make over a hundred
league appearances for the Quakers before leaving three
years later after failing to agree terms.
|