Andrew Sambrook

Andrew John Sambrook (born 13 July 1979) is a former professional footballer who played for a number of lower-league English clubs including Gillingham, Rushden & Diamonds, and Grays Athletic.

Andy Sambrook

Personal information
Full name	Andrew John Sambrook
Date of birth	(1979-07-13) 13 July 1979 (age 46)
Place of birth	Chatham, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Welling United
Youth career
	Gillingham
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–2001	Gillingham	1	(0)
2001–2005	Rushden & Diamonds	69	(0)
2005–2008	Grays Athletic	86	(0)
2008	Fisher Athletic	9	(0)
2008–2009	Thurrock	6	(0)
2009	AFC Wimbledon	4	(0)
2009–2012	Welling United
International career
	England Schoolboys
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Football career

Early career

Sambrook began his career at Gillingham whilst still in full-time education at Rainham Mark Grammar School. Sambrook won a scholarship to Hartwick College, New York where he combined his football career with further education.^{[citation needed]} Prior to his leaving the UK, he featured for England schoolboys.^[1]

Professional football career

On his return to England, Sambrook signed for Rushden & Diamonds, making over sixty appearances before transferring to Grays Athletic in the summer of 2005. He signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the 2006–07 season.

In April 2007, Sambrook won the "Chairman's Player of the Year" trophy at the annual Grays Athletic awards ceremony.^[2]

Semi-professional football career

Despite being offered a new contract for the 2008–09 season, Sambrook did not re-sign for Grays and subsequently was released.^[3] He joined Conference South side Fisher Athletic in July 2008,^[4] a move that was to be cut-short by extreme financial difficulties at the club.^[5]

Due to these problems Sambrook, along with a handful of other players, was released from Fisher by mutual consent on 10 November 2008 and subsequently signed for Conference South rivals Thurrock.^[6]

Less than three months later, on 30 January 2009, Sambrook left Thurrock for AFC Wimbledon. He signed for Welling United in May 2009, at the end of the 2008–09 season,^[7] making it his fifth club in under a year.

Sambrook retired from competitive football in July 2010 due to a series of chronic ankle injuries. He is now a junior accountant.

Honours

• FA Trophy: 2006