Sam Osborne

A look at some of the best players I’ve seen in the past few years at either U18s or U23s level or currently playing in non-league who've either left a really positive impression or whose careers I follow with genuine interest to see how they're doing every week.

Player: Sam Osborne

Age: 23

Position: Winger

Club: AFC Fylde

Right now, Sam Osborne has one year left on his contract at AFC Fylde.

Full of energy and enthusiasm, he’s just completed his first full season at Mill Farm where he made 28 appearances and scored six goals.

Although it ended in Play-Off disappointment, it went well for him on an individual level as he returned from injury in March to be named as the division’s ‘Player Of The Month’ for April. Not for the first time either because he achieved the same accolade at Leamington in 2020.

Earning that first promotion of his career will be one of his primary targets in the next couple of years but besides what happens on the pitch, Ozzy is a totally decent lad off it.

Ozzy in his early days at Notts County and one of his mum's favourite photos.
(Photo: Dan Westwell).

He'll never become cocky, arrogant or big headed. That's because he was brought up the right way. He'll fight ferociously for those he loves; his parents and his long-term girlfriend. He also loves Oasis (good taste) and giving everything he's got in every game which he plays in.

Furthermore, he's made two massive decisions during his football journey which earns my respect.

The first of those was back in 2014/15.

Still at school and getting ready to take his GCSE's, after four and a bit years in Burton Albion's academy he's been told that he won't be offered a youth team scholarship.

With his dreams dashed, he could quite easily have dropped out of football altogether at this point (as is often the case for so many lads) and gradually let his head drift up his backside. Instead, within 24 hours, he's heading up Lenton Lane in Nottingham; not to Boots Head Office which is nearby, but to Dunkirk FC who compete at Step 5 of non-league.

Under zero illusions as to what that standard will be like, it proves to be a brilliant move!

An unused sub in the re-formed Hereford's first ever competitive fixture in August 2015 whilst still waiting to find out which subjects he got the best grades in at school, just a week later Ozzy is thrust into action infront of just 61 spectators for an FA Cup Extra Preliminary Qualifying Round game away at Bardon Hill.

He's targeted, kicked, clattered and booted up and down and Dunkirk win 1-0.

It's a winning start for the nippy lad who was decent in P.E. lessons and coming up against grizzly opponents with hairy chests who are by far physically stronger, and on filthy pitches he copes admirably with the demands of non-league football over the winter months.

He plays next in the Polymac Packaging League Cup against Long Eaton; that's a 3-2 win under the floodlights. His first start is away at Holwell Sports in the FA Vase and again it's another success, before his first goal comes in a defeat at Boldmere St Michaels on the weekend where the clock go back an hour.

Ozzy isn't looking backwards though. He's focused on the future and his talent is soon spotted by Notts County for whom he initially joins on a trial which quickly becomes permanent.

He's regained his confidence, charisma and with that cheeky and infectious smile back on his face, he's earned the right to play higher up the ladder. That year at Dunkirk, which equipped him with both the physical and mental skillset to cope with men's football, probably helped him more than any other season ever will do!

Posing (shock!) with his first ever shirt just after his debut away at Morecambe.
(Photo: SamOsborne28).

At Meadow Lane, he then excelled once more - quickly going from a youth teamer to featuring in caretaker manager Alan Smith's team shape on a freezing cold morning just days before his 18th birthday, and ahead of a weekend trip to Morecambe where he'll make his professional debut.

It doesn't quite go as hoped because having played 66 minutes before being replaced by Jono Forte, Morecambe win 4-1 which consigns County to a club record-equaling tenth consecutive league defeat. No wonder previous gaffer John Sheridan was swearing quite a lot!

However, unlike Sol Campbell (who made his only appearance in the exact same game eight years earlier), Ozzy goes on to feature again for his local team.

Over the next three-and-a-half years, supported each week by Paul, Sally and Amy, he experiences plenty. He racks up 22 appearances, spends time on loan at Shaw Lane, Grantham and Basford, signs a professional contract after playing well against Newcastle’s U21s in the EFL Trophy and bags his first senior goal in some style during a win at Boreham Wood.

That, coupled with two 'Academy/Young Player Of The Year' accolades, sharing a dressing room and hearing stories each day from experienced pros, enduring the tumultuous 2018/19 relegation season - and even witnessing first-hand Alan Hardy’s infamous meeting (some story in its own right), are things that will ‘Live Forever’ in his mind.

It's those experiences, good and bad, which shape a player.

Still only on the periphery of the first team at the end of the pandemic hit 2019/20 season, which ends in disappointment as Notts are outplayed by Harrogate in the Play-Off Final at a desolate Wembley, Ozzy then makes another brave and bold decision.

Aged 21 at this point, instead of penning the new deal offered to him by Notts County, he opts to leave in order to get regular first team football. It's a decision which I've got huge respect for because so many other lads at the same age would be quite happy to simply stay within their comfort zone.

Big decision Number Two... signing for Leamington in August 2020.
(Photo: Leamington FC).

Very quickly, Kettering are interested in signing him. Other clubs put forward their interest. He meets managers, assesses his options and contemplates what would be the best move. He speaks to Colby Bishop (who himself dropped lower to progress in his career) and eventually joins Leamington.

It's testament to Ozzy's character that he made that decision because it carries risks and if things don't quite work out as he hopes, he could quickly drop down another level.

But it proves to be a master stroke.

Six months later, he’s established himself as a first team player, scored eight goals in 16 outings, featured on numerous occasions in the division's ‘Team of The Week’, scooped a 'Player Of The Month' accolade and carved out a reputation for being one of the hottest properties in the National League North.

By January, he has options on the table once more. EFL clubs are interested in signing him as are teams from the National League. He chooses to step back into full-time football with AFC Fylde which is the same level as Leamington but it gives him the chance to do what he loves doing every day of the week.

Since then, Ozzy has made 30 appearances and put in some quality and classy displays out wide whilst always carrying that infectious smile and always hoping he's ‘just about quick enough’ to beat those hairy chested defenders who still want to smash into him.

Having taken a year to grow that much facial hair, Ozzy also celebrates the 'Player Of The Month Award'.
(Photo: AFC Fylde).

The days of interest from ASL Fashion (who sought him as their icon) seem to be over although I've little doubt who Fylde will be turning to when they need someone to model their next kit!

There's so many layers to Ozzy's character and personality which are likable. He’ll always graft, won't toss off a training session and applies maximum effort into everything. That's why he's been so well-liked by so many people wherever he's played. That's why so many people have so many good things to say about him. That's why he's a good player to have around a football club.

Fingers crossed that he can achieve that first promotion of his career before his contract is up at Fylde next summer, make memories to last a lifetime, and even get to play in the stadium where he watched Nottingham Forest win a particular game quite recently.

I know playing at Wembley is a dream which he harbours - and it would leave Paul, Sally, Amy, and everyone else who has helped him on his journey, bursting with even more pride than they've already got for him.

Go smash it and keep being a class act with a class attitude.

The courage to make those two big decisions is something I'll always admire and you've come a long way from spreading bread and butter on sandwiches at eight o’clock in the morning like you did back in those days at Dunkirk.

Ozzy celebrating his first goal at Meadow Lane! (Photo: Unknown).