Sam Magri

Sam Magri

Personal information
Full name	Samuel James Magri [1]
Date of birth	(1994-03-30) 30 March 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth	Portsmouth, England
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Right back / Centre back[3]
Team information
Current team	AFC Totton
Youth career
0000–2012	Portsmouth
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012	Portsmouth	0	(0)
2012–2014	Queens Park Rangers	0	(0)
2014	→ Nuneaton Town (loan)	4	(0)
2014–2015	Crystal Palace	0	(0)
2015–2017	Dover Athletic	86	(1)
2017–2019	Ebbsfleet United	75	(2)
2019–2023	Havant & Waterlooville	55	(7)
2023	→ Bognor Regis Town (loan)	10	(0)
2023–	AFC Totton	0	(0)
International career^‡
2009–2010	England U16	7	(0)
2010–2011	England U17	22	(2)
2011	England U18	1	(0)
2012	England U19	1	(0)
2015–2016	Malta U21	4	(0)
2016–	Malta	7	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:18, 11 March 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19:22, 5 July 2018 (UTC)

Samuel John Magri (born 30 March 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a right back or centre back for Southern League Premier Division South club AFC Totton. Born in England, he represents the Malta national team.

In June 2019 he joined Havant & Waterlooville after his contract expired at Ebbsfleet United.

Club career

Portsmouth

Born in Portsmouth, England, Magri joined Portsmouth as a youth player and moved up through the ranks in the academy. In the 2011–12 season he was involved in several first-team squads. He was an unused substitute in games against Southampton and Millwall.[4]

In February 2012, Magri had a trial at Liverpool,[5] but a deal was not reached.[6] In his next season, he finally made his professional debut, starting in a League Cup match against Plymouth Argyle on 14 August 2012.[7]

Queens Park Rangers

On 30 August 2012, Magri signed a two-year professional contract with Queens Park Rangers, after being released by Portsmouth.[8][9]

Magri played in the QPR youth and reserve team but never made a senior appearance, to get first team football QPR sought to find a club for him to go out on loan to. On 14 March 2014, Magri joined Conference Premier club Nuneaton Town on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[10] Magri made his debut the day after joining in a 2–2 draw away to Aldershot Town.[11] He went on to make 4 appearances in a Nuneaton shirt. However, upon returning to his parent club, Magri was released by the club, leaving after failing to appear in a single game for QPR's first team.[12]

Crystal Palace

Following his release by Queens Park Rangers, Magri joined Crystal Palace on trial in July 2014.[13] He impressed enough to secure a one-month contract in August, and joined the under-21 squad.[14]

After several contract extensions, Magri left the club after his deal expired in June 2015, without a first team appearance.[15]

Dover Athletic

On 20 July 2015, Magri signed with Dover Athletic after impressing on a trial.[16]

He made his debut for the club on 8 August 2015, starting in a 1–2 away loss against Barrow.[17] Despite missing out two matches, due to international commitment,[18] Magri set a goal for Ricky Miller to score the winning goal, in a 1–0 win over Tranmere Rovers on 31 October 2015.[19] Magri quickly established as a starter at Dover, and appeared in 45 league games during the 2015–16 season. For his performance, Magri was Team of the Year by a local newspaper Kent Online.[20]

In the 2016–17 season, Magri continued to be in a first team regular at the club and started the season well for them when he scored his first goal for the club on 20 August 2016, netting the third in a 3–1 home win against the same opponent he made his debut against.[21] After missing one match due to international commitment, Magri returned to the first team when he provided two assists, in a 6–1 victory over Braintree Town on 22 October 2016.[22]

Ebbsfleet United

On 30 June 2017, Magri signed for Ebbsfleet United.[23]

Havant & Waterlooville

In July 2019, Magri signed for National League South side Havant & Waterlooville.[24]

On 28 January 2023, Magri joined Isthmian League club Bognor Regis Town on a dual registration deal.[25]

AFC Totton

Having been offered a new contract by Havant, Magri instead opted to sign for Southern League Premier Division South club AFC Totton in May 2023.[26]

International career

Magri made his debut for the England U-16 team against Wales on 15 October 2009 and he captained the U16 side to victory shield during the campaign in 2009.[27] He continued moving up the age groups during the 2010–11 season playing 22 times for the England U17s including the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico.[28][29] He made his debut for the under 18s versus Slovakia on 16 November 2011.[30]

Sam Magri is also eligible to represent the Maltese national team, due to his Maltese grandfather.[31] In June 2011, Magri quoted to The Times of Malta that he would consider playing for Malta if the opportunity arose in future.[32] In September 2012 shortly after making his senior debut for Portsmouth and moving to QPR, Magri made his debut for Noel Blake's England U-19 side, in a 6–0 win against the Faroe Island in Tallinn. A couple of days later he was an unused sub in an Under 19's match against Ukraine, this was Magri's last involvement for the Under 19's squad.[33]

Magri acquired his Maltese passport in August 2015, being eligible to play for the country through his grandfather.[34] After being called up by the Malta U-21,[18] He made his debut for the U21 side on 9 October 2015 in a match against Belgium U-21.[35] After being called up for the first time,[36] Magri debuted for the senior national team in a 2018 World Cup qualification loss to Slovenia on 11 November 2016.[37] Magri then made his second appearance for Malta on 15 November 2016 against Iceland, which saw them lose 2–0.[38]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 10 March 2018

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Portsmouth	2011–12[39]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2012–13[40]	League One	0	0	—		1	0	—		1	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	1	0	—		1	0
Queens Park Rangers	2012–13[40]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2013–14[41]	Championship	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Nuneaton Town (loan)	2013–14[42]	Conference Premier	4	0	—		—		—		4	0
Crystal Palace	2014–15[43]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
Dover Athletic	2015–16[42]	National League	43	0	0	0	—		7[a]	0	50	0
	2016–17[42]	National League	43	1	3	0	—		2[b]	0	48	1
	Total		86	1	3	0	—		9	0	98	1
Ebbsfleet United	2017–18[42]	National League	33	0	3	0	—		3[b]	0	39	0
Career total			123	1	6	0	1	0	12	0	142	1

1. Five appearances in FA Trophy, two in National League play-offs
2. Appearances in FA Trophy

International

As of match played 7 September 2017[44]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Malta	2016	2	0
	2017	5	0
Total		7	0

References

1. "Retained and released lists submitted by Premier League clubs". Premier League. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
2. "Sam Magri". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
3. Ebbsfleet United defender Sam Magri grateful for the trust shown in him by manager Daryl McMahon, kentonline.no, 22 January 2018
4. "Portsmouth Football Club | News". Portsmouth F.C. 9 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 April 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
5. "Liverpool try Magri, Arsenal for Hoillet - Sports - Emirates24|7".
6. "Magri back as Pompey get injury boosts". Portsmouth News. 1 March 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
7. Plymouth 3–0 Portsmouth; BBC Sport, 14 August 2012
8. "Magri set for Pompey departure". Portsmouth News. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
9. "QPR SIGN POMPEY YOUNGSTER". Queens Park Rangers's official website. 31 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
10. "BORO BOLSTER WITH LOAN RANGER". Nuneaton Town FC. 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
11. "Aldershot Town 2–2 Nuneaton Town". BBC Sport. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
12. "QPR youngsters released". Queens Park Rangers's official website. 4 May 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
13. "Crystal Palace take extended look at former QPR and Portsmouth defender Sam Magri". Croydon Advertiser. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
14. "Former QPR defender to find out Crystal Palace fate on Thursday". Croydon Advertiser. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
15. "New Deals Offered To Six Development Players". Crystal Palace F.C. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
16. "Dover Athletic bring in former England youth international Sam Magri". The Non-League Paper. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
17. "Barrow 2–1 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
18. "Dover Athletic boss Chris Kinnear believes any talk of promotion is premature and dangerous". Kent Online. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
19. "Tranmere Rovers 0 – 1 Dover Athletic". BBC Sport. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
20. "Kent football team of the year 2015/16". Kent Online. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
21. "Dover Athletic 3–1 Barrow". BBC Sport. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
22. "Dover Athletic 6 Braintree Town 1 – match report". Kent Online. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
23. "Malta's Magri agrees to Fleet switch". Ebbsfleet United Paper. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
24. "Sam Magri is a Hawk". Havant & Waterlooville FC. July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
25. Townsend, Ian (28 January 2023). "Magri for the Rocks". Isthmian. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
26. "AFC TOTTON SIGN FORMER INTERNATIONAL DEFENDER SAM MAGRI". www.afctotton.com. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
27. "True Blue Magri on brink of Three Lions debut". Portsmouth News. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
28. "Magri is a Euro star for Three Lions". Portsmouth News. 2 April 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
29. "Fratton quartet poised for World Cup". Portsmouth News. 27 May 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
30. "Under 18s team sheet". Thefa.com. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
31. Gordon Attard (30 May 2012). "Maltese descendant Sam Magri joins QPR in the Premier League". Maltesefootballstarlets.com. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
32. "Magri will not shun Malta". timesofmalta.com. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
33. "YOUNG DUO CALLED UP". Queens Park Rangers F.C. 27 September 2012. Archived from the original on 14 January 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
34. "Magri thrilled by new challenge". Times of Malta. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
35. "Beloften boeken 9 op 9 na twee late doelpunten tegen Malta" (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
36. "Ghedin calls up the squad for Slovenia's encounter". Bet In Malta. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
37. "Malta's improved display not enough as Slovenia win 1–0". Time of Malta. 11 November 2016.
38. "Second-half heartache for Malta as Iceland win 2–0". Time of Malta. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
39. "Games played by Sam Magri in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
40. "Games played by Sam Magri in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
41. "Games played by Sam Magri in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
42. Sam Magri at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
43. "Games played by Sam Magri in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
44. "Magri, Sam". National-Football-Teams.com. Retrieved 2 May 2017.

External links

• Sam Magri profile at the Dover Athletic F.C. website
• Sam Magri profile at the Football Association website
• Sam Magri at Soccerbase