Sam Hoskins
Samuel Tobias Hoskins (born 4 February 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward and attacking midfielder for EFL League One club Northampton Town.[1][2] Born in Dorchester, Dorset, Hoskins stands at 1.73 metres tall and is right-footed, typically wearing the number 7 shirt for his club.[1][3] Hoskins began his professional career in the youth academy of Southampton, joining in 2005 and progressing through the ranks to make four substitute appearances in cup competitions for the first team between 2011 and 2013.[4] During his time at Southampton, he gained experience through loan spells at Rotherham United in 2012 and Stevenage in 2013.[5] In July 2013, he transferred permanently to Yeovil Town for an undisclosed fee, where he played for two seasons, making 35 appearances and scoring 1 goal across all competitions.[6][7] In August 2015, Hoskins joined Northampton Town on a free transfer following his release from Yeovil, marking the start of a long-term association with the club that continues to the present day.[4] Over nearly a decade with Northampton, he has amassed 434 appearances and 103 goals in all competitions as of November 2025, contributing significantly to their promotions and survival efforts across League Two and League One.[2] In October 2025, Hoskins reached a notable milestone by becoming only the fourth player in the club's history to score 100 goals for Northampton, achieving this in a league match against Rotherham United.[8] His contract with the club runs until June 2026, and he remains a key attacking figure with a career total of 107 goals and 40 assists in 491 professional matches.[1][9]Early life
Birth and family
Samuel Tobias Hoskins was born on 4 February 1993 in Dorchester, England.[1][10][11] Public information regarding Hoskins' immediate family is limited, with details about his parents and any siblings not widely documented in available sources.Youth football career
Hoskins began his involvement in organized youth football at the age of six, joining the local club Oakwood Rangers in his hometown of Dorchester in 1999, where he remained until 2005.[12][13] In 2005, at age 12, Hoskins signed with Southampton's youth academy, requiring a relocation from Dorchester.[13][14] Within Southampton's system, he honed his skills as an attacking midfielder and forward, advancing through the age-group teams to feature prominently at the U18 and U21 levels.[12] Hoskins demonstrated strong goal-scoring ability during his youth progression, becoming the top scorer for Southampton's U18 side in the 2010-11 season and sharing the leading scorer position in the Barclays U21 Premier League the following year.[12][15]Club career
Southampton (2005–2013)
Sam Hoskins joined Southampton's youth academy in 2005 at the age of 12, having previously played for local club Oakwood Rangers.[15] He progressed through the club's age-group teams, establishing himself as a prolific forward in the youth setup. During the 2010–11 season, Hoskins was the top scorer for Southampton's under-18 side with 18 goals, earning a professional contract in April 2011.[15] In the 2012 under-21 Premier League, he shared the leading scorer position, highlighting his development as a key prospect in the academy.[12] Hoskins made his senior debut for Southampton on 30 August 2011, entering as a 90th-minute substitute for Guly Do Prado in a 3–1 League Cup victory over Swindon Town.[16] Over his time at the club, he accumulated four first-team appearances, all as a substitute in cup competitions—the others coming against Coventry City in the FA Cup (January 2012), Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup (September 2012), and Cambridge United in the League Cup (August 2012)—without scoring any goals.[17][18] To gain first-team experience, Hoskins was loaned to League One side Preston North End in November 2011 on a one-month emergency deal, but he did not make any appearances during his spell.[19] In March 2012, he joined League Two club Rotherham United on loan until the end of the 2011–12 season, where he featured in eight matches and scored two goals.[10] Later that season, in January 2013, Hoskins moved to League One outfit Stevenage on loan until June, recording 14 appearances and one goal during his time there.[10][18][20] Hoskins was released by Southampton in the summer of 2013 upon the expiry of his contract, alongside seven other players, ending his eight-year association with the club.[21]Yeovil Town (2013–2015)
Hoskins joined Yeovil Town on a free transfer from Southampton on 26 June 2013, signing a two-year contract ahead of the club's inaugural season in the Championship.[22] He had impressed during pre-season preparations, earning the deal as a promising forward seeking regular senior football.[23] In the 2013–14 Championship campaign, Hoskins made his professional debut for Yeovil as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against Bradford City on 3 August 2013.[5] Over the season, he featured sparingly, appearing in 21 league matches mostly from the bench due to strong competition from established strikers like James Hayter and Kieffer Moore.[22] Yeovil struggled throughout, finishing bottom of the table with just 37 points and suffering relegation to League One; Hoskins contributed minimally in attack but gained valuable experience in the second tier.[24] The following 2014–15 League One season saw Hoskins' involvement remain limited, with 10 league appearances and one goal in competitive matches for the club.[5] On 13 December 2014, he scored his sole goal for Yeovil in a 4–0 home win over Oldham Athletic, finishing from close range after a team move.[25] To gain more playing time, Hoskins was loaned to Conference Premier side Barnet on 19 September 2014 for a short-term spell, where he made six appearances and scored twice, including on debut in a 5–0 victory against Altrincham.[26] He returned to Yeovil in late October but struggled to secure a starting role amid ongoing squad competition and the team's poor form, which culminated in another relegation to League Two after finishing 24th with 40 points.[27] Hoskins was released by Yeovil at the end of the 2014–15 season in May 2015, alongside several other players, as the club underwent a squad overhaul following back-to-back relegations.[4] Across his two years at Huish Park, he made 31 league appearances and scored one goal, marking a transitional phase in his career with limited opportunities but exposure to professional pressures.[5]Northampton Town (2015–present)
Sam Hoskins joined Northampton Town on a one-year contract following a successful trial in August 2015.[4] His experience from Yeovil Town enabled him to make an immediate impact, contributing to the club's promotion from League Two that season.[5] Hoskins extended his deal to a two-and-a-half-year contract in February 2016, followed by further extensions, including a two-year agreement in July 2020 and a two-and-a-half-year pact in February 2022.[28][29][30] In August 2023, he signed a new contract until June 2026, securing his long-term commitment to the club.[31] During the 2019–20 season, Hoskins played a pivotal role in Northampton's promotion from League Two via the play-offs, scoring in the final against Exeter City to help secure a 4–0 victory.[32] That campaign also saw the team win the FA Trophy, with Hoskins contributing nine goals across all competitions.[33] In the 2022–23 season, he was instrumental in Northampton's League Two title win, leading the scoring with 22 goals and earning recognition as the division's Player of the Season.[34] These achievements elevated the club to League One, where Hoskins continued as a key figure. Hoskins reached the milestone of 400 appearances for Northampton on 4 January 2025, becoming only the fourth player in club history to do so, and marked the occasion with a winning goal against Burton Albion.[35] On 11 October 2025, he scored his 100th goal for the club against Rotherham United, joining an elite group as the fourth player to achieve this feat.[8] He has been the club's top scorer in multiple seasons, including 7 goals in 2019–20 and his standout 2022–23 performance.[36] A testimonial match was held on 26 July 2025 against Birmingham City at Sixfields to celebrate his 10 years of service, in which Northampton defeated Birmingham 3–1, with Hoskins scoring.[37][38] In the 2025–26 season, he scored 4 goals in 14 league appearances before being sidelined by injury.[9][39] Operating as a versatile forward and attacking midfielder, often deployed on the right wing, he remains a central figure in the team's promotion push.[1]Personal life
Education
Hoskins relocated from his birthplace of Dorchester, Dorset, to Southampton in 2005 at the age of 12 to join the Southampton F.C. youth academy and pursue local schooling.[13] He attended Cantell School, a co-educational secondary comprehensive school located in the Bassett area of Southampton, Hampshire, during his academy years from approximately 2005 onwards.[40] While at the school, Hoskins balanced his formal education with the intensive demands of youth football training at the academy. The school later recognized his professional accomplishments, for instance, publicly celebrating his participation in Northampton Town's EFL League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium in June 2020.[40]Driving ban
On 23 February 2025, Northampton Town footballer Sam Hoskins was caught speeding at 45 mph in a 30 mph zone on the A508 London Road near Queen Eleanor Road in Northampton, while driving a Tesla.[41] The incident came to light through police speed cameras, adding three penalty points to Hoskins' existing nine on his licence, resulting in a total of 12 points and triggering a mandatory driving disqualification under the totting-up procedure.[41] At Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 8 October 2025, the 32-year-old Hoskins was banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay a total of £1,062, comprising a £666 fine, £90 victim surcharge, and £306 in prosecution costs.[41] This off-field matter occurred amid Hoskins' ongoing professional commitments with Northampton Town, where he continued to feature in matches following the court hearing.[41]Career overview
Statistics
As of November 16, 2025, Sam Hoskins has accumulated 438 league appearances and 97 league goals across his professional career, with totals rising to 502 appearances and 106 goals when including cup competitions. These figures highlight his enduring contribution at Northampton Town, where he reached his 100th goal for the club during the 2025–26 season.[6][10]Club Breakdown (All Competitions)
| Club | Total Appearances | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton | 4 | 0 |
| Rotherham United | 8 | 2 |
| Stevenage | 14 | 1 |
| Yeovil Town | 35 | 1 |
| Barnet | 6 | 2 |
| Northampton Town | 435 | 100 |
| Career Total | 502 | 106 |
Season-by-Season Statistics (Domestic League Only)
| Season | Club | League | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Rotherham United | League Two | 8 | 2 |
| 2012–13 | Stevenage | League One | 14 | 1 |
| 2013–14 | Yeovil Town | Championship | 19 | 0 |
| 2014–15 | Yeovil Town | League One | 12 | 1 |
| 2015–16 | Northampton Town | League Two | 34 | 6 |
| 2016–17 | Northampton Town | League One | 25 | 3 |
| 2017–18 | Northampton Town | League One | 27 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Northampton Town | League Two | 42 | 5 |
| 2019–20 | Northampton Town | League Two | 37 | 8 |
| 2020–21 | Northampton Town | League One | 46 | 8 |
| 2021–22 | Northampton Town | League Two | 44 | 13 |
| 2022–23 | Northampton Town | League Two | 41 | 22 |
| 2023–24 | Northampton Town | League One | 38 | 15 |
| 2024–25 | Northampton Town | League One | 37 | 7 |
| 2025–26 | Northampton Town | League One | 14 | 4 |
| Total | 438 | 97 |