Written by Ricky Carroll
What can you say about Sam Bailey! He's the UTR talisman. Goals, assists and tormenting fullbacks week in and week out. Sam finished last season with 15 goals and eight assists in 20 games in UTRs title-winning season. He has moved his performances to another level this season.
Sam is a joy to watch. He's a nightmare for any defender to mark. Sam can stay wide - and get chalk on his boots and continuously torment the fullback. He is also extremely clever and can drift infield and pick up little pockets of space - where he can unleash that hammer of a left foot or play a defence-splitting pass.
Sam is most dangerous - when on the right-hand side when he cuts in on his left foot. It gives him so many options. He can drive infield and run at the defence. He can also play a through ball to the striker or switch play. He can even cut the left-back again and drive on the outside to the by-line.
Sam has given left-backs in the WESFA and beyond many sleepless nights. He has a plethora of tricks in his arsenal. Sam is always looking for that killer pass or shot which means a left-back does not have a moment's peace against him.
Sam is a goalscoring machine. He's shown it again this season. At the time of writing, he has 25 goals and eight assists in 23 games. There are plenty of good footballers in Sunday league, but Sam is in the elite category. His numbers would make most strikers proud. But to average better than a goal every game from right-wing is a phenomenal achievement! Bags of skill, lots of pace and a thunderbolt of a shot makes Sam Bailey elite in our book!