Non-League Legend: Marvin Samuel (Part 1)
Marvin Samuel hung up his senior playing boots for the last time in November 2011, after a long and successful playing career which spanned well over 20 years.
The versatile midfielder – who played in almost every outfield position and excelled at almost every competition there was to win during his playing days – had an impressive career, and starting with 2000, we take a season-by-season look at the highs and lows of Samuel’s career. We have compiled this feature using local paper and club websites, so it is a bit patchy in places. We apologise to anyone involved if there are any inaccuracies in this article. If anyone would like to contribute, please email andrzej@walthamforest.fc.co.uk
2000-2001
Samuel was part of a promotion-chasing Harlow side in the Isthmian League Division 1, but a 0-0 draw with Thame United followed by a 2-1 defeat to Uxbridge saw these hopes dashed by mid-march.
2001-2
Ian Allinson was hopeful of a promotion push the following season, and after a 6-1 defeat at the start of the season, it looked like his hopes might have been mis-placed. But by mid-September, Harlow were sitting in top-spot. A Samuel penalty helped them to a 2-0 victory over Whyteleafe.
Hawks made it to the last qualifying round of the FA Cup too, but a 2-1 defeat to Bedford saw their dreams dashed. And by the end of March, any promotion ambitions had faded away too. Harlow eventually finished seventh, 22 points behind winners Ford United.
There was some joy for Samuel though – playing up front against Thame United during Harlow’s final match of the season – scoring twice and setting up one.
2002-3
The start of the 2002-3 season saw a switch south of the river, as Samuel moved to Dulwich Hamlet. Even then, Samuel was referred to as an experienced player, as Hamlet boss Martin Eede said “I was also very happy to get Marvin Samuel from Harlow Town. He is a very experienced non-league player and a bit of a character too.”
Wayne Cort joined Hamlet at the same time, and the pair would soon become inseparable.
In December 2002, both Samuel and Cort were seen playing for Arlesey Town, pictured back row, right (image: Non-League Directory).
But by February 2003, Samuel was back with Harlow, helping them to a 3-2 win over Barking. He even made it in time to feature in the season’s squad picture (back row, third from left) (image: Non-League Directory).
2003-4
In February 2004, after a spell at Waltham Forest, John lawford scored his 100th goal for Chesham United in a 1-0 win over Samuel’s Harlow Town.
2004-5
Samuel left Harlow form Boreham Wood in the summer of 2004, where he was reunited with Ian Allinson. By the end of September, a Wood side with included Ian Cooper, Wayne Cort (who else) and Samuel had gone six games unbeaten.
In December 2004, Wood tripped up, losing 1-0 to Hakan Hayrettin’s Waltham Forest, missing the opportunity to gain ground on the league leaders Fisher.
Emeka Aneke in the forest goal “looked as if he’d be more comfortable on a basketball court”, but Samuel, playing up front couldn’t find the back of the net. A Papy Kanyuka goal on 50 minutes was enough to give Forest three points.
By the start of 2005, Wood had gone six straight defeats, and it took a “warrior-like” display from Samuel in midfield to drag his side to a 2-0 win over Beaconsfield SYCOB in the Southern League Division 1 East.
A 7-1 demolition of Berkhamsted Town was a fine way to spend Easter Sunday (even if the game was abandoned after 76 minutes as a result of monsoon conditions).
A 2-0 defeat to Erith and Belvedere condemned Wood to a position outside the play-off places as they eventually finished four points behind Barking & East Ham United. The season ended with a 2-2 draw against Waltham Forest.
The end of the season saw a Hertfordshire Senior Cup final against St Albans City, where Samuel had “his best game for Wood”, but it proved not to be enough as his side fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Tomorrow, we start at the 2005-6 season, and the start of Boreham Wood’s rise up the pyramid.
