Sam Steward - Our Irish Captain Marvel
With a record of consistent performances and the ability to rise to new challenges, Sam is a promising talent poised for success...
SAM STEWARD
• Club : St Pat's
• Age : 16 (February 2008)
From an U15 Torneo Delle Nazioni Cup Winner to an U16 Victory Shield Champion; beyond all the triumphs and important individual contributions, there is a Leader. A Captain.
At the heart of the defence, Sam Steward's tactical awareness, physical strength, and aerial ability has made him a formidable opponent.
It's often said, defending is an art, goalscoring is an art – and occasionally, a player emerges who masters both - a young centre back who can somehow conjure up magical moments, like this incredible "scorpion-kick" goal for St. Pat’s U15s against Galway United U15s in November 2023.
His Early Career - CORDUFF FC
Following in the footsteps of Bosun Lawal, Killian Phillips, Gideon Tetteh, and Ike Orazi, Sam embarked on his footballing career at an early age with Corduff Football Club, located in the northwestern suburbs of Dublin.
Initially a striker in his early Corduff days, he showcased his versatility by playing in every position, (including a year as goalkeeper on Saturdays - during that same year, he also played as a central attacking midfielder/striker for the Sunday Corduff team to maintain his ‘on-field’ time).
Ultimately, he transitioned to a left-back/left-sided center-back role and was appointed captain in his final year there. In that last year at Corduff, the team finished as runners-up in both the DDSL and the Cup, along with securing several pre-season tournament victories throughout his time at Corduff.
Away from football, his sporting ability shone through winning four Dublin GAA Football titles with Tyrrelstown GAA.
Sam Steward’s early development at Corduff Football Club was strongly influenced by Conor Russell, a coach at Corduff who, along with others including Dave Meade and John Murphy, played a key role in shaping Sam's development.
I recently spoke with Conor Russell, who shared fond memories of Sam Steward's time at Corduff, highlighting his early talent and his unwavering dedication to the club.
“Sam was a great example of development taking time. He was always a happy, polite and friendly kid. The first thing you look for in a player is attitude. He had a great attitude, never missed training or gave out when he was asked to play in goal. Even saving a penalty against Belvedere in a cup game!
His physical development was ahead of his technical and emotional development. At under 12’s he was big, strong and athletic but didn’t really understand the tactical side of the game, this lead to him relying on his physical gifts to get him out of trouble.
At that time in terms of ability he was somewhere in the middle of the group. He always fancied himself as a forward, but his real skill was defending.
Sam had developed a great partnership at centre back with then captain Thomas Vieira. When Thomas progressed to national league with Shamrock Rovers, Sam really blossomed. With his emotional maturity and technical ability catching up to his physical development, Sam became captain and a leader.
Sam learned what was required to perform in his position and where that fit into the overall philosophy of the team. He simplified his game and quickly became so much better, doing more with less touches. By the middle of the U14 season we were certain he was the best centre back in the league. He was near impossible to get past in defence. Up the other end he was chipping in with goals.
Sam was a player at Corduff who had the right attitude to succeed. He was in an environment where he had the time to make mistakes, learn from them and develop.”
From Corduff to St Pat’s
In the summer of 2022, on leaving Corduff, he trialled for Bohemian FC, Shamrock Rovers and St Pat's, choosing the latter as his destination.
He swiftly garnered attention as a tall, commanding center-back, known for his ball-playing abilities, quick footwork, and proficiency in delivering accurate passes from either foot. With a calm demeanor and a keen understanding of the game, he excelled at reading plays effectively.
With an elegant playing style, always willing to step forward into midfield with the ball at his feet (as seen in the clip below with an inch perfect assist), he quickly caught International recognition.
An effective communicator, hard-worker, humble, and boundless confidence saw him rise through the ranks at St Pat's. In February 2024, he made his St Pat's U20 debut at 16 years, 11 days.
Just days later, he made his St Patrick's Athletic senior debut as a late substitute against UCD in their Leinster Senior Cup Group D clash in Belfield.
He has been heavily involved this season for St. Pat's, playing at the heart of their U17 defence alongside Adam Nolan, and at the U20 level alongside Dan McHale.
International Recognition
• IRISH U15's
Just two months after joining St Pat’s, Sam earned his first call-up to the Irish U15 squad for a UEFA Development Tournament in Croatia. He was selected to start in their match against Spain, where he faced a formidable forward line featuring Álex Mora, Juan Vacas, and Rubén Lidueña. Sam's maturity and leadership shone throughout that camp, earning him the honor of captaining the U15 team just three days later in a challenging 3-2 defeat against Croatia's U15s.
(Sam Steward ‘Number 8’ v Spain U15's - Photo Credit: FAI)
He was named in subsequent squads and earned a place on the Irish U15 squad for the Torneo Delle Nazioni tournament in Udine, Italy, in April 2023. The young Irish team achieved victories over Czechia, Saudi Arabia, and Austria, advancing to the final, where they secured an impressive 2-1 win over the host nation, Italy U15s, with Sam showcasing his defensive mastery throughout the tournament.
Dan Costello, Billy Hayes, Michael Noonan & Sam Steward with the Torneo delle Nazioni Winning Cup (Photo Source: St Pats Twitter Page)
• IRISH U16's
In September 2023, Sam was called up to the Irish U16s, where he quickly impressed as captain, leading Ireland to a decisive 6-1 victory over Estonia at Weavers Park, and scoring his first international goal.
Sam’s leadership and performances have been consistently outstanding. In November 2023, he shared captaincy duties with Rory Finneran, playing a key role in retaining the prestigious Victory Shield for the Irish U16's. His leadership continued into January 2024, where he captained the U16's team during the Aegean Cup, scoring in a 6-0 win over Greece.
In May 2024, Sam led the Irish U16s in the UEFA U16 Development Tournament in Portugal, again showcasing his tactical skill and commitment on the field.
• IRISH U17's
His progress was further acknowledged in September 2024, when he earned his first call-up to the Irish U17 squad for a double-header of friendlies against Denmark in Spain.
There are no guarantees, but Sam Steward has the talent and the determination to make it. With a record of consistent performances and the ability to rise to new challenges, Sam is a promising young talent poised for success at both International and at Club level...