Sammy Nelson
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Nelson | ||
| Date of birth | 1 April 1949 | ||
| Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Left-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1981 | Arsenal | 339 | (12) |
| 1981–1983 | Brighton & Hove Albion | ||
| National team | |||
| 1970–1982 | Northern Ireland | 51 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Samuel "Sammy" Nelson (born 1 April 1949 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Ireland former footballer, who played for Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Northern Ireland throughout his career.
Born in Belfast, Nelson attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution a school better known for its Rugby feats. On his 17th birthday in 1966, Nelson joined Arsenal. Originally a left-winger, he later moved back into defence to become a left back. An aggressive, hard-tackling player, Nelson was a crowd favourite and known for his cheeky sense of humour. Nelson played in the FA Youth Cup of Final of 1966 which the Gooners won in two legs over Sunderland
He was a regular in Arsenal's reserve side for several seasons, before making his first-team debut against Ipswich Town on 25 October 1969. He was understudy to the Gunners' established left wing, Bob McNab, and it wasn't until McNab was injured in the 1971–72 season did Nelson become a regular. Even then, whenever McNab returned from injury, Nelson was forced to step down to being reserve. He only played four league matches during Arsenal's 1970-71 Double-winning campaign, which was not sufficient to win a medal.
McNab left Arsenal in the summer of 1975, and Nelson finally became Arsenal's first-choice left back. For the next five seasons he was a near ever-present in the Arsenal side, and he played in all three of the Gunners' successive FA Cup finals of 1978, 1979 and, in 1980. Nelson started the middle of the three, wherein Manchester United were beaten at Wembley by a 3-2 scoreline. As well as in Arsenal's Cup Winners' Cup Final of 1980 to Valencia which was lost on penalties.
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