Sam Nicholson
Nicholson playing for Minnesota United in 2017
Personal information
Full name Sam Alastair Nicholson[1]
Date of birth (1995-01-20) 20 January 1995
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
2007–2013 Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2017 Heart of Midlothian 109 (13)
2017–2018 Minnesota United 20 (2)
2018–2020 Colorado Rapids 48 (4)
2020–2022 Bristol Rovers 64 (11)
2022–2023 Colorado Rapids 37 (2)
2023 Colorado Rapids 2 1 (0)
International career
2013 Scotland U18 1 (0)
2013–2014 Scotland U19 6 (0)
2015–2016 Scotland U21 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:07, 24 October 2023 (UTC)

Sam Alastair Nicholson (born 20 January 1995)[3] is a Scottish footballer who plays as a left winger or left midfielder.

Career

Heart of Midlothian

Nicholson attended Penicuik High School in Midlothian and grew up supporting Heart of Midlothian.[4] He joined Hearts aged 12, progressing through their youth teams until on 31 August 2013, he made his senior debut for the club, coming on as a 74th-minute substitute in a Scottish Premiership match against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, replacing Jamie Walker in a 2–0 defeat.[5] His first senior goal for the side came on 18 January 2014, helping Hearts come from 3–1 down at McDiarmid Park scoring in the 89th minute to help Hearts earn a point in a 3–3 draw against St Johnstone.[6]

On 16 June 2014, Nicholson signed a new three-year contract extending his stay until the summer of 2017, following the club's relegation to the Scottish Championship.[7]

Nicholson began the 2014–15 season by setting up a goal for Osman Sow at Ibrox in stoppage time. He scored his first goal of the season against Hibs in the Edinburgh Derby; a solo effort after he nutmegged Scott Robertson and hit a left-footed drive beyond the keeper.

Minnesota United

On 28 June 2017, it was confirmed that Nicholson agreed to a contract with MLS side Minnesota United FC, and would be eligible to join the team on 10 July 2017.[8]

Colorado Rapids

Nicholson was traded from Minnesota to Colorado Rapids on 1 May 2018. Colorado also received an International Roster slot. Minnesota received Eric Miller and $50,000 of General Allocation Money in return.[9]

Bristol Rovers

On 22 July 2020, Nicholson returned to the UK, delighted to sign for League One club Bristol Rovers.[10] He made his debut for the club on 5 September 2020, in a 3-0 League Cup defeat to Ipswich Town.[11] Nicholson scored his first goal for the club on 31 October 2020, opening the scoring in a 1–1 draw at Rochdale, driving forward with the ball before firing in from the edge of the box.[12] In late March 2021, Rovers' manager Joey Barton announced that Nicholson would miss the rest of the season as Rovers would fight against the drop, due to the fact that he was to have surgery on his hip,[13] which it was announced in April 2021 he had still yet to have had the operation and would likely miss the start of the 2021–22 season also.[14]

Nicholson opened his account for the 2021–22 season as he opened the scoring in a League Two 1–1 draw with Barrow, who had been reduced to ten men.[15] The season ended in success for Nicholson and Rovers as a 7–0 victory on the final day of the season saw Rovers move into the final automatic promotion place on goals scored.[16]

Return to Colorado

On 17 June 2022, it was announced that Nicholson had re-joined MLS side Colorado Rapids on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[17] Nicholson made his second debut for the club in a 2–2 comeback draw with Real Salt Lake.[18]

On 13 October 2023, it was announced that Nicholson had undergone ankle surgery to decompress the anterior and posterior right ankle joint, causing him to miss the final two games of the season.[19]

Nicholson was waived by Colorado on 2 January 2024.[20]

Career statistics

As of 21 October 2023[21][22]
Club Season League Domestic Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Heart of Midlothian 2013–14[23] Scottish Premiership 2520010––262
2014–15[24] Scottish Championship 2950010–1[lower-alpha 3]0315
2015–16[25] Scottish Premiership 3633141––435
2016–17[26] Scottish Premiership 19330104[lower-alpha 4]0–273
Total 109136171401012715
Minnesota United 2017[27] MLS 12100–––121
2018[28] 8100–––81
Total 20200000000202
Colorado Rapids 2018[28] MLS 19210–00–202
2019[29] 27210––00282
2020 2000––0020
Total 48420000000504
Bristol Rovers 2020–21[30] League One 3062110—2[lower-alpha 5]1358
2021–22[31] League Two 3454000—2[lower-alpha 5]1406
Total 6411611000427514
Colorado Rapids 2022 MLS 1510000—00151
2023 22121—2000262
Total 37221002000413
Career total 2783216381605231238
  1. ↑ Includes the Scottish Cup, U.S. Open Cup and FA Cup
  2. ↑ Includes appearances in the Scottish League Cup and EFL Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  4. ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  5. 1 2 Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours

Heart of Midlothian

Bristol Rovers

References

  1. ↑ "Notification of shirt numbers: Bristol Rovers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 14. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Sam Nicholson". Colorado Rapids. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Sam Nicholson". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Sam Nicholson: Hearts role is a dream". The Herald. Glasgow. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Inverness remain top of the Scottish Premiership following a convincing victory over 10 man Hearts". BBC Sport. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Two late goals rescued a point for Hearts against St Johnstone in a dramatic match at McDiarmid Park". BBC Sport. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "Levein hails new three year deal for Sam Nicholson". BBC Sport. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota United agrees deal to sign Sam Nicholson from Hearts-sources". ESPN FC. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "MLS Deadline Day: Every move as Primary Transfer Window closes". MLS. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "Sam Nicholson Joins Rovers!". Bristol Rovers. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Ipswich Town 3-0 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "Rochdale 1–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Bristol Rovers: Max Ehmer and Sam Nicholson's seasons over due to surgery". BBC Sport. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Nicholson given grim diagnosis as Barton eyes 'overhaul' of Bristol Rovers' internal structure". Bristol Post. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  15. ↑ "Barrow 1–1 Bristol Rovers". BBC Sport. 28 August 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Bristol Rovers go up after extraordinary 7–0 win". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  17. ↑ Rapids, Colorado. "Colorado Rapids sign winger Sam Nicholson". Colorado Rapids.
  18. ↑ "Recap: Rapids launch second-half comeback, draw RSL 2–2 on the road". www.coloradorapids.com. 10 July 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Colorado Rapids winger Sam Nicholson undergoes successful ankle surgery". coloradorapids.com. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Colorado Rapids waive Danny Wilson & Sam Nicholson | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  21. ↑ Sam Nicholson at Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  22. ↑ Sam Nicholson at Major League Soccer
  23. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  28. 1 2 "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Sam Nicholson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  32. ↑ "S. Nicholson". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
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