August 27 2010

Sam Togwell

Crystal Palace and Scunthorpe United have rarely met over the years and this extends to the clubs having players who have played for both clubs, writes Simon Pophale.

Yet, there is one current player who is playing his trade for the Iron but started his career at Selhurst Park; Sam Togwell.

Not a name which would set a lot of tongues wagging down here, but Sam has carved out a decent career for himself since leaving us and has become an important cog in the Scunthorpe machine.

Beginning as a trainee, Togwell progressed through the ranks and he made his Crystal Palace debut in 2002, coming on as a substitute against Rotherham at Millmoor.

It was to be Togwell's only appearance in the next two seasons as he went out to a variety of clubs on-loan in League's One and Two as injury restricted his opportunities.

The 2005/06 season saw Iain Dowie give Togwell a couple of chances to impress as he played in three League Cup ties. Starting in one (Walsall) and coming as a substitute in two others, Togwell's final game for Palace was against Liverpool in October 2005.

After rising to being captain of the reserves, there appeared to be no future for Sam at Selhurst so another loan move, this time to Port Vale saw him sign for three months which turned out to last the rest of the season.

An impressive spell in the Potteries saw Vale award him their "Young Player Of the Year" accolade but Vale and Palace could not agree a fee and he returned to Selhurst Park.

However, his performances had turned the head of Simon Davey at Barnsley and he moved there for £80,000 in July 2006.

Two seasons at Barnsley saw him once again, frozen out of the side despite not missing a match in 2006/07 and at the end of the 2007/08 he moved to Scunthorpe on a free transfer.

In his first season, Togwell helped Scunthorpe back into the Championship and played at Wembley twice.

First, he ended up with a loser's medal as Luton Town beat Scunthorpe in the Football League Trophy but in the League One play-off final was on the winning side as Millwall were beaten 3-2.

It would also serve as recompense for Togwell having to sit out of the FA Cup Semi –Final the previous season.

Last season, Togwell endeared himself to the Iron faithful with a number of impressive performances in the Championship.

A notable highlight would have been the match on September 12th at Selhurst Park as Scunthorpe inflicted on us a 15 minute spell which saw them score four times and Togwell got the pick of these with a belting 25-yard effort which Speroni had little chance with.

A fitting way for Togwell to put to bed the disappointment he suffered at Selhurst and he has now made over 100 appearances for Scunthorpe as they continue to mix it in the second tier.

League Debut: 21/12/2002 vs. Rotherham United (A). (3-1 win)

Final Appearance: 20/10/05 vs Liverpool (H) (League Cup: 2-1 win)

Palace Appearances: 1 (3 as a sub)

Palace Goals: 0

Scunthorpe Appearances: 102

Scunthorpe Goals: 6

In Depth The Ex-Files