Clubs pay respect as ex-Leyton Orient, Tottenham, Yeovil, Sutton, Kingstonian player dies aged 44

Clubs pay respect in tribute as ex-Leyton Orient, Tottenham, Yeovil, Sutton, Kingstonian player Sammy Winston sadly dies aged 44.

Winston was key in helping Tottenham reach the final of the FA Youth Cup before signing for Norwich City to increase game time but didn’t make any appearances.

He signed for Leyton Orient’s fourth division team in 1996. He made 11 league appearances before joining Yeovil Town in the fifth division in 1997.

He signed for Kingstonian in 2000, another club who were then in the fifth division, but he left at the end 2000/01 because of financial difficulties and was relegated to the sixth division.

Following his career, with life as a pro footballer ending in 1997 before taking to non league.

He made appearances for the likes of Chesham, Sutton, Kingstonian, Slough, Boreham Wood, East Thurrock United, Harlow Town, Uxbridge, Leyton, Potters Bar Town and Enfield Town.

He also worked as a firefighter for the London Fire Brigade from 2004 up until the final years of his life.

The Club is saddened to learn the news of the passing of former player Sammy Winston, aged 44.

Everyone at Orient sends their deepest condolences to Sammy’s family and friends at this sad time. #LOFC #OneOrient

— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) February 28, 2023

LEYTON ORIENT STATEMENT

Leyton Orient are saddened to hear of the passing of former player Sammy Winston, aged 44.

In pre-season 1996, Orient manager Pat Holland signed the Islington-born forward from Norwich City, where he had been a regular in the youth and reserve sides. It took a few months for his first team debut to arrive, but it was worth the wait with Winston scoring a cracking goal in a 2-1 win at home to Merthyr Tydfil in the FA Cup first round.

His Football League debut came a week later in a 2-0 defeat away to Cambridge United. Winston made a further twelve appearances for the O’s that season scoring one goal, a close-range finish in a 1-1 draw with Exeter.

The following season, Winston failed to make a first-team appearance, playing mostly for the reserves. In early 1998, he left the O’s to join Conference side Yeovil. Spells at various non-league clubs followed including Sutton, Boreham Wood and Leyton, before he finally hung up his boots after a spell at Enfield Town in 2009, later working with the Fire Brigade.

Everyone at Orient send their deepest condolences to Sammy’s family and friends at this sad time.

Fans gave their reaction while clubs pay respect as the ex-Leyton Orient, Tottenham, Yeovil, Sutton, Kingstonian player dies aged 44…

@Gallifrey5: RIP Sammy 😔 condolences to his family & friends 🙏

@EdwardK54212196: Rest in peace ❤️

@TheWheeldog: RIP Sammy, top lad who enjoyed the game and a pint and a fag after whilst he played the fruit machine. Thoughts to alll his family.

@BrisbaneRdPaul: A real gent & a reali life hero having joined the fire service after his playing career. He was still playing charity matches for an Arsenal legends side which includes Joe Baker his old O’s team mate. RIP Sammy

@lauriehann: Very sad. RIP #lofc

@fpl_eyetestdave: Shocking news. Was a really good player and a great lad. RIP Sammy

@OrientOutlook: Very sad news & sending our condolences to Sammy’s family & friends… ❤️

@Osgood81: Was one of my faves very sad news 🙁

@wastedrockrange: Was a great player for us. Lots of pace and effort. RIP

@RorySP: That’s really awful news, remember Sammy well, quality player

@d_tipping: I remember Sammy, RIP

@Pandamonium1881: Horrible news, but it appears that earlier rumours are true that ex O, Sammy Winston has died, aged 44 😱. I gather he worked for the London Fire Brigade. No news on how he passed away. Played for Sutton and Kingstonian after us RIP. I actually reffed him a few times (after he had finished playing for us) at 5-a-side at Powerleague in Barnet. Really nice lad & great fun.

@OrientFanTV: So young, R.I.P Sammy

@EddieNils: That’s awful to hear.

@jamiestripe: That’s really sad news.

@lordgriff98: That’s awful. RIP Sammy.

@JonJMiller23: Wow. That’s terrible. So sad. 😢 Used to see him out with Joe Baker in the late 90s at Hammersmith Palais

@Boatzy: So young. #RIPSammy

@ianjaco77613809: Unbelievable. So sad 😞

@ks1885: Signed for Ks from Sutton and his two goals against Brentford contributed to one of our greatest FA cup victories. RIP Sammy

@andrew_youngers: Desperately sad news, Sammy was one of my favourite players during my infancy of supporting Sutton in the late 90s. Rest in peace Sammy 😞😥 too young.

@Gandermonium: Terrible news this. Despite only being with us a season and a half, he’s always been fondly remembered at GGL for his electric pace, barrelling runs and his goals. Nice bloke too. Condolences to his family. 😔

@EvyStark: Very sad news RIP Sammy

One of our former player’s Sammy Winston has passed away aged 44. Sad news, my codolences to all loved ones. https://t.co/GNcj9XVQNQ

— Sutton United Talk Time on Podcast (@suttonpodcast) February 27, 2023

All at #YTFC are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former player Sammy Winston.

Sammy joined the Glovers in 1997 from Leyton Orient.

We send our condolences to his loved ones.

— Yeovil Town F.C. (@YTFC) February 28, 2023