Exclusive: Sam Foley Embracing Father Figure Role at Barrow

Sam Foley is happy being the father figure in the Barrow dressing room.

The veteran midfielder has been a professional footballer for almost 20 years and he remains a big part of the Bluebirds’ squad at the age of 38.

And he is relishing helping the likes of Kian Spence, Robbie Gotts and Dean Campbell on their journey in the Football League.

“Playing at my age, one of my main aims is to try and improve the younger players around me,” Foley told SportsBoom. 

“I spend a lot of time with the younger midfielders, and all the young players really, helping and guiding them.”

“I’ve built a relationship up with them. When you look at Dean [Campbell], Robbie [Gotts] and Kian [Spence] as the midfielders they’ve been here almost two years with me. I’ve built up a relationship with them personally.”

“If they need a bit of guidance or a little bit of advice on what they’re doing, I’m always there for them.”

“Because we’ve got that relationship I can tell them if they’ve done something wrong. I know they respect me and I respect them. Trust works both ways.”

“At the end of the day they want to improve as players and they know they’ve got someone in me who’s been there and done it.”

“I still want to play and the better they are, the better I’ll be. It’s not all about making them the players they want to be, there’s a collective picture for the whole squad.”

EXPERIENCE HELPS PERSPECTIVE

The experienced central midfielder has seen it all during his career and has enjoyed the highs and lows you endure as a professional footballer.

Foley got promoted to the Championship with Yeovil Town in 2013 and player in the Scottish Premiership with St Mirren and Motherwell.

But he has also suffered four relegations during his storied career. 

“Experience really helps with your perspective,” he admitted. 

“It’s like you’re not scared of the dentist, you’re scared of the thought of the dentist.”

“I’ve been there and I’ve been relegated, I’ve been the lowest of the low. So the thought of it happening again, it’s already happened.”

“When you’re a young player you do worry about those things. What might happen if you’re relegated, the ramifications for yourself and the club. The older you get you suck it up a bit more.”

“Sometimes you’ve got to remember you play football because you enjoy it. It’s like when players moan it’s cold, what’s the alternative? Go and work on a building site. You get to play football for a job, it’s not that bad.”

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

Barrow boss Andy Whing has hailed Foley’s fitness since he took over from Stephen Clemence.

The Irishman is out of contract at the end of the season and when asked about his future, he said: “I’d like to play until the end of the season and valuate things there.”

“Someone used to tell me you try to get as long a contract as you can. For someone who doesn’t like to plan too much into the future, a long contract wouldn’t be good for me.”

“I set myself goals a few years ago which I breezed past so everything now is just a bonus for me.”

“If I play next season then great, but that’s a conversation for Mr Wood.”