Richard Hill secured the signing of Anthony Samuels (or Junior as he was known) in summer 1999. For a while, it paid dividends; the signing seeming to be an inspired one. As we enjoyed a great start to the 1999-00 season, Samuels was in among the goals; bagging four in his first five outings. But our form started to dip and so too did the lad’s scoring abilities. He nabbed four more goals, which includes a hattrick against Merthyr Tydfil in an FA Trophy replay. But he played his last game for us in February 2000.

Anthony Samuels: Before Boro’

The match programme for our August 1999 clash against Doncaster Rovers suggests Samuels’ arrival was first secured on loan. He came to us from Boreham Wood, which was his most recent step on the ladder of his career. Before that, he played for Leyton Wingate and Bromley among other sides around the east and south of London. Boro’, however, was clearly his biggest footballing opportunity to date.