Sam Stubbs - son of former Bolton, Celtic and Everton defender Alan - spent an injury-hit two years at Exeter City between 2021 and 2023 before leaving for Bradford City. He played when the Grecians beat Barrow to win promotion in April 2022.

Sam started with Everton’s academy but moved to Wigan when still at school. He made his Wigan debut in a League Cup tie in August 2017 and moved to Crewe Alexandra on loan shortly afterwards making his Football League debut in Crewe’s colours at Exeter in September 2017. Sam was later on loan at AFC Fylde before being released by Wigan in May 2018.

Sam joined Middlesbrough in July 2018 and, over the next two seasons, was to spend time on loan at Notts County, Hamilton Academical and ADO Den Haag without playing a first-team game for Boro. 

Sam left Middlesbrough in summer 2020 and was to play five league games for Fleetwood (scoring once) before signing for Exeter City in January 2021. However Sam was unable to play for his new club because of injury and did not make his Exeter debut until the EFL Trophy game against Bristol Rovers on 10 November 2021. Sam went on to play twenty-five times in 2021/22 - twenty-two in the league - and featured in many games towards the end of the season as City successfully challenged for promotion. Sam scored twice against Stevenage on 26 March 2022.

Sam’s injury problems returned in 2022/23 and, after two league and two League Cup games in August 2022, did not appear for the club again before his transfer to Bradford City in January 2023.