Ex-T&T international and Premiership defender Jlloyd Samuel dead after car crash

Editor Tuesday 15 May 2018 Global Football, National Football, Volley 28 Comments

Former Trinidad and Tobago international and England Premier League defender Jlloyd Samuel died in a car accident this morning in England.

Cheshire Police said they were called to the scene of a serious collision involving a van and a Range Rover in High Legh, Cheshire at 7:55am.

“Sadly the driver of the car, Jlloyd Samuel, 37, from Lymm, died at the scene,” the Cheshire Police said in a statement. “His next of kin have been informed and are currently being supported by specially trained officers. The driver of the van, a 54-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and has been taken to hospital for treatment.”

Photo: Then Aston Villa left-back Jlloyd Samuel (right) holds off Arsenal flanker Jermaine Pennant during an England Premiership contest at Highbury in London on 16 October 2004.
(Copyright Nicolas Asfouri/AFP 2018/Wired868)

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) released a statement shortly after the fatal accident. The TTFA statement read: “We’ve received some terrible news that former National defender and ex-Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers player Jlloyd Samuel died in a car crash this morning in England.

“According to reports, Jlloyd was returning home after dropping his kids off to school and collided with an oncoming vehicle.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and his former national teammates at this time extends deepest condolences to his family members both in the UK and here in Trinidad and Tobago.”

The Aston Villa Football Club, where Samuel first came to prominence, will pay their respects to Samuel tonight.

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former player Jlloyd Samuel at the age of just 37 in a car accident,” Championship side Villa said on Twitter. “Our players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect tonight [in their play-off semi-final] and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very difficult time.”

Photo: Former Trinidad and Tobago international Jlloyd Samuel in action for Bolton Wanderers.

Samuel was born in San Fernando and migrated to England with his family at the age of 10. An athletic and composed left-footed player, he was earmarked as one of the country’s most promising left-backs and represented England at Under-18, Under-20 and Under-21 level.

However, the presence of formidable left-back Ashley Cole—with Wayne Bridge as deputy—blocked Samuel’s path to the England senior team and former Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker tried to insert the defender into his squad for the Germany 2006 World Cup.

Samuel did not get clearance in time to join the Soca Warriors in Germany and it was another three years before he made his first senior international cap in the red, white and black strip.

He only ever made one trip to represent Trinidad and Tobago, though, as he flew in to feature in 2010 World Cup qualifying affairs away to Honduras and at home against the United States—which ended in 1-4 and 0-1 losses respectively, under then head coach Russell Latapy.

Samuel never represented Trinidad and Tobago again. He ended his professional career in Iran where he played for four seasons with Esteghlal and Paykan.

He last represented Cheshire-based amateur club, Egerton FC, where he served as player/coach last season.