Sampayo Steps Up Two Divisions To Join East Thurrock

The versatile full-back arrived at Scraley Road in August after a very impressive season with league rivals Brentwood Town.

The 25-year-old started his career with Chelsea, with whom he won the FA Youth Cup in 2010.

However, he left Stamford Bridge without managing to break into the senior side and joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2012, where he made just one first-team appearance in an FA Cup tie.

Whilst with the Seagulls, Sampayo had his first taste of non-League football, on loan at Bishop`s Stortford and, after leaving Brighton in 2013, signed for Chelmsford City.

He was tempted `north of the border` with Greenock Morton a year later but picked up a bad injury which restricted him to a couple of games for the Scottish League outfit.

Spells with Grays Athletic, Dover Athletic and Hemel Hempstead Town followed before he signed for Brentwood.

(Photo: Heybridge Swifts FC)