Samuel McCarthy, a defender from Chigwell, was an Associate Schoolboy with Norwich from 1993 to 1998. Upon his release by the Canaries, he spent a year on a YTS contract with Cheltenham. He spent the 2000/01 season with Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves / Youths before joining Barking & East Ham United.

During the 2001/02 season, he moved to fellow Ryman Leaguers Boreham Wood. He later moved to Aveley who released him in March 2003. Within the same month, Sam played for Leighton Town before joining Clapton. In December 2003, he switched back to Barking & East Ham United. He then played for Leyton in the Ryman League.

By the summer of 2007, he was playing for Stansted FC, coming to prominece for scoring four goals in their FA Cup Preliminery Qualifying Round match against St Margaretsbury on 31st August 2007