Sam Willis was in Norwich's Under-16 squad for the 2004/5 season. In August 2005, he joined brother Ollie at Ridgeons League side Dereham Town, making his debut on 27th August in the FA Cup against Boreham Wood. Sam was in the Dereham side that narrowly won the Norfolk Senior Cup final 1-0 against Paul Franklin's Norwich United on 19th April 2006.

Sam made 11 appearances as Dereham won the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Leauge title in 2012/13, winning a place in the Ryman League for 2013/14.