After a career that saw Sam Vokes represent clubs including Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United, Bristol City, Sheffield United, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Stoke City and Wycombe Wanderers, before finishing at Gillingham, the striker announced his retirement on Monday afternoon.
His decision came shortly after making his 750th professional appearance in Gillingham’s 4–1 defeat to Grimsby Town on April 18.
Gillingham’s statement on their club website reads:
“Sam Vokes has announced he will retire from professional Football following Saturday’s Sky Bet League 2 fixture at home to Shrewsbury Town.”
The former Welsh international, 36, has played in 750 games since starting his career in 2006 and made 64 caps for Wales in the process.
Vokes signed for the Gills last summer and has scored three times in 35 appearances.
During a glittering career he has played for Burnley, Leeds United, Wycombe Wanderers, Bournemouth and Stoke City.
He played at Euro 2016 for Wales, scoring against Belgium in a 3-1 win.
A statement confirming his retirement was released at midday on Monday, with Sam saying:
“This Saturday’s match at Gillingham will be my last. I feel now is the right time to retire from a career I have absolutely loved.
“Never did I dream I would be fortunate enough to have played across all four divisions and represent some amazing clubs.”
After a very special career in which Vokes played 112 times in the Premier League, mostly for Burnley, and made appearances in every EFL league over 20 years, Vokes has today drawn it to a close after one season at Gillingham.
He also made 63 appearances for the Wales national team, scoring 11 goals with a very memorable goal in the EURO 2016 quarter-finals vs Belgium in France. He is still to this day very much loved by the Wales fans after leading them to believe that they could win the whole thing.
In his days at Burnley, in which he made over 250 appearances, scoring 63 goals for the club in the Premier League, he is widely regarded as a club legend there.
Overall he had many memorable moments there, which most general Premier League fans may remember, but one that stands out massively is when he scored two for Burnley at then-champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the 2017/18 season.
Chelsea went into the break 0-3 behind, and it remains Burnley’s only win there in the Premier League, despite late pressure from Chelsea making it 2-3.
He also scored Burnley’s first home goal back in the Premier League, scoring after two minutes as Burnley beat Liverpool 2-0.
Gillingham fans now get the opportunity to say goodbye to Vokes’ professional career as they play Shrewsbury Town at Priestfield Stadium in the last set of fixtures of the 2025/26 season.
