Samuel Jack Ling (born 17 December 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Hornchurch.
Career Ling began his career at Leyton Orient, progressing through the O's academy to become Youth Team captain and also featured on the bench for the first-team a number of times. He moved to Dagenham & Redbridge in 2016. On 7 February 2018, he returned to fellow National League and former club Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. Ling was one of a number of players to leave Dagenham due to the club's financial issues. His father, Martin, was also director of football at Orient. He made his long-awaited debut for the club on 17 February, coming on as a substitute in the second-half against Chester. He scored his first goal for the club on 15 March 2019 in a 3–2 away win at Barrow. He played a key role at right-back as Orient won the National League title at the end of the 2018–19 season. Ling started the 2019–20 season well and was nominated for the Orient's Player of the Month award in August. On 9 September 2019 he signed a new one-year extension to his contract until the summer of 2021. He had been an ever-present in the side since promotion and their return to the English Football League. He made his 50th appearance for the club on 21 September 2019 in a 2–1 defeat to Colchester United. He made a total of 87 appearances for Orient in three and a half seasons before he was released in the summer of 2021 following the expiration of his contract.
On 9 July 2021, Ling returned to National League club Dagenham & Redbridge on a free transfer. Daggers boss, Daryl McMahon, spoke of his acquisition, "He obviously comes from a good footballing family, with his dad Martin. I've known Sam since he was about five or six, from when I played for Martin at Leyton Orient. He's been at the football club before and did really well here, so we know what we're getting." He left after the end of the 2024–25 season.
He joined National League South club Hornchurch on 13 January 2026, and he debuted on 24 January 2026 during the 2–1 victory against Weston-super-Mare. His first goal for Hornchurch was scored on 9 May 2026 and it was the winning goal in the 3–2 victory against Torquay United during the promotion play-off final which saw Hornchurch promoted to the National League for the first time in their history.
Personal life His father is Martin Ling.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeyton Orient 2013–14League One00000000002014–15League One00000000002015–16League Two0000000000Total0000000000Grays Athletic (loan)2014–15IL Premier Division00———00Histon (loan)2015–16SL Premier Division71———71Dagenham & Redbridge 2016–17National League11010—001202017–18National League29320—1Appearances in promotion play-offs0323Total40330—10443Leyton Orient2017–18National League13000—001302018–19National League22110—402712019–20League Two15010002Appearances in EFL Trophy01802020–21League Two30000103Appearances in EFL Trophy1341Total801201091922Dagenham & Redbridge2021–22National League32220—303722022–23National League34110—103612023–24National League40100—114122024–25National League13000—00130Total119430—511275Hornchurch2025–26National League South150——21171Career total2619801017328712
Honours Leyton Orient National League: 2018–19 FA Trophy runner-up: 2018–19
Hornchurch National League South play-offs: 2026
References
External links