Sam Hay played for the Thames Ironworks in the 1898-99 season. He scored two goals on his debut against Brentford in September, 1898. The South Essex Gazette described the first of these goals when it claimed that Hay and George Gresham, "bundled the goalkeeper into the net whilst he had the ball in his hands". The goal stood because this action was within the rules at the time. Hay left the club after only playing seven games.