Sam Hornby

Burton Albion

Hornby played for the youth teams at Hednesford Town and Redditch United, before turning professional after signing a one-year contract with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's Burton Albion in June 2015. He joined National League North side Brackley Town on an initial one-month loan in October 2015, and went on to remain an ever-present for the rest of the 2015–16 season as the "Saints" successfully avoided relegation. Brackley manager Kevin Wilkin named him as his player of the season, and Hornby also picked up the club's player's player of the season award.

Speaking in May 2016, Nigel Clough said that "he's impressed us very much since we've come in", and "the plan with him is to get him out on loan, if we can do, to League Two or the National League". He returned on loan to the National League North in June 2016 with newly relegated club Kidderminster Harriers. Harriers ended the 2016–17 season in second place, and lost out to Chorley in the play-off semi-finals; manager John Eustace praised Hornby's performance in the play-offs.

Port Vale

Hornby signed a two-year contract with EFL League Two club Port Vale in June 2017. He faced competition for the first team spot from Rob Lainton, Ryan Boot, and Joe Slinn. He made his debut for the "Valiants" in the first round of the EFL Cup on 9 August, coming on for Lainton – who had suffered a serious thigh injury – at half-time during a 4–1 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road. He made his debut in the English Football League three days later, in a 3–2 loss to Wycombe Wanderers at Vale Park, and with Hornby conceding six goals within the space of 135 minutes, manager Michael Brown said that he was considering signing a new goalkeeper as Hornby was thrown "in the deep end" despite being "a young boy" with "a good future."