At the beginning of the 2002/03 season Sam Sodje joined Margate and scored on his debut with them. He found he was extremely popular with the fans and at the end of his first season with the team was awarded the Supporters' Player of the Year award. He went on trial in the summer of 2003 at Yeovil Town and Cester City but neither team signed him so he returned to Margate. In January 2006 he turned down a move to Southampton.