Joshua Oluwagbeminija Popoola (born 7 May 2004) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for National League North club Buxton.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua Oluwagbeminija Popoola[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 May 2004[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Buxton | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Watford | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | Hitchin Town | 6 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | AFC Bournemouth | 0 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Cheshunt (loan) | 6 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Stockport County | 0 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Spennymoor Town (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| 2023 | → Chorley (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2023 | → Warrington Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2024 | Hitchin Town | 5 | (3) |
| 2024 | Tonbridge Angels | 6 | (0) |
| 2024– | Buxton | 8 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:23, 14 September 2024 (UTC) | |||
Career
editDuring his early career, Popoola spent seven years with the Watford academy. Following his release he joined the Pro:Direct Academy.[3] In February 2022, he joined Southern League Premier Division Central club Hitchin Town.[4]
Ahead of the 2022–23 season, Popoola joined AFC Bournemouth, signing a first professional contract having impressed on trial.[5] In February 2023, he joined National League South club Cheshunt on a one-month loan deal.[6] He was released by Bournemouth at the end of the season.[7]
On 31 July 2023, he joined League Two club Stockport County.[8] On 22 August 2023, he made his first-team senior debut for the club in a 1–1 EFL Trophy draw with Manchester United U21.[9] In September 2023, he joined National League North club Spennymoor Town on a one-month loan deal.[10] Following his return, he joined Chorley on loan until January 2024.[11] He was recalled on 30 November[12] and subsequently joined Warrington Town on a month-long loan.[13]
In January 2024, Popoola returned to Hitchin Town on a permanent basis.[14] In March, he joined National League South side Tonbridge Angels on a short-term contract until the end of the season.[15]
On 9 June 2024, Popoola joined National League North side Buxton.[16]
Career statistics
edit- As of end of 2023–24 season
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hitchin Town | 2021–22[17] | SFL Premier Division Central | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| AFC Bournemouth | 2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cheshunt (loan) | 2022–23[2] | National League South | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| Stockport County | 2023–24[18] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Spennymoor Town (loan) | 2023–24[2] | National League North | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| Chorley (loan) | 2023–24[2] | National League North | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Warrington Town (loan) | 2023–24[2] | National League North | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Hitchin Town | 2023–24[17] | SFL Premier Division Central | 5 | 3 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | ||
| Tonbridge Angels | 2023–24[2] | National League South | 6 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 33 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 7 | ||
- ^ Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- ^ Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
Personal life
editFollowing his release from Watford, Popoola worked as both a kitchen porter and a waiter at Twickenham Stadium.[3]
References
edit- ^ "SQUAD LIST 2023/24 & U21 REGISTERED CONTRACT PLAYERS" (PDF). EFL. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Josh Popoola at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ a b "CHERRIES CHANCE REPAIRING JOSH'S BROKEN HEART". www.afcb.co.uk. 28 August 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "WEEKLY BULLETIN – 4TH FEB". hitchintownfc.club. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "COOPER LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH POPOOLA". www.afcb.co.uk. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "LOAN WATCH: POPOOLA DELIVERING THE GOODS FOR CHESHUNT". www.afcb.co.uk. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "CLUB CONFIRM 22/23 RETAINED AND RELEASED LIST". www.afcb.co.uk. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Exciting prospects added to Emerging Talent group". www.stockportcounty.com. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "EFL Trophy Match Report: County 1-1 Manchester United Under-21s". www.stockportcounty.com. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Spennymoor Sign Joshua Popoola On Loan". spennymoortownfc.co.uk. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "New Signing | Josh Popoola". www.chorleyfc.com. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
- ^ @chorleyfc (30 November 2023). "Chorley FC can confirm that Josh Popoola has now been recalled from his loan spell by his parent club, @StockportCounty We'd like to place on record our thanks to Josh for his efforts during his time with the Magpies & to Stockport Country for allowing the deal to happen 👍🏻" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 December 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ "YELLOWS BRING IN STOCKPORT COUNTY WIDE MAN". www.warringtontownfc.co.uk. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ "WEEKLY BULLETIN – 19TH JANUARY". hitchintownfc.club. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "New signing Josh wings in". www.tonbridgeangels.co.uk. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ @Buxton_FC (9 June 2024). "✍🏼⚽️ | We are delighted to confirm the signing of former @StockportCounty full-back Josh Popoola. Josh, a right-sided player who likes to get forward, has also spent time at @afcbournemouth, and gained valuable @TheVanaramaNL North experience.. (1/2) #WelcomeJosh | #TeamBuxton" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 September 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "Josh Popoola". www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Games played by Josh Popoola in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 October 2023.