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Sam Oji

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Samuel Udoka Oji (9 October 1985 – 28 August 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Sam Oji
Oji in 2012
Personal information
Full name Samuel Udoka Oji[1]
Date of birth (1985-10-09)9 October 1985[1]
Place of birth Westminster, England
Date of death 28 August 2021(2021-08-28) (aged 35)[2]
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
2000–2004 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2008 Birmingham City 0 (0)
2005–2006 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 4 (0)
2007 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 5 (0)
2007 → Leyton Orient (loan) 2 (0)
2008 Leyton Orient 11 (0)
2008–2009 Hereford United 4 (0)
2009 Ljungskile SK 5 (0)
2011–2013 Tamworth 39 (2)
2013–2014 Limerick 34 (0)
2015–2016 Galway United 23 (2)
2016–2017 Worcester City 25 (0)
2017–2018 Hednesford Town 38 (2)
2018–2021 Highgate United
Managerial career
2021 Highgate United (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Oji played in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient and Hereford United, and in the Swedish Superettan for Ljungskile SK, before knee injuries kept him out of football for two years. He resumed his career with Tamworth of the Conference Premier. He then played in the League of Ireland for Limerick and Galway United and in non-league football for Worcester City and Hednesford Town. Oji joined Highgate United in 2018, and was appointed assistant manager of that club in July 2021.

Life and career

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Oji was born in Westminster, London.[1] He was a cousin of R&B/soul singer Lemar.[4] He began his football career as a youth player at Arsenal.[1]

Birmingham City

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Oji training with Birmingham City in 2006

Oji signed a full-time contract with Birmingham City for the start of the 2004–05 season.[1] In 2005–06 he spent six weeks on loan at Doncaster Rovers,[5] for whom he made his debut in the Football League as a 75th-minute substitute for Ricky Ravenhill in a 1–0 away loss against Gillingham on 6 December.[6]

On 7 February 2006 he made his only first-team appearance for Birmingham, in an FA Cup fourth round replay at home to Reading. He came on as a last-minute substitute for Stephen Clemence in a 2–1 win.[7]

A year later he joined Bristol Rovers on a month's loan, later extended to two months.[8] In the summer of 2007 he had a trial with Southend United,[9] then in August signed for Leyton Orient on a month's loan,[10] later extended to three months.[11]

Leyton Orient

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With six months remaining on his contract,[9] Oji left Birmingham by mutual consent on 8 January 2008 and joined Leyton Orient until the end of the 2007–08 season.[12] He was released by Orient at the end of the season.[13]

Hereford United

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Oji signed for League One club Hereford United on 7 August 2008.[14] After five games for the club he suffered a knee injury which kept him out of training for four months; he never regained his first-team place and at the end of his short-term contract, in February 2009, he was released.[15]

Ljungskile SK

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In March 2009 Oji joined Ljungskile SK of the Superettan (Swedish second division) after a successful trial.[16] He played only six league games for Ljungskile before leaving in June.[17] In August, Oji had a trial with Tranmere Rovers,[18] but cruciate ligament injuries suffered while on trials with Turkish Süper Lig side Diyarbakirspor and with Leyton Orient kept him out of football for two years.[4][19]

Tamworth

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In December 2011, Oji signed for Conference Premier club Tamworth.[20] He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the first match of 2012, a 2–2 draw at home to Alfreton Town.[21] He was sent off for two bookable offences in a league match against Fleetwood Town on 4 February 2012.[22]

League of Ireland

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Oji signed for League of Ireland club Limerick on 26 August 2013, and made his debut for the club in a 2–0 away defeat to Sligo Rovers.[23] In February 2015, he moved to Galway United in the same league.[24]

Return to England

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Worcester City signed Oji ahead of the opening fixture of the 2016–17 National League North season.[25] The following summer he moved to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Hednesford Town.[26] He made 41 appearances over the season, of which 38 were in league competition,[27] before signing for Highgate United of the Midland League Premier Division in July 2018.[28]

Oji was appointed assistant to Simon Johnson, new manager of Highgate United, on 20 July 2021.[29][30]

Death

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Oji died on 28 August 2021 at the age of 35; a day earlier, Highgate United had stated that he was "extremely ill".[31] He was married and had two children.[32][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ^ a b Highgate United FC [@HighgateUnited] (28 August 2021). "All it is with a very heavy heart that I am deeply saddened to inform you, that our beloved Captain, Leader and Legend Samuel Oji has sadly passed away. The thoughts of all at Highgate United FC are with Sam's wife, children and family at this very sad time" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 August 2021 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Sam Oji – Limerick FC". Extratime.ie. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b Evans, Gregg (6 January 2012). "Sam Oji hoping to be on song for Tamworth against Everton". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Oji set for Doncaster loan move". BBC Sport. 23 November 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  6. ^ "Gillingham 1–0 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 6 December 2005. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  7. ^ "Birmingham 2–1 Reading". BBC Sport. 7 February 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  8. ^ "Oji extends Bristol Rovers loan". BBC Sport. 20 March 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  9. ^ a b "Birmingham man has Southend trial". BBC Sport. 19 July 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  10. ^ "Orient sign Birmingham defender". BBC Sport. 8 August 2007. Retrieved 29 November 2007.
  11. ^ "Oji extends loan deal at Orient". BBC Sport. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  12. ^ "O's get Oji as Chambers pens deal". BBC Sport. 8 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  13. ^ "O's boss begins summer shake-up". BBC Sport. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  14. ^ "Sam Oji becomes a Bull". Hereford United F.C. 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
  15. ^ "Oji returns for Bulls after lengthy lay-off". Western Daily Press. 14 January 2009. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
    "Oji leaves Hereford United". Western Daily Press. 5 February 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  16. ^ "Tre nya spelare klara för LSK!" [Three new players ready for LSK] (in Swedish). Ljungskile SK. 31 March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  17. ^ "Samuel Oji" (in Swedish). Ljungskile SK. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
    "Sommarnyheter i truppen" [Summer squad news] (in Swedish). Ljungskile SK. 26 June 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  18. ^ Matthew Jones (5 August 2009). "Young Rovers Side Slip to Defeat at The Bay". Total Tranmere. SportNetwork. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  19. ^ "Reserves Thrashed By Palace". Leyton Orient F.C. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  20. ^ "Defender Sam Oji pens Tamworth contract". BBC Sport. 22 December 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  21. ^ "First points of the year are shared". Tamworth F.C. 1 January 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
  22. ^ "Fleetwood 2–2 Tamworth". BBC Sport. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  23. ^ "Sligo 2-0 Limerick". Limerick FC. 31 August 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  24. ^ "Sam Oji signs for United!". Galway United F.C. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  25. ^ "A further three players join the ranks". Worcester City F.C. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Two new Pitmen". Pitch Hero Non League. 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  27. ^ "Player stats 2017–2018". PitmenWeb. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
    "Fixtures results 2017–2018". PitmenWeb. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  28. ^ Gibbons, Craig (20 July 2018). "Highgate bosses delighted to seal move for defensive duo". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  29. ^ "Welcome New Manager – Simon Johnson". Highgate United F.C. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Welcome Samuel Oji". Highgate United F.C. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  31. ^ "Sam Oji: Former Birmingham City defender and Arsenal youth player dies at age 35". BBC Sport. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  32. ^ Mitchell, Andy (31 August 2021). "Sam Oji: Thousands raised in memory of ex-Birmingham City defender". Worcester News. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
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