Moses Ashikodi

Millwall

Born in Lagos, Lagos State, Ashikodi started his career in the Millwall youth system. Aged 15 years and 240 days, he became the youngest player to make a first team appearance for Millwall on 22 February 2003 following his debut at Brighton & Hove Albion as a 73rd minute substitute. This also made him the youngest player to make his Football League debut between 1988 and 2008. Ashikodi went on to record another four substitute appearances for the Bermondsey club in the 2002–03 season. After the season's completion he was named Millwall's Schoolboy of the Year award for the second successive season, with the winner of the award being chosen by the club's youth academy staff.

Ashikodi's career at Millwall effectively ended in February 2004 after a training ground incident that reportedly saw Ashikodi threaten a teammate with a plastic knife. The club launched an investigation into the events, and on 29 April of that year he left the club by mutual consent. A club statement read that "The disciplinary process has been concluded. We wish him the best of luck in his future career."

West Ham United

Ashikodi joined Championship club West Ham United on 5 August on a two-year contract after impressing during a trial. Manager Alan Pardew said, "Moses is getting a last chance with us. He is a major talent and, hopefully, he will have learned his lesson." He did not make a first-team appearance for West Ham and joined League One side Gillingham on 15 August 2005 on loan until December 2005. He made four substitute appearances for Gillingham.

Rangers

Ashikodi moved to Scottish Premier League club Rangers on 11 January 2006 after a successful trial period, signing a contract until the end of the 2005–06 season. After signing for the club he said "I know that I did not have the best of times at my previous clubs but this is now behind me and all I want to do now is give 110% for Rangers. It is a fresh start and I am really looking forward to playing in Scotland and scoring goals again". He made his only appearance for the first team as a late substitute away to Celtic on 23 April 2006.

Watford

After impressing during a two-week trial, Ashikodi moved to Premier League side Watford on 1 January 2007 for a nominal fee, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut for Watford on 6 January 2007, scoring the final goal in a 4–1 FA Cup win over Stockport County, his first goal at senior level. He played his first Premier League game against Aston Villa on 20 January 2007.

Loan moves

Ashikodi was loaned to League One side Bradford City for one-month on 6 March 2007. The loan was extended until the end of the season two weeks later. He played eight times for Bradford, scoring twice. His loan spell was cut short after he sustained a broken leg in a fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

After recovering from his broken leg, he was loaned out on 18 January 2008 to another League One side, Swindon Town, for the remainder of the 2007–08 season. He played 10 times for Swindon before returning to Watford on 8 April 2008 after a loose screw on a plate in his leg required surgery ruled him out of the remainder of the season.

On 5 August 2008 he was loaned to League One side Hereford United until 3 January 2009. He scored in his second game for the club, a 2–1 loss to Championship side Crystal Palace in the League Cup on 12 August 2008. In mid-September 2008 he returned to Watford for treatment on an injury, but subsequently returned to Hereford to complete the loan period. Ashikodi made eight appearances for Hereford, with one goal scored, by the expiration of his loan deal in January 2009.

Trials

Ashikodi's contract was terminated by Watford on 3 February 2009. Later the same month he played on trial for both Luton Town, scoring in the side's reserve team game against Peterborough United, and Shrewsbury Town, where he scored twice in a reserve fixture.

Shrewsbury Town

After a successful trial for Shrewsbury, Ashikodi signed on a contract until the end of the 2008–09 season on 27 February 2009. He made his debut for Shrewsbury the following day in a 3–0 defeat away at Macclesfield Town when he was substituted in the second half by Richard Walker. Ashikodi scored his first goal for the club a week later in his third game to help Shrewsbury to a 3–2 win against Notts County on 7 March 2009. He came on as an 89th-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Gillingham in the 2009 Football League Two play-off Final at Wembley Stadium on 23 May 2009. He was released by Shrewsbury on 25 May 2009 having scored 1 goal in 10 games.

Kettering Town

Ashikodi joined Conference Premier side Kettering Town on 2 September 2009. He made his debut as a second-half substitute against Altrincham on 5 September 2009, scoring once and setting up a second goal in a 2–0 victory. Ashikodi played his last game for Kettering in the FA Cup second round 1–1 draw at home to League One side Leeds United on 29 November 2009.

Ebbsfleet United

Following his release from Kettering, Ashikodi signed for Ebbsfleet United on 19 January 2010. On the same day he made his debut and scored a penalty kick against his former club Kettering.

Return to Kettering

In September 2011, Ashikodi was given a red card in a 5–3 loss to Hayes & Yeading United, along with teammate Jean-Paul Marna, for fighting following a dispute over who should take a penalty.

York City

Ashikodi signed for Conference Premier rivals York City on loan on 23 November until January 2012, when York would decide whether to extend the deal. His first goal for York came against parent club Kettering in a 7–0 victory on 3 December. Having scored one goal in six appearances he signed for York permanently on a contract until the end of the 2011–12 season on 2 January 2012. Following the end of the season Ashikodi was released by York on 29 May 2012, finishing his period at the club with 11 appearances and one goal.

Later career

Ashikodi re-signed for Conference Premier side Ebbsfleet United on 3 July 2012. He was released in May 2013 and had a trial at Luton Town. He signed for Isthmian League Premier Division team Enfield Town on 2 November 2013 and made his debut the following day in a 1–0 home defeat to Grays Athletic in the second qualifying round of the FA Trophy. He then joined Isthmian League rivals Margate later that month. Again only managing a short stay with the club, he next joined Conference South side Farnborough.

Next completing a move to Cray Wanderers, Ashikodi was soon involved in controversy surrounding an apparent bite on an opposing player, which was later investigated by the FA. He later joined AFC Hornchurch at the start of the 2014/15 season, where he would go on to record seven appearances. Ashikodi signed for Eastbourne Borough in November 2014 and Maldon & Tiptree shortly after. Following his departure from Maldon & Tiptree, he rejoined Cray Wanderers for a second spell.

In August 2015, Ashikodi joined Isthmian Division One South side Walton Casuals. His first time in the eighth tier of English football, he scored seven times in 15 games prior to his release.

In October 2015, he joined local and league rivals Walton & Hersham. Ashikodi made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Hastings United, but managed just 51 minutes before being replaced due to an injury. It went on to be his only appearance for the club.

In December 2015, Ashikodi joined league rivals Carshalton Athletic after a short absence from football. Spending a month with the club, he scored his first goal in his third appearance - his side's only goal in a 7-1 loss to Ramsgate. He left the club shortly after the defeat.

In February 2016, he made two appearances for Southern Counties East League Premier side Croydon, his first club in the ninth tier. However, his swift departure less than a week after signing ensured he failed to score for the club.

In March 2016, Ashikodi returned to the Isthmian Division One South to join East Grinstead Town. His fifth club of the season, he made his mark with a goal just five minutes into his debut. Nonetheless, it would be his only appearance for the club before his return to a former side.

In March 2016, he returned to Croydon making another single appearance. He was substituted after 65 minutes and failed to return to the club.

In August 2016, Ashikodi signed for Isthmian Division One South club Whyteleafe. His spell with the club was short-lived, scoring once in five appearances. His final game saw him start on the bench, replacing Roscoe D'Sane on the hour, and receiving a yellow card for an intentional handball. Ashikodi stated his intention to leave the club immediately after the game, unhappy at being left on the bench.

In October 2016, Ashikodi joined Combined Counties Premier Division side Guildford City, his first club in the ninth tier. He scored on his debut in a 3-1 victory at Knaphill but made just four appearances before his release two weeks later.

In November 2016, he returned to the Isthmian Division One South signing for Chatham Town. Ashikodi made two appearances for the club before an on-the-pitch incident resulted in his release. An argument with teammate Ricky Freeman led to the striker storming off the pitch, having come on just seven minutes earlier, and leaving his team with 10 men for the final 15 minutes having made all three substitutions.

In March 2017, Ashikodi returned to Walton Casuals for his second spell with the club.

In August 2017, he joined Southern Combination Premier Division side Three Bridges. On 26 August, Ashikodi was involved in an incident after the full-time whistle. Involved in a row over a stolen mobile phone, Ashikodi was grabbed around the neck by a supporter leading him to punch the supporter.

International career

Ashikodi has played for England at youth levels, making his debut for the under-16s in a 3–1 victory over Belgium in a friendly on 2 May 2002, scoring England's second goal in the 29th minute. He played in the 2002 Victory Shield, scoring in a 1–0 victory against Wales on 1 November. His final appearance for the under-16s came in a 2–2 draw at home to Germany on 18 November, having scored three goals in eight caps. Ashikodi made his debut at under-17 level in a 4–0 victory away at the Faroe Islands in the 2002 Nordic Tournament on 30 July. It was nearly a year before Ashikodi scored his first goal for the under-17s when he netted the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over the United States on 7 July 2003. He made five appearances for England at this level, scoring one goal.

Ashikodi's only appearance at under-18 level came as a substitute in a 0–0 home draw with Norway on 10 June 2005. His debut for the under-19 team came on 16 November, in which he scored the only two goals against Switzerland in a 2–1 victory. Ashikodi made his final appearance in a 2–1 victory over Northern Ireland on 20 May 2006, having scored three goals in three games for the under-19s.

He made his international debut for Antigua and Barbuda as an 81st-minute substitute in a 3–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification defeat to Guatemala on 7 September 2012.

Club

International