Full name Samuel Udoka Oji Playing position | Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Name Sam Oji | |
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Date of birth (1985-10-09) 9 October 1985 (age 35) | ||
Similar Mat Sadler, Damien Johnson, Maik Taylor Died 28 August 2021 (aged 35) | ||
Sam oji player highlights
Samuel Udoka "Sam" Oji (9 October 1985 – 28 August 2021) was an English semi-professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Hednesford Town.
Contents
- Sam oji player highlights
- Birmingham City
- Leyton Orient
- Hereford United
- Ljungskile SK
- Tamworth
- Limerick
- Galway United
- Return to England
- Personal life
- Death
- References
He played in the Football League for Doncaster Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient and Hereford United, and in the Swedish Superettan for Ljungskile SK, before returning to England to play for Tamworth in the Conference Premier.
Birmingham City
Born in Westminster, London, Oji started his career as a youth player at Arsenal. He signed a full-time contract with Birmingham City for the start of the 2004–05 season.
In 2005–06 he spent six weeks on loan at Doncaster Rovers, for whom he made his debut in the Football League as a second-half substitute against Gillingham.
In February 2006 he made his only first-team appearance for Birmingham as a late substitute in the 2006 FA Cup fourth round replay against Reading.
A year later he joined Bristol Rovers on a month's loan, later extended to two months. In the summer of 2007 he had a trial with Southend United, then in August signed for Leyton Orient on a month's loan, later extended to three months.
Leyton Orient
With six months remaining on his contract, Oji left Birmingham by mutual consent on 8 January 2008 and joined Leyton Orient until the end of the 2007–08 season. He was released by Orient at the end of the season.
Hereford United
Oji signed for League One club Hereford United on 7 August 2008. 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.
Ljungskile SK
In March 2009 Oji joined Ljungskile SK of the Superettan (Swedish second division) after a successful trial. He played only six league games for Ljungskile before leaving in June. In August, Oji had a trial with Tranmere Rovers, then with Turkish Süper Lig side Diyarbakirspor, and in September, he returned to former club Leyton Orient for another trial which ended as he suffered an apparently serious leg injury while playing for the reserves. A succession of knee injuries then kept him out of football for two years.
Tamworth
In December 2011, Oji signed for Conference Premier club Tamworth. He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the first match of 2012, a 2–2 draw at home to Alfreton Town. He was sent off for two bookable offences in a league match against Fleetwood Town on 4 February 2012.
Limerick
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.
Galway United
Oji joined Galway United from Limerick in 2015.
Return to England
On 5 August 2016, Worcester City announced the signing of Oji ahead of the 2016–17 National League North opening fixture. The following summer he moved to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Hednesford Town.
Personal life
Oji was a cousin of UK soul singer Lemar.
Death
Oji died on 28 August 2021 at the age of 35; a day earlier, Highgate United had stated that he was "extremely ill". He was married and had children.