Onome Sodje

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Onome Sodje

| image = Onome Sodje 1.png

| image_size = 150

| caption = Sodje after playing for York City in the 2009 FA Trophy Final

| fullname = Onome Sympson Sodje{{Hugman|25381|access-date = 30 May 2015}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|7|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Warri, Nigeria

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}

| position = Striker

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2005

| youthclubs1 = Charlton Athletic

| years1 = 2005–2006

| years2 = 2005

| years3 = 2005

| years4 = 2006

| years5 = 2006–2007

| years6 = 2007–2009

| years7 = 2009–2010

| years8 = 2009–2010

| years9 = 2010

| years10 = 2011

| years11 = 2011–2012

| years12 = 2012–2013

| years13 = 2013–2014

| years14 = 2014–2015

| years15 = 2015–2016

| clubs1 = Charlton Athletic

| clubs2 = → Welling United (loan)

| clubs3 = → Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)

| clubs4 = → Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)

| clubs5 = Gravesend & Northfleet

| clubs6 = York City

| clubs7 = Barnsley

| clubs8 = → Oxford United (loan)

| clubs9 = Senica

| clubs10 = Đồng Nai

| clubs11 = Floriana

| clubs12 = Belouizdad

| clubs13 = Partizani Tirana

| clubs14 = Nuneaton Town

| clubs15 = Billericay Town

| caps1 = 0

| caps2 = 6

| caps3 = 8

| caps4 = 6

| caps5 = 39

| caps6 = 81

| caps7 = 1

| caps8 = 4

| caps9 = 14

| caps10 =

| caps11 = 10

| caps12 = 13

| caps13 = 3

| caps14 = 29

| caps15 = ?

| goals1 = 0

| goals2 = 1

| goals3 = 2

| goals4 = 1

| goals5 = 9

| goals6 = 21

| goals7 = 0

| goals8 = 1

| goals9 = 1

| goals10 =

| goals11 = 5

| goals12 = 1

| goals13 = 1

| goals14 = 4

| goals15 = 6

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 00:49, 2 August 2017 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Onome Sympson Sodje (born 17 July 1988) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker. He has played professionally for clubs in England, Slovakia, Malta, Vietnam, Algeria and Albania.

Career

Born in Warri, Delta State, Sodje came through the Charlton Athletic youth system|. He scored 14 goals in 19 games in the 2003–04 U17 FA Premier Academy League. He spent time on loan at Welling United towards the end of the 2004–05 season. He then went out on loan to Conference National team Gravesend & Northfleet in September 2005.{{Cite news

| title = Fleet manager hails Sodje signing

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4229224.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 9 September 2005

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} He rejoined Gravesend for a second loan period in February 2006.{{Cite news

| title = Fleet target permanent Sodje deal

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4721312.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 16 February 2006

| access-date = 6 September 2011}}

He was released by Charlton in 2006 and eventually signed for Gravesend & Northfleet permanently in August.{{Cite news

| title = Gravesend bring in two new faces

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5287554.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 25 August 2006

| access-date = 6 September 2011}}

File:Onome Sodje 26-12-2007 1.jpg in 2007]]

Sodje signed for fellow Conference Premier club York City on 18 June 2007 on a free transfer.{{Cite news

| title = York snap up Sodje and Robinson

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6766511.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 19 June 2007

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} He was joint top goalscorer with 17 goals in the 2007–08 season.{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = York City 2007/08 season review

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/2235500.York_City_2007_08_season_review_/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 30 April 2008

| access-date = 11 June 2011}} Sodje won the first Conference Premier Goal of the Month award in September 2008 with a goal against Torquay United, which won with 30% of the vote.{{Cite news

| title = York's Sodje wins best goal award

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7611283.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 11 September 2008

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} He came on as a 63rd minute substitute in the FA Trophy Final at Wembley Stadium on 9 May 2009, which York lost 2–0 to Stevenage Borough.{{Cite news

| title = Stevenage 2–0 York

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8036407.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 9 May 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} He was largely restricted to the bench as his form dipped during the 2008–09 season,{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = York City season review 2008/9

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/4367581.York_City_season_review_2008_9/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 14 May 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} which he finished with 46 appearances and seven goals.

Sodje signed for Championship team Barnsley on 15 June 2009.{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = York City striker Onome Sodje signs for Barnsley

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/4439146.York_City_striker_Onome_Sodje_signs_for_Barnsley/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 15 June 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} He was allowed to move on a free transfer as he was playing at York on a non-contract basis.{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = York City hit out at Onome Sodje in row over shock transfer to Barnsley

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/4442350.York_City_hit_out_at_Onome_Sodje_in_row_over_shock_transfer_to_Barnsley/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 17 June 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} His contract status was due to his lack of a valid work permit, connected to an ongoing dispute with immigration officials over his right to reside in the UK. York spent £5,000 on legal fees to fight his case which also attracted the support of the Archbishop of York John Sentamu and MP Hugh Bayley. After winning the right to stay in the country he chose to move to Barnsley rather than sign the contract offered by York.{{Cite news

| first = James

| last = Waterson

| title = Transfer Blame

| url = http://thisispop.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/published-onome-sodje-in-when-saturday-comes/

| newspaper = When Saturday Comes

| date = 8 December 2009

| access-date = 13 January 2010}}

He made his debut as a 79th-minute substitute in a 2–0 defeat to Coventry City on 15 August.{{Cite news

| title = Barnsley 0 – 2 Coventry

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/8194830.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 15 August 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} He joined Conference Premier leaders Oxford United on an emergency loan on 23 November and made his debut a day later as a substitute in a 1–0 victory over Forest Green Rovers.{{Cite news

| title = Striker Sodje seals Oxford loan

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8375366.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 23 November 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}}{{Cite news

| title = Forest Green 0–1 Oxford United

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8373987.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 24 November 2009

| access-date = 24 November 2009}} He scored his first goal in a 1–1 with Salisbury City, which put Oxford in the lead on 79 minutes.{{Cite news

| title = Salisbury City 1–1 Oxford United

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8423433.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 28 December 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} Oxford confirmed his loan would not be extended in January 2010.{{Cite news

| title = Perry and Sodje to leave Oxford

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8433918.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 29 December 2009

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} He joined Slovak Superliga team FK Senica in January,{{Cite news

| title = Barnsley striker Onome Sodje set to make Slovakia move

| url = http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8476726.stm

| publisher = BBC Sport

| date = 23 January 2010

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} scoring a header on his debut in a 2–1 victory over MFK Ružomberok in February.{{cite news

| title = Futbal: Corgoň liga – Senica – Ružomberok

| url = http://www.ta3.com/sk/reportaze/146312_futbal-corgon-liga-senica-ruzomberok

| publisher = TA3

| date = 27 February 2010

| access-date = 11 March 2010

| language = sk}} Sodje finished the 2009–10 season with one goal in 13 appearances. He made only appearance in the 2010–11 season, in a 0–0 draw at MŠK Žilina on 21 August.{{Cite web

| title = Žilina vs. Senica 0 – 0

| url = https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2010/08/21/slovakia/super-liga/mk-ilina/senica/943043/

| publisher = Soccerway

| access-date = 11 June 2011}} He later signed with Vietnamese First Division club Đồng Nai.{{Cite news

| first = Tana

| last = Aiyejina

| title = Sodje hails Kayode Atletico move

| publisher = Punch on the Web

| date = 1 September 2011

}} Sodje joined Floriana of the Maltese Premier League in December and scored on his debut, a 4–2 victory over Ħamrun Spartans.{{Cite news

| title = Match Day 15: Floriana 4 Hamrun Spartans 2

| url = http://www.florianafc.com/news.asp?newsid=23

| publisher = Floriana F.C

| date = 11 December 2011

| access-date = 19 December 2011}} In July 2012, he joined Algerian club CR Belouizdad, signing a three-year contract.{{Cite web |url=http://www.punchng.com/sports/algerian-deal-excites-onome-sodje/ |title=Algerian deal excites Onome Sodje |access-date=24 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134050/http://www.punchng.com/sports/algerian-deal-excites-onome-sodje/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }} He scored one goal in 13 games in the Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1, before being released at the end of the season.

Following his release from Belouizdad, Sodje signed for Albanian Superliga club Partizani Tirana.{{cite web|title=Ex Charlton Youth – Teamer Onome Sodje Explains Why He Joined Partizani Tirana|url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=10807|website=allnigeriasoccer.com/|access-date=18 October 2013}} Sodje scored on his debut for Partizani Tirana on 18 September 2013, in their 2–2 draw against Bylis Ballsh.{{cite web|title=Partizani Tirana 2 – 2 Bylis Ballsh|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/09/18/albania/super-league/kf-partizani-tirana/ks-bylis-ballsh/1543901/|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=18 October 2013}}

In October 2014 he returned to England, signing for Nuneaton Town.{{cite web|title=Nuneaton Town: Liam Daish signs Onome Sodje for second time|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29510907|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=7 October 2014}}

Sodje joined Billericay Town for the 2015–16 season, scoring 7 goals for the club.{{cite web|title=BTFC History: 2015-16 Season}}

Personal life

He moved to England at the age of 14 and attended Sedgehill School in south-east London.{{Cite news

| title = Another Sodje joins the ranks

| url = http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=25337

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030834/http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news/index.php?newsmode=FULL&nid=25337

| url-status = usurped

| archive-date = 30 September 2007

| publisher = Non-League Daily

| date = 21 March 2005

| access-date = 23 July 2007}} Sodje's uncles, Sam, Efe, Akpo, and Steve all play football in England as well.{{Cite news

| first = Steve

| last = Carroll

| title = McEwan back to work with two signings

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/1480970.McEwan_back_to_work_with_two_signings/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 19 June 2007

| access-date = 6 September 2011}} Another uncle Bright is a former professional rugby league footballer.

Career statistics

File:Onome Sodje 01-01-2008 1.jpg

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="2"\|League{{ref label\|League\|A

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="2"|League{{ref label|League|A

}

!colspan="2"|FA Cup

!colspan="2"|League Cup

!colspan="2"|Other{{ref label|Other|B|}}

!colspan="2"|Total

!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

|rowspan="1" valign="center"|Welling United (loan)

|2004–05{{Cite web

| title = Player Details: Season 2004–2005

| url = http://www.soccerfactsuk.co.uk/s2004/player_details.php?playerid=8321

| publisher = SoccerFactsUK

| access-date = 23 August 2009}}

|6||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||1

|rowspan="2" valign="center"|Gravesend & Northfleet (loan)

|rowspan="2"|2005–06{{Cite web

| title = Season 2005/2006

| url = http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=114578&season=2006

| publisher = Sportbox.tv

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}

|8||2||1||0||0||0||0||0||9||2

|6||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||6||1

|rowspan="2" valign="center"|Gravesend & Northfleet

|2006–07{{Cite web

| title = Season 2006/2007

| url = http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=114578&season=2007

| publisher = Sportbox.tv

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}

|39||9||1||0||0||0||2||0||42||9

!Total

!53!!12!!2!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!57!!12

|rowspan="3" valign="center"|York City

|2007–08{{Cite book

| last = Batters

| title = York City The Complete Record

| pages = 411–421 }}

|45||14||2||2||0||0||8||1||55||17

|2008–09Appearances and goals for this season are taken from:
{{Cite web

| title = Season 2008/2009

| url = http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=114578&season=2009

| publisher = Sportbox.tv

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}
{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = York City 0, Mansfield 0 (FAC4Q)

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/matchreports/3793566.York_City_0__Mansfield_0__FAC4Q_/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 27 October 2008

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}
{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = Mansfield 1, York City 0

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/matchreports/3800445.Mansfield_1__York_City_0/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 29 October 2008

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}
{{Cite news

| first = Steve

| last = Carroll

| title = Daniel McBreen's double strike ignites York City's Wembley dream in the FA Trophy

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/matchreports/4146804.York_City_2__Havant___Waterlooville_0/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 23 February 2009

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}
{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = Prospect of a Wembley outing in the FA Trophy final provides a welcome fillip for York City

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/matchreports/4205248.Telford_United_0__York_City_2___FA_Trophy_Semi_1/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 16 March 2009

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}
{{Cite news

| first = Dave

| last = Flett

| title = Wembley here we come... York City beat Telford United to book a place in the FA Trophy final

| url = http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityfc/matchreports/4225002.York_City_2__Telford_United_1___FA_Trophy_Semi_2/

| newspaper = The Press

| date = 23 March 2009

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}

|36||7||2||0||0||0||8||0||46||7

!Total

!81!!21!!4!!2!!0!!0!!16!!1!!101!!24

|rowspan="1" valign="center"|Barnsley

|2009–10{{Cite web

| title = Season 2009/2010

| url = http://www.sportbox.tv/football/players/player.php?playerid=114578&season=2010

| publisher = Sportbox.tv

| access-date = 11 June 2011}}

|1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0

|rowspan="1" valign="center"|Oxford United (loan)

|2009–10{{Cite web

| title = All appearances for Onome Sodje

| url = http://www.rageonline.co.uk/mainpage.php?type=match&player_id=693&what=player

| publisher = Rage Online

| access-date = 11 March 2010}}

|4||1||0||0||0||0||1||0||5||1

|rowspan="3" valign="center"|FK Senica

|2009–10{{Cite web

| title = Onome Sodje

| url = http://www.fksenica.sk/index.php?option=com_joomleague&func=showPlayer&p=1&pid=94&Itemid=

| publisher = FK Senica

| access-date = 30 April 2010

| language = sk}}

|13||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||13||1

|2010–11{{Cite web

| title = O. Sodje

| url = https://int.soccerway.com/players/onome-sodje/36463/

| publisher = Soccerway

| access-date = 30 May 2015}}

|1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0

!Total

!14!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!14!!1

!colspan="2"|Career total

!159!!36!!6!!2!!0!!0!!19!!1!!184!!39

:A. {{note|League}} The "League" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League, Football Conference and Slovak Superliga.

:B. {{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Conference League Cup and FA Trophy.