Sam Oji

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sam Oji

| image = Oji, Sam.jpg

| image_size = 300

| caption = Oji in 2012

| fullname = Samuel Udoka Oji

| birth_date = {{birth date|1985|10|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Westminster, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|8|28|1985|10|9|df=y}}

| death_place =

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}{{cite web |url=http://extratime.ie/player/11117086/sam_oji/ |title=Sam Oji – Limerick FC |publisher=Extratime.ie |accessdate=7 June 2014}}

| position = Centre-back

| youthyears1 = 2000–2004 | youthclubs1 = Arsenal

| years1 = 2004–2008 | clubs1 = Birmingham City | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2005–2006 | clubs2 = → Doncaster Rovers (loan) | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2007 | clubs3 = → Bristol Rovers (loan) | caps3 = 5 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2007 | clubs4 = → Leyton Orient (loan) | caps4 = 2 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2008 | clubs5 = Leyton Orient | caps5 = 11 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2008–2009 | clubs6 = Hereford United | caps6 = 4 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2009 | clubs7 = Ljungskile SK | caps7 = 5 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2011–2013 | clubs8 = Tamworth | caps8 = 39 | goals8 = 2

| years9 = 2013–2014 | clubs9 = Limerick | caps9 = 34 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2015–2016 | clubs10 = Galway United | caps10 = 23 | goals10 = 2

| years11 = 2016–2017 | clubs11 = Worcester City | caps11 = 25 | goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2017–2018 | clubs12 = Hednesford Town | caps12 = 38 | goals12 = 2

| years13 = 2018–2021 | clubs13 = Highgate United | caps13 = | goals13 =

| manageryears1 = 2021 | managerclubs1 = Highgate United (assistant)

}}

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

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

Oji was born in Westminster, London.{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 |date=2009 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |isbn=978-1-84596-474-0 |page=315}} He was a cousin of R&B/soul singer Lemar.{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sam-oji-hoping-song-tamworth-7692 |title=Sam Oji hoping to be on song for Tamworth against Everton |first=Gregg |last=Evans |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=6 January 2012 |accessdate=26 January 2020}} He began his football career as a youth player at Arsenal.

=Birmingham City=

File:SamOji cropped.jpg in 2006]]

Oji 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,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/4462474.stm |title=Oji set for Doncaster loan move |publisher=BBC Sport |date=23 November 2005 |accessdate=8 January 2008}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/4494718.stm |title=Gillingham 1–0 Doncaster |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 December 2005 |accessdate=8 January 2008}}

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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/4680422.stm |title=Birmingham 2–1 Reading |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 February 2006 |accessdate=8 January 2008}}

A year later he joined Bristol Rovers on a month's loan, later extended to two months.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bristol_rovers/6470211.stm |title=Oji extends Bristol Rovers loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 March 2007 |accessdate=8 January 2008}} In the summer of 2007 he had a trial with Southend United,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southend_utd/6906446.stm |title=Birmingham man has Southend trial |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 July 2007 |accessdate=8 January 2008}} then in August signed for Leyton Orient on a month's loan,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/6966999.stm |title=Orient sign Birmingham defender |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 August 2007 |accessdate=29 November 2007}} later extended to three months.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/7024335.stm |title=Oji extends loan deal at Orient |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 October 2007 |accessdate=8 January 2008}}

=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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/7176782.stm |title=O's get Oji as Chambers pens deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 January 2008 |accessdate=8 January 2008}} He was released by Orient at the end of the season.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leyton_orient/7390970.stm |title=O's boss begins summer shake-up |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 May 2008 |accessdate=19 June 2008}}

=Hereford United=

Oji signed for League One club Hereford United on 7 August 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/article/2026046/Sam-Oji-Becomes-A-Bull |title=Sam Oji becomes a Bull |publisher=Hereford United F.C. |date=7 August 2008 |accessdate=7 August 2008 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919180122/http://www.herefordunited.co.uk/article/2026046/Sam-Oji-Becomes-A-Bull |archivedate=19 September 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/news/Oji-returns-Bulls-lengthy-lay/article-615884-detail/article.html |title=Oji returns for Bulls after lengthy lay-off |newspaper=Western Daily Press |date=14 January 2009 |accessdate=19 February 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809122029/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Oji-returns-Bulls-lengthy-lay/story-11303443-detail/story.html |archivedate=9 August 2011}}
{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/wdp/sport/football/Oji-leaves-Hereford-United/article-675977-detail/article.html |title=Oji leaves Hereford United |newspaper=Western Daily Press |date=5 February 2009 |accessdate=19 February 2009 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120912064155/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Oji-leaves-Hereford-United/story-11237161-detail/story.html |archivedate=12 September 2012}}

=Ljungskile SK=

In March 2009 Oji joined Ljungskile SK of the Superettan (Swedish second division) after a successful trial.{{cite web |url=http://www.lsk.se/default.asp?do=document&docid=4226 |title=Tre nya spelare klara för LSK! |trans-title=Three new players ready for LSK |publisher=Ljungskile SK |date=31 March 2009 |language=Swedish |accessdate=11 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527183354/http://www.lsk.se/default.asp?do=document&docid=4226 |archivedate=27 May 2011}} He played only six league games for Ljungskile before leaving in June.{{cite web |url=http://www.lsk.se/default.asp?do=team_details&subdo=player_details§ionID=182&playerID=3161&title=Samuel%20Oji |title=Samuel Oji |publisher=Ljungskile SK |language=Swedish |accessdate=11 February 2010 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120904085459/http://www.lsk.se/default.asp?do=team_details&subdo=player_details§ionID=182&playerID=3161&title=Samuel%20Oji |archivedate=4 September 2012}}
{{cite web |url=http://www.lsk.se/default.asp?do=document&docID=4448 |title=Sommarnyheter i truppen |trans-title=Summer squad news |publisher=Ljungskile SK |date=26 June 2009 |language=Swedish |accessdate=21 December 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927175828/http://www.lsk.se/default.asp?do=document&docID=4448 |archivedate=27 September 2011}}

In August, Oji had a trial with Tranmere Rovers,{{cite web |url=http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s383/st147684.htm |title=Young Rovers Side Slip to Defeat at The Bay |author=Matthew Jones |work=Total Tranmere |publisher=SportNetwork |date=5 August 2009 |accessdate=11 February 2010}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~1791217,00.html |title=Reserves Thrashed By Palace |publisher=Leyton Orient F.C |date=8 September 2009 |accessdate=11 February 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912051621/http://www.leytonorient.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10439~1791217,00.html |archivedate=12 September 2009}}

=Tamworth=

In December 2011, Oji signed for Conference Premier club Tamworth.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16303774.stm |title=Defender Sam Oji pens Tamworth contract |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 December 2011 |accessdate=22 December 2011}} He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the first match of 2012, a 2–2 draw at home to Alfreton Town.{{cite web |url=http://www.thelambs.co.uk/matches/first-points-of-the-year-are-shared-613.htm |title=First points of the year are shared |publisher=Tamworth F.C |date=1 January 2012 |accessdate=2 January 2012}} He was sent off for two bookable offences in a league match against Fleetwood Town on 4 February 2012.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16779120 | title=Fleetwood 2–2 Tamworth | publisher=BBC Sport | date=4 February 2012 | accessdate=31 March 2012}}

=League of Ireland=

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.{{cite web | url=http://www.limerickfc.ie/report-sligo-2-0-limerick | title=Sligo 2-0 Limerick | publisher=Limerick FC | date=31 August 2013 | accessdate=31 August 2013 | archive-date=13 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124248/http://www.limerickfc.ie/report-sligo-2-0-limerick | url-status=dead }} In February 2015, he moved to Galway United in the same league.{{cite web |url=http://galwayunitedfc.ie/sam-oji-signs-for-united/ |title=Sam Oji signs for United! |publisher=Galway United F.C. |date=23 February 2015 |accessdate=3 May 2018}}

=Return to England=

Worcester City signed Oji ahead of the opening fixture of the 2016–17 National League North season.{{cite web | url=http://www.worcestercityfc.com/news/a-further-three-players-join-the-ranks-1656676.html | title=A further three players join the ranks | publisher=Worcester City F.C. | date=5 August 2016 | accessdate=5 August 2016}} The following summer he moved to Northern Premier League Premier Division club Hednesford Town.{{cite web | url=http://nonleague.pitchero.com/transfers/two-new-pitmen-2/ | title=Two new Pitmen | publisher=Pitch Hero Non League | date=28 July 2017 | accessdate=28 July 2017}} He made 41 appearances over the season, of which 38 were in league competition,{{cite web |url=https://www.pitmenweb.co.uk/player-stats-1 |title=Player stats 2017–2018 |website=PitmenWeb |accessdate=26 January 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028172233/https://www.pitmenweb.co.uk/player-stats-1 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite web |url=https://www.pitmenweb.co.uk/fixtures-results-2017-20181 |title=Fixtures results 2017–2018 |website=PitmenWeb |accessdate=26 January 2020 }} before signing for Highgate United of the Midland League Premier Division in July 2018.{{cite news |url=https://solihullobserver.co.uk/sport/highgate-bosses-delighted-to-seal-move-for-defensive-duo/ |title=Highgate bosses delighted to seal move for defensive duo |first=Craig |last=Gibbons |newspaper=Solihull Observer |date=20 July 2018 |accessdate=26 January 2020}}

Oji was appointed assistant to Simon Johnson, new manager of Highgate United, on 20 July 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.highgateunited.co.uk/news/welcome-new-manager---simon-johnson |title=Welcome New Manager – Simon Johnson |publisher=Highgate United F.C. |date=20 July 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.highgateunited.co.uk/news/welcome-samuel-oji |title=Welcome Samuel Oji |publisher=Highgate United F.C. |date=20 July 2021 |access-date=28 August 2021}}

Death

Oji died on 28 August 2021 at the age of 35; a day earlier, Highgate United had stated that he was "extremely ill".{{cite news |title=Sam Oji: Former Birmingham City defender and Arsenal youth player dies at age 35 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58368820 |access-date=28 August 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 August 2021}} He was married and had two children.{{cite news |last1=Mitchell |first1=Andy |title=Sam Oji: Thousands raised in memory of ex-Birmingham City defender |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/19548101.sam-oji-thousands-raised-memory-ex-birmingham-city-defender/ |access-date=30 October 2021 |work=Worcester News |date=31 August 2021}}{{cite tweet |author=Highgate United FC |author-link=Highgate United F.C. |user=HighgateUnited |number=1431545845242073091 |date=28 August 2021 |title=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. |access-date=28 August 2021}}