Sam Oji
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography 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 careerEdit
Oji was born in Westminster, London.<ref name="Hugman2009-10">Template:Cite book</ref> He was a cousin of R&B/soul singer Lemar.<ref name=EvertonPreview>Template:Cite news</ref> He began his football career as a youth player at Arsenal.<ref name="Hugman2009-10"/>
Birmingham CityEdit
Oji signed a full-time contract with Birmingham City for the start of the 2004–05 season.<ref name="Hugman2009-10"/> In 2005–06 he spent six weeks on loan at Doncaster Rovers,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
A year later he joined Bristol Rovers on a month's loan, later extended to two months.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the summer of 2007 he had a trial with Southend United,<ref name=contract>Template:Cite news</ref> then in August signed for Leyton Orient on a month's loan,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> later extended to three months.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Leyton OrientEdit
With six months remaining on his contract,<ref name=contract/> Oji left Birmingham by mutual consent on 8 January 2008 and joined Leyton Orient until the end of the 2007–08 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was released by Orient at the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Hereford UnitedEdit
Oji signed for League One club Hereford United on 7 August 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Ljungskile SKEdit
In March 2009 Oji joined Ljungskile SK of the Superettan (Swedish second division) after a successful trial.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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In August, Oji had a trial with Tranmere Rovers,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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TamworthEdit
In December 2011, Oji signed for Conference Premier club Tamworth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made his debut as a second-half substitute in the first match of 2012, a 2–2 draw at home to Alfreton Town.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was sent off for two bookable offences in a league match against Fleetwood Town on 4 February 2012.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
League of IrelandEdit
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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In February 2015, he moved to Galway United in the same league.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Return to EnglandEdit
Worcester City signed Oji ahead of the opening fixture of the 2016–17 National League North season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Oji was appointed assistant to Simon Johnson, new manager of Highgate United, on 20 July 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DeathEdit
Oji died on 28 August 2021 at the age of 35; a day earlier, Highgate United had stated that he was "extremely ill".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was married and had two children.<ref name=worcester>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=HUdeath>Template:Cite tweet</ref>