Akpo Sodje
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| Akpo Sodje | ||
 |
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Idoro Akpoeyere Ujoma Sodje | |
| Date of birth | January 31, 1980 | |
| Place of birth | Greenwich, England | |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | |
| Playing position | Striker | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Sheffield Wednesday | |
| Number | 30 | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2001 2001-2002 2002 2004-2005 2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007- |
Stevenage Borough Margate Gravesend & Northfleet Huddersfield Town → Darlington (loan) Darlington Port Vale Sheffield Wednesday |
3 (1) 17 (3) 7 (2) 7 (0) 7 (1) 36 (8) 46 (14) 19 (7) |
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1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Idoro Akpoeyere Ujoma "Akpo" Sodje (born January 31, 1980 in Greenwich, England) is an English footballer of Nigerian heritage, currently playing for Sheffield Wednesday.
[edit] Family sporting connections
Sodje has four brothers who also play football: three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Sam Sodje currently plays for Reading. Efe Sodje currently plays for Bury, being on loan from Gillingham and has represented Nigeria at international level, being in the squad for both the African Cup of Nations in 2000 and World Cup 2002. Steve Sodje currently plays for Ashford Town.
Another brother, Bright used to play rugby league for Sheffield Eagles. His Nephew Onome Sodje left Charlton Athletic in summer 2006, and is now playing for Conference National team York City.
[edit] Football career
Akpo Sodje currently plays for Sheffield Wednesday, after joining in August 2007 from Port Vale, after previously having unsuccessful spells at Darlington and Huddersfield Town.
He became the first Port Vale player to score four goals in an away league match since 1893 on 10 March 2007 as Vale completed a 5-1 victory at Millmoor against Rotherham United. His hat-trick came in just 18 minutes to break a spell of 8 games without scoring. Akpo went on to score 16 goals in the 2006-07 season, his best tally to date as a professional footballer, which earned him the player of the year award at Vale Park. Sodje had announced that he was going to try to beat old partner Leon Constantine's 26 goals last season and try to get Vale into the Championship.
Sodje signed a three year contract with Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee in August 2007.[1] He made his debut by coming on as a substitute for Jermaine Johnson in the 63rd minute on 1 September 2007 at Hillsborough, against Bristol City in a 1-0 loss. His full debut came in another 1-0 loss against Preston at Deepdale on 15 September. He scored his first goal for the club on 3 November 2007 away at Plymouth Argyle in the 52nd minute to help his club win 2-1.
After not scoring in his first six starts and two substitute appearances his first goal spurred him on to score a total of seven league goals in 16 starts and three substitute appearances in his first season at the club, including a brace in a 5-0 victory over Southampton FC on 10 November 2007. After being hailed by some Wednesdayites as "The black David Hirst", because of his strength and determination, Sodje cemented his place in Wednesday folklore with the opening goal in their 2-0 win over fierce rivals Sheffield United on January 19th 2008.[2]
Unfortunately, his season was cut short by an ankle injury.[3] Despite this setback, he was still voted striker of the year by fans of the club. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ "Akpo Sodje signs for the owls on a three year deal", SWFC.co.uk, 2007-08-29.
- ^ He has now become a fans legend and is sure to make a massive imppact next season. Witth him in the side many pundits think the owls could be a surprise package next season. Along with the return of jeffers and simek."Derby Double Sinks Blades", SWFC.co.uk, 2009-01-19.
- ^ Sky Sports | Football | Championship | Sheffield Wednesday | Sodje ruled out for Owls
- ^ Beevers Is YOUR Player Of The Year! | Sheffield Wed | News | Latest News | Latest News
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