Gozie Ugwu

Gozie Ugwu
Personal information
Full nameChigozie Eze Ugwu[1]
Date of birth22 April 1993
Place of birthOxford, England
Height1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Yeovil Town
Number25
Youth career
2006–2011Reading
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2011–2014Reading0(0)
2012→ Ebbsfleet United (loan)9(4)
2012–2013→ Yeovil Town (loan)15(3)
2013→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)6(0)
2013–2014→ Shrewsbury Town (loan)7(1)
2014Dunfermline Athletic14(7)
2015–Yeovil Town21(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:40, 25 April 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Chigozie Eze "Gozie" Ugwu (born 22 April 1993) is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Yeovil Town. He made his debut in the Football League in 2012, and his debut in the Scottish Professional Football League in 2014.

Playing career

Ugwu was born in Oxford, Oxfordshire.[3][4] He began his career with Reading and progressed through the club's academy to sign a first professional contract in June 2011.[2][5][6] He joined Conference National side Ebbsfleet United on a one-month loan in January 2012,[7] and made his debut in a 1–0 FA Trophy defeat at York City.[8] Ugwu his first goal for the club in a 3–2 win at Bath City,[9] and two more in his next three appearances, against Southport and Gateshead, before the loan was extended by a further month.[3][10] He returned to Reading at the start of April to try and earn a new contract after scoring four goals in ten league and cup appearances for Ebbsfleet.[11][12]

He signed a new two-year contract with Reading in July 2012 and joined League One side Yeovil Town on loan for six months.[13][14] Ugwu made his debut in a 3–0 League Cup win against Colchester United in August,[15] and scored his first two goals for Yeovil in a 4–0 win at Scunthorpe United eleven days later.[16][17] He scored one more goal, against Doncaster Rovers,[18] and returned to Reading at the start of January 2013 after making five starts and 13 substitute appearances for Yeovil.[19][20] Soon after his return, Ugwu was included in a Reading match-day squad for the first time ahead of an FA Cup tie with Crawley Town.[21] He was named among the substitutes but did not make an appearance in a 3–1 win for Reading.[22]

Later in January, Ugwu joined League Two club Plymouth Argyle on a one-month youth loan.[6][23][24] In his second week with the club, he injured his ankle and was unavailable for two matches.[25] He resumed training in February and made his debut for Argyle two days later in a 2–1 win at Aldershot Town as a second-half substitute.[26][27] Despite his injury hit start, manager John Sheridan was keen to extend Ugwu's stay and on 19 February his loan was extended for a further month.[28][29] Having started only two games, and with Reading keen for Ugwu to get playing time,[30] he was recalled from loan on 11 March.[31]

On 14 November 2013, Ugwu signed on loan for Shrewsbury Town until January and made his debut two days later in a 3–1 defeat to Port Vale.[32][33] He returned to Reading having scored once in seven appearances after Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner decided against renewing his loan.[34] On his decision not to extend Ugwu's stay, Turner commented that despite a positive start, he felt criticism from the fans had impacted on his performances.[35]

In May 2014 he left Reading following the expiry of his contract,[36][37] going on to have trials with Oxford United and Dagenham & Redbridge.[38][39]

On 2 August 2014, Ugwu joined Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic.[40] He made his debut days later, coming on as a substitute in the 88th minute of the Scottish Challenge Cup match against Raith Rovers.[41]

Following his release from Dunfermline, Ugwu rejoined Yeovil Town on 15 January 2015 until the end of the season.[42]

Career statistics

As of match played on 25 April 2015.[12][34]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Reading 2011–12 Championship 000000—00
2012–13 Premier League 000000—00
2013–14 Championship 000000—00
Total 000000—00
Ebbsfleet United (loan) 2011–12 Conference Premier 9400—1[lower-alpha 1]0104
Yeovil Town (loan) 2012–13 League One 15300201[lower-alpha 2]0183
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2012–13 League Two 6000000060
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 2013–14 League One 7100000071
Dunfermline Athletic 2014–15 Scottish League One 14710102[lower-alpha 3]0187
Yeovil Town 2014–15 League One 215000000215
Career total 72201030408020
  1. ↑ Appearance in the FA Trophy
  2. ↑ Appearance in the Football League Trophy
  3. ↑ Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup

Honours

Club

Reading

References

  1. ↑ "Player Details: Gozie Ugwu". The English National Football Archive. SoccerData. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Gozie Ugwu". Reading F.C. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Munford, Colin (8 March 2012). "Ebbsfleet United striker Gozie Ugwu hails team-mates and fans after extending loan". The Reporter (Ilford). Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Terry Skiverton: Reading striker Gozie Ugwu a great addition to Yeovil Town squad". Western Morning News (Plymouth). 20 July 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Icelandic defender Ivar Ingimarsson to leave Reading". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Striker Ugwu gets second shot at becoming a Pilgrim". The Herald (Plymouth). 18 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Ebbsfleet United sign Gozie Ugwu from Reading". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Flett, Dave (15 February 2012). "Match report: York City 1, Ebbsfleet United 0 – FA Trophy third round". The Press (York). Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Rose, Neil (18 February 2012). "Sorry City are given the Shakes by ten-man Ebbsfleet". Bath Chronicle (Bath). Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  10. ↑ Munford, Colin (5 March 2012). "Reading loanee Gozie Ugwu extends loan with Ebbsfleet United". The Reporter (Ilford). Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  11. ↑ Munford, Colin (4 April 2012). "Ugwu loan not extended at Ebbsfleet". The Reporter (Ilford). Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Gozie Ugwu". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ugwu pens new deal". Reading F.C. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Yeovil Town sign Reading striker Gozie Ugwu on loan". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Yeovil Town 3, Colchester United 0: Richard Hinds double sees Glovers through". Western Daily Press (Bristol). 15 August 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "Scunthorpe 0–4 Yeovil". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 August 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  17. ↑ "Gozie Ugwu: Yeovil Town's League One climb is no surprise to me". Western Gazette (Yeovil). 31 August 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "Yeovil 2–1 Doncaster". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  19. ↑ Sweet, Chris (1 January 2013). "Yeovil Town close in on permanent deal for striker Paddy Madden". Western Gazette (Yeovil). Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Plymouth Argyle sign new striker". The Herald (Plymouth). 18 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Team News: Seven changes". Reading F.C. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  22. ↑ "Crawley 1–3 Reading". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  23. ↑ "Ugwu joins Argyle on loan". Reading F.C. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  24. ↑ "Good Gozie". Plymouth Argyle F.C. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  25. ↑ "Gozie Ugwu is in frame for first call to action for Plymouth Argyle". The Herald (Plymouth). 8 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  26. ↑ Errington, Chris (9 February 2013). "Jason Banton scores twice to secure a crucial win for Plymouth Argyle". The Herald (Plymouth). Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  27. ↑ Parsons, Chris (14 February 2013). "More Gozie". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  28. ↑ Cowdery, Rick (19 February 2013). "Gozie Extends Stay". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  29. ↑ "Plymouth: Gozie Ugwu extends loan from Reading". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  30. ↑ "Reading recall striker Gozie Ugwu from Plymouth Argyle". The Herald (Plymouth). 11 March 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  31. ↑ Media, Argyle (11 March 2013). "Gozie Ugwu Returns to Reading". Plymouth Argyle F.C. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  32. ↑ "Reading striker joins on loan". Shrewsbury Town F.C. 14 November 2013.
  33. ↑ "Port Vale 3–1 Shrewsbury Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Gozie Ugwu". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  35. ↑ "Graham Turner Post Oldham Athletic". Shrewsbury Town F.C. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "18 contracts offered". Reading F.C. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
  37. ↑ Watts, Charles (13 May 2014). "Departures continue at Reading FC as Gozie Ugwu is released". Reading Post. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  38. ↑ "Strike duo to join Daggers on Spain pre-season trip". http://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk''. barkinganddagenhampost. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  39. ↑ "Watch: Farnborough 1 Oxford United 2 + extended highlights". http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk''. Oxford Mail. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  40. ↑ "Ugwu for Dunfermline". Dunfermline Athletic F.C. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  41. ↑ Hart, Ross (5 August 2014). "Dunfermline Athletic send Raith Rovers out of Petrofac Training Cup". Dunfermline Press. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  42. ↑ "Gozie Ugwu: Yeovil Town hand short-term deal to forward". BBC Sport. 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.

External links