Tosin Olufemi

Tosin Olufemi
Personal information
Full name David Oluwatosin Osho Olufemi[1]
Date of birth (1994-05-13) 13 May 1994[2]
Place of birth Hackney, London, England
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Playing position Full-back
Winger
Club information
Current team
Colchester United
Number 14
Youth career
0000–2013 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013– Colchester United 24 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:27, 24 November 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

David Oluwatosin Osho "Tosin" Olufemi (born 13 May 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger or full-back for Colchester United. He progressed through the Colchester United Academy, breaking into the first-team in 2013.

Career

Born in Hackney, London,[3] Olufemi came through the ranks at Colchester United, primarily as a winger who could also play at full-back.[4] He began to feature in the clubs' reserve team in 2011, where he scored in a 6–0 win against Stevenage Reserves in their first game of the season on 7 September,[5] helping the side win the last-ever Football Combination North Division title that season.[6]

2012–13 season

Alongside fellow Academy products Bradley Hamilton, Drey Wright, Ryan Melaugh and Shaun Phillips, Olufemi signed a two-year professional development contract with the club in May 2012.[7] He then featured a number of times for the first-team in their 2012–13 pre-season campaign, where he scored twice in a 6–0 victory over Heybridge Swifts in the opening fixture on 14 July.[8] He scored again in pre-season, this time for a young Colchester United XI against Needham Market in a 3–1 away defeat on 31 July.[9] Olufemi was selected for the matchday squad for the first time in Colchester's trip to Bournemouth on 15 December, although he was an unused substitute in the U's 1–0 defeat.[10] He made his first-team debut in a League One match away at Bury on 16 March 2013. He came on as a 70th minute substitute for goalscorer Clinton Morrison in the 2–1 victory,[11] impressing manager Joe Dunne with his performance.[12] His appearance at Bury was to be his only game of the season.[13]

2013–14 season

Olufemi once again appeared alongside the first-team for their opening 2013–14 pre-season fixture, which again saw them come up against Heybridge Swifts. He played in the second-half of the 2–1 win on 10 July 2013.[14] With captain Brian Wilson missing much of pre-season through injury, Olufemi was handed his chance to impress at full-back,[15] where he featured in a friendly 2–0 win at Bishop's Stortford on 13 July,[16] as well as providing the assist for Colchester's goal in their 2–1 home reverse to Premier League West Ham United on 16 July, sending in a cross for Jabo Ibehre to head home a consolation goal.[17] He also faced further Premier League opposition when he started against Tottenham Hotspur on 19 July in a 0–0 draw.[18]

Before making any first-team appearances in the 2013–14 season, Olufemi was offered a three-year contract extension to see him through to the summer of 2016 with the club on 20 August 2013.[4] Following this, he was called into action to replace Ryan Dickson at left-back who was suffering from illness.[19] He subsequently made his first start for the club in a 1–1 home draw with Carlisle United on 23 August, playing the full 90 minutes and hitting the bar with a fine strike in the second half.[20] With Dickson returning for the U's next match on 31 August, Olufemi was required to cover Brian Wilson at right-back, who was also suffering from illness.[21] Colchester went on to lose the game 2–1 to league leaders Leyton Orient.[22] Olufemi then made his third consecutive start in a third different position, this time playing as a winger alongside Clinton Morrison and Gavin Massey in a 4–1 Football League Trophy defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge.[23] He continued his run in the first-team squad in an injury depleted side during a 2–0 defeat to Coventry City on 8 September.[24]

On the back of his excellent start to the season, manager Dunne described Olufemi as a "great example for all the younger players coming through [the Academy]", praising his "determination" and his "attitude and drive".[25] A thigh injury then ruled him out of contention[26] until 30 October, when he returned to action in the Essex Senior Cup, scoring in the 4–0 win over Great Wakering Rovers.[27] He made his return to first-team action as a second-half substitute for Gavin Massey in a 1–1 draw with Preston North End on 23 November.[28] Olufemi ended the campaign with 14 appearances to his name.[29]

2014–15 season

After beginning to establish himself in the first-team in the latter stages of 2013–14 season, Olufemi featured regularly in pre-season for the 2014–15 season, featuring in the second-half team selection in Colchester's 8–0 win against Heybridge on 15 July 2014[30] and starting in a 2–1 friendly defeat at Southend United on 22 July,[31] However, he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon injury during a friendly with Bishop's Stortford on 30 July, leaving the player out of action for at least six months.[32] In October 2014, it was reported that he was making good progress in his recovery after the removal of a wedge from his boot cast. At this stage, he was targeting a comeback ready for the Christmas period.[33] He returned to action with the development squad in their 2014–15 Professional U21 Development League match against Charlton Athletic on 9 February 2015, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 0–0 draw.[34]

2015–16 season

Olufemi finally made his Colchester United first-team comeback on 26 September 2015 when he replaced the injured Kane Vincent-Young in the starting line-up of his side's 2–1 win against Swindon Town at the County Ground, playing the full 90-minutes. It was his first start since April 2014.[35]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 December 2015.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colchester United 2012–13[13] League One 1000000010
2013–14[29] League One 13000001[lower-alpha 1]0140
2014–15[36] League One 0000000000
2015–16[37] League One 100100000110
Career total 240100010260

References

  1. "Professional Retain List & Free Transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. p. 31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 Tosin Olufemi career statistics at Soccerbase
  3. "Colchester United". FootballSquads. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 Marston, Carl (20 August 2013). "U's hand new deal to Olufemi". East Anglian Daily Times (Ipswich). Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  5. Waldron, Jonathan (7 September 2011). "Six of the best for U's reserves". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  6. Waldron, Jonathan (1 May 2012). "U's reserves win title despite Hatters defeat". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  7. Waldron, Jonathan (10 May 2012). "U's quartet sign new contracts". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. Waldron, Jonathan (14 July 2012). "U's hit six in opening pre-season friendly". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  9. Waldron, Jonathan (1 August 2012). "Young U's beaten at Needham Market". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  10. Waldron, Jonathan (19 December 2012). "Youngsters offer U's hope for the future". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  11. "Bury 1–2 Colchester". BBC Sport. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  12. Waldron, Jonathan (18 March 2013). "Dunne pleased with debutant Tosin". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Games played by Tosin Olufemi in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  14. Waldron, Jonathan (10 July 2013). "Eastmond injury is a worry for U's". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  15. Waldron, Jonathan (26 July 2013). "U's midfielder Eastmond winning his fitness battle". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  16. Waldron, Jonathan (13 July 2013). "U's triumph at Stortford to record another friendly win". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  17. Waldron, Jonathan (16 July 2013). "Ibehre nets consolation goal for U's against West Ham United". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  18. Waldron, Jonathan (19 July 2013). "U's draw with Spurs in front of capacity crowd". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  19. Waldron, Jonathan (26 August 2013). "No time for nerves for U's youngster Tosin". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  20. Waldron, Jonathan (23 August 2013). "Sears strike secures U's a point". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  21. Waldron, Jonathan (30 August 2013). "Dickson set to return for U's". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  22. "Colchester 1–2 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  23. "Dag & Red 4–1 Colchester". BBC Sport. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
  24. Waldron, Jonathan (8 September 2013). "U's boss Dunne has no complaints after Sky Blues defeat". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  25. Waldron, Jonathan (9 September 2013). "Determined Olufemi sets a shining example". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  26. "Injury list grows at Colchester United". Daily Gazette (Colchester). 28 September 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  27. Waldron, Jonathan (30 October 2013). "Bonne brace helps U's see off Rovers". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  28. "Preston 1–1 Colchester". BBC Sport. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  29. 1 2 "Games played by Tosin Olufemi in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  30. Waldron, Jonathan (15 July 2014). "U's go goal crazy at Heybridge". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  31. Waldron, Jonathan (22 July 2014). "Kent scores for U's in friendly defeat". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  32. Waldron, Jonathan (1 August 2014). "Olufemi set for long injury lay-off". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  33. Waldon, Jonathan (6 October 2014). "U'd defender on track for Christmas return". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  34. Waldron, Jonathan (9 February 2015). "Olufemi makes welcome return as U's youngsters draw with Charlton". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  35. Marston, Carl (26 September 2015). "Three league wins on the trot for impressive Colchester United". Green'Un (Ipswich). Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  36. "Games played by Tosin Olufemi in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  37. "Games played by Tosin Olufemi in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
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