Adebayo Akinfenwa
Encyclopedia
Adebayo Saheed Akinfenwa (born 10 May 1982 in London) is an English professional footballer, of Nigerian descent, who plays for Northampton Town
.
on the advice of his agent, whose Lithuanian wife's brother knew a member of the coaching staff there. He spent two years at the club before returning to the UK early in 2003, where he joined Welsh Premier League champions Barry Town
. However, after playing only a handful of games the club suffered a financial crisis and released its professional playing staff. Akinfenwa quickly joined Boston United
in October 2003, scoring a last minute winner on his debut against Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy
. Unable to settle, he moved to Leyton Orient
the following month, but was released after one month. In December 2003 he moved to Rushden and Diamonds and in February 2004 joined Doncaster Rovers
, his fifth club of the season.
In July 2004, Akinfenwa changed clubs again, signing for Torquay United
, as a replacement for David Graham. He scored 14 league goals during the 2004–05
season but was unable to help the club avoid relegation to League Two
. He refused to sign a new contract with Torquay at the end of the season.
In July 2005, Akinfenwa moved to Swansea City
, who were ordered to pay an £85,000 fee as compensation. He scored on his debut against Tranmere Rovers, and this was also the first competitive goal scored at Swansea's new Liberty Stadium
. He scored the winning goal in the 2006 Football League Trophy
final, in which Swansea beat Carlisle United
2–1. He also helped Swansea reach the League One
promotion play-off final in his first season. After a 2–2 draw, the match went to a penalty shoot-out but Akinfenwa was one of two Swansea players to miss with their penalties, granting promotion to Barnsley
. He was a regular the following season, until a broken right leg in the 2–0 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United
ended his season. This followed a fractured left shin the previous October.
At the end of the 2006–07
season, he rejected a new contract with Swansea, and agreed to sign for Swindon Town
on 29 June 2007. However he failed a medical.
Following this, in November 2007 he joined League One team Millwall
on a month-to-month contract, however he failed to score any goals in seven appearances.
On 18 January 2008 Akinfenwa signed a deal with Northampton Town
until the end of the 2007–08
season. He made his home debut against Leeds United
, where he came off the bench to score the equaliser in a 1–1 draw. He started the following game, at home to Gillingham
, and scored two goals in a 4–0 win. He scored three further goals that season.
On 30 May 2008, Akinfenwa signed a new one-year contract at Northampton despite declared interest from Leyton Orient
and Grimsby Town
. He started the 2008–09 season well, scoring twice in three games by the end of September.
Adebayo ended his stay at Northampton in May 2010. He had been offered a new deal but Northampton could not agree a deal with Akinfenwa within an agreed timeframe. On 29 July 2010, Akinfenwa signed for Gillingham
on a one year contract, and scored on his debut with a header against Cheltenham Town
.
Akinfenwa returned to Sixfields
on 25 May 2011, after new Cobblers manager Gary Johnson
brought him in to "capture the imagination of the supporters". He scored his first goal against Bristol Rovers on 16 August.
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
.
Life and career
As a teenager, Akinfenwa joined the Lithuanian club FK AtlantasFK Atlantas
FK Atlantas is a Lithuanian football team from the port city of Klaipėda. The team currently plays on the first level of the Lithuanian football league pyramid....
on the advice of his agent, whose Lithuanian wife's brother knew a member of the coaching staff there. He spent two years at the club before returning to the UK early in 2003, where he joined Welsh Premier League champions Barry Town
Barry Town F.C.
Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated...
. However, after playing only a handful of games the club suffered a financial crisis and released its professional playing staff. Akinfenwa quickly joined Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
in October 2003, scoring a last minute winner on his debut against Swindon Town in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
. Unable to settle, he moved to Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
the following month, but was released after one month. In December 2003 he moved to Rushden and Diamonds and in February 2004 joined Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, his fifth club of the season.
In July 2004, Akinfenwa changed clubs again, signing for Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, as a replacement for David Graham. He scored 14 league goals during the 2004–05
2004-05 in English football
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...
season but was unable to help the club avoid relegation to League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. He refused to sign a new contract with Torquay at the end of the season.
In July 2005, Akinfenwa moved to Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
, who were ordered to pay an £85,000 fee as compensation. He scored on his debut against Tranmere Rovers, and this was also the first competitive goal scored at Swansea's new Liberty Stadium
Liberty Stadium, Swansea
The Liberty Stadium is a purpose-built sports stadium and conferencing venue in the Landore area of Swansea, Wales. The stadium is all-seated, with a capacity of 20,532 making it the largest purpose-built venue in Swansea and the third largest stadium in Wales after the Millennium Stadium and the...
. He scored the winning goal in the 2006 Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final, in which Swansea beat Carlisle United
Carlisle United F.C.
Carlisle United F.C. is an English football club based in Carlisle, Cumbria, where they play at Brunton Park. Formed in 1904, the club currently compete in League One, the third tier of the English football league system....
2–1. He also helped Swansea reach the League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
promotion play-off final in his first season. After a 2–2 draw, the match went to a penalty shoot-out but Akinfenwa was one of two Swansea players to miss with their penalties, granting promotion to Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. He was a regular the following season, until a broken right leg in the 2–0 defeat at home to Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
ended his season. This followed a fractured left shin the previous October.
At the end of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, he rejected a new contract with Swansea, and agreed to sign for Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
on 29 June 2007. However he failed a medical.
Following this, in November 2007 he joined League One team Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
on a month-to-month contract, however he failed to score any goals in seven appearances.
On 18 January 2008 Akinfenwa signed a deal with Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
until the end of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season. He made his home debut against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
, where he came off the bench to score the equaliser in a 1–1 draw. He started the following game, at home to Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, and scored two goals in a 4–0 win. He scored three further goals that season.
On 30 May 2008, Akinfenwa signed a new one-year contract at Northampton despite declared interest from Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
and Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
. He started the 2008–09 season well, scoring twice in three games by the end of September.
Adebayo ended his stay at Northampton in May 2010. He had been offered a new deal but Northampton could not agree a deal with Akinfenwa within an agreed timeframe. On 29 July 2010, Akinfenwa signed for Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
on a one year contract, and scored on his debut with a header against Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
.
Akinfenwa returned to Sixfields
Sixfields Stadium
Sixfields Stadium is a 7,653-capacity all-seater sports stadium in Northampton, England. It has been the home ground of Northampton Town Football Club following their move from the County Ground in October 1994....
on 25 May 2011, after new Cobblers manager Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson (footballer)
Gary Johnson is an English football manager and former player. He was most recently the manager of Npower League Two's Northampton Town....
brought him in to "capture the imagination of the supporters". He scored his first goal against Bristol Rovers on 16 August.
External links
- Adebayo Akinfenwa player profile at ntfc.co.uk