Akpo Sodje
Encyclopedia
Idoro Akpoeyere Ujoma "Akpo" Sodje (born 31 January 1980) is an English
footballer of Nigeria
n heritage, currently playing for Scottish club Hibernian
. A journeyman striker, he is usually an instantly recognisable figure on the pitch due to his original – and most of all colourful – hairstyle
s.
With Queens Park Rangers
in 2001, he was loaned out to Stevenage Borough, before beginning a career in non-league football with Margate
in 2001. He moved on to Heybridge Swifts
via Gravesend & Northfleet the following year, before joining Erith & Belvedere
in 2003. He rejoined the Football League
with Huddersfield Town
in 2004, before joining Darlington
the next year, after a successful loan spell. He spent the 2006–07 season with Port Vale
, before becoming a Sheffield Wednesday
player. He found success and popularity at both clubs, before he joined Charlton Athletic
in 2010, after two loan spells. He moved into Scottish football with Hibernian in 2011.
, London
, his family originate from Warri, in Delta State
, Nigeria
. Sodje has four brothers who also play football; three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Sam
and Efe
have represented Nigeria
at international level. Steve, has never played a Football League
game. Another brother, Bright
, used to play rugby league
and rugby union
. His cousin Onome Sodje
, also played professionally in England.
Akpo is the youngest of the ten Sodje children:
Queens Park Rangers
, though never made an appearance, instead was loaned out to Conference National
outfit Stevenage Borough in March 2001. He scored on his first outing for the club, in a 2–1 win at Morecambe
on 31 March, replacing Darran Hay on 36 minutes.
He was still with Stevenage for the start of the 2001–02 season, getting sent off against Doncaster Rovers
on 27 August. He left Broadhall Way
the next month for Margate
, making sixteen appearances before the season's end, scoring goals against Yeovil Town
, Woking
and Hayes
.
He began 2002–03 with Margate, playing in their 2–0 defeat at Leigh Genesis on 31 August. The next month he joined Gravesend & Northfleet, scoring on his debut on the 7th, in a 4–1 home win over Nuneaton Borough. Seven days later he scored against Forest Green Rovers
, before he made his final appearance on 2 November, getting sent off in a 2–1 defeat at Halifax Town
. He was released later in the month and had spells with virtual unknowns Heybridge Swifts
(Isthmian League
) and Erith & Belvedere
(Southern Football League
).
At age 24 (at the time he was often reported as 22 or 23), he got a second chance at a professional career, joining Huddersfield Town
of League One
. He was handed a three month deal in September 2004, his foot in the door because his brother Efe was captain of the club. He replaced Andy Booth
86 minutes into a 3–0 win at Vale Park
on 11 September, Paweł Abbott grabbing the headlines with a hat-trick
. In November his contract was extended by six months, allowing him further time to impress boss Peter Jackson. In all he made nine appearances for the Terriers in 2004–05, getting just two starts and impressing only in the reserves. In March 2005 he was loaned out to League Two
Darlington
, after impressing on trial, and scored in the final moments of the season in a 3–1 home win over Cheltenham Town
. He was released by Huddersfield in May.
He spent 2005–06 with Darlington. He made 39 appearances, scoring eight goals, including a hat-trick at Chester City
in a 4–4 draw on 27 August. His performances caught the eye of Port Vale
's manager Martin Foyle
, who won his signature in May 2006.
had begun – Constantine scoring a brace and Sodje putting the third past Leyton Orient
in a 3–0 win. Three days later he scored the only goal at Boundary Park
. The pair teamed up to put one each past Preston North End
in the League Cup
, by the season's end the pair had 42 goals, sixteen coming from Sodje. On 10 March 2007, he also became the first Port Vale player to score four goals in an away league match since Lewis Campbell
in 1893, 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 eight games without scoring. Awarded with the player of the year award
, he stated his aim of trying to beat Constantine's 26 goals last season and try to get Vale into the Championship in 2007–08
.
. The bid (believed to be around £300,000) was made after Sodje was placed on the transfer list, at his own request. At the same time, Wednesday were also attempting to buy Sam from Reading
, though the deal did not go through.
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 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
on 10 November. 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 19 January. Unfortunately for his new fans, his season was cut short by an ankle injury in February. Despite this setback, he was still voted striker of the year by fans of the club.
Sodje started the 2008–09
season by scoring two goals and setting one up for strike partner Marcus Tudgay
in a 4–1 win over Burnley
. However he also picked up a hamstring injury in the match and had to be substituted after just 21 minutes. He made his return coming off of the bench for Jermaine Johnson after 68 minutes against local rivals
Sheffield United
. Injury limited him to only nine further appearances that season. He picked up a hamstring injury in April.
at Charlton Athletic. Initially signed on a 28 day emergency loan, this signing was made with an option of making the deal permanent. He made his debut on the same day, coming on for Dave Mooney
. Sodje scored at Yeovil Town
seven days later, after his brother was sent off. On 31 January 2010, he returned to Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the season. On 20 May 2010, Sodje signed a permanent deal with the Addicks after participating in enough games to activate a clause in his loan deal.
Sodje mainly appeared for Charlton as a substitute during the 2010–11 season. His only goal this season came on the opening day in a 1-0 victory for Charlton over Bournemouth.
(SPL) side Hibernian
on a free transfer on 31 January 2011. He made his debut two days later, setting up the opening goal in a 2–0 win against St. Mirren
. Sodje scored his first goal for the club in their next game, a 2–1 win over Kilmarnock
.
|2000–01||Queens Park Rangers
||First Division
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2000–01||Stevenage Borough||Conference National
||1||1||0||0||0||0||1||1
|-
|2001–02||Stevenage Borough||Conference National
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2001–02||Margate
||Conference National
||16||3||0||0||0||0||17||3
|-
|2002–03||Margate
||Conference National
||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|2002–03||Gravesend & Northfleet||Conference National
||7||2||0||0||0||0||7||2
|-
|2002–03||Heybridge Swifts
||Isthmian Premier||31||7||0||0||0||0||31||7
|-
|2003–04
||Erith & Belvedere
||Southern Div. 1 East||21||18||0||0||0||0||21||18
|-
|2004–05||Huddersfield Town
||League One
||7||0||0||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|2004–05||Darlington
||League Two
||7||1||0||0||0||0||7||1
|-
|2005–06||Darlington
||League Two
||36||8||1||0||1||0||39||8
|-
|2006–07
||Port Vale
||League One
||43||14||1||1||4||1||50||16
|-
|2007–08
||Port Vale
||League One
||3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|2007–08||Sheffield Wednesday
||Championship
||19||7||1||0||1||0||21||7
|-
|2008–09||Sheffield Wednesday
||Championship
||11||2||0||0||0||0||11||2
|-
|2009–10||Sheffield Wednesday
||Championship
||11||0||0||0||1||0||12||0
|-
|2009–10
||Charlton Athletic
||League One
||25||5||0||0||0||0||25||5
|-
|2010–11
||Charlton Athletic
||League One
||15||1||4||0||1||0||21||1
|-
|-
|2010–11
||Hibernian
||SPL
||15||6||0||0||0||0||15||6
|-
|2011–12
||Hibernian
||SPL
||7||0||0||0||1||1||8||1
|-
256||69||7||1||8||1||276||71
22||6||0||0||1||1||23||7
278||75||7||1||9||2||299||78
Notes:
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n heritage, currently playing for Scottish club Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. A journeyman striker, he is usually an instantly recognisable figure on the pitch due to his original – and most of all colourful – hairstyle
Hairstyle
A hairstyle, hairdo, or haircut refers to the styling of hair, usually on the human head. The fashioning of hair can be considered an aspect of personal grooming, fashion, and cosmetics, although practical, cultural, and popular considerations also influence some hairstyles.-History of...
s.
With Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in 2001, he was loaned out to Stevenage Borough, before beginning a career in non-league football with Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
in 2001. He moved on to Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
via Gravesend & Northfleet the following year, before joining Erith & Belvedere
Erith & Belvedere F.C.
Erith & Belvedere F.C., established 1922, is a football club representing Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley. They are currently members of the Kent League Premier Division after being relegated from the Southern League Division One East in 2005.They were also founder members of the Corinthian...
in 2003. He rejoined the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
in 2004, before joining Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
the next year, after a successful loan spell. He spent the 2006–07 season with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, before becoming a Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
player. He found success and popularity at both clubs, before he joined Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
in 2010, after two loan spells. He moved into Scottish football with Hibernian in 2011.
Family sporting connections
Born in GreenwichGreenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, his family originate from Warri, in Delta State
Delta State
Delta State may refer to:*Delta State, a state in southern Nigeria.*Delta State , a Canadian animated television series.*Delta State University, a public university located in the U.S. state of Mississippi....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. Sodje has four brothers who also play football; three of them professionally and one semi-professionally. Sam
Sam Sodje
Samuel Okeremute Sodje is an English-born Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender for Notts County. Sodje also represents Nigeria at international level.-Early years:...
and Efe
Efe Sodje
Efetobore "Efe" Sodje is a footballer who is currently playing for Bury. He is a central defender...
have represented Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
at international level. Steve, has never played a Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
game. Another brother, Bright
Bright Sodje
Bright Ojamohare Sodje is a 6'5 retired dual-code rugby player, who played for rugby league clubs Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Hull Kingston Rovers and Sheffield Eagles in England as well as rugby union for Wakefield RFC....
, used to play rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. His cousin Onome Sodje
Onome Sodje
Onome Sympson Sodje is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Vietnamese First Division club Đồng Nai as a striker.-Career:Born in Warri, Delta State, Sodje came through the Charlton Athletic Academy. He scored 14 goals in 19 games in the 2003–04 U17 FA Premier Academy League. He spent time on loan...
, also played professionally in England.
Akpo is the youngest of the ten Sodje children:
Early career
He was signed to First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, though never made an appearance, instead was loaned out to Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
outfit Stevenage Borough in March 2001. He scored on his first outing for the club, in a 2–1 win at Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
on 31 March, replacing Darran Hay on 36 minutes.
He was still with Stevenage for the start of the 2001–02 season, getting sent off against 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...
on 27 August. He left Broadhall Way
Broadhall Way
Broadhall Way, known as The Lamex Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is an association football stadium in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. It has been the home ground of Stevenage since 1980, and has a capacity of 7,100 people, including 3,142 seats.-History:The club plays at Broadhall Way, previously...
the next month for Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
, making sixteen appearances before the season's end, scoring goals against Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
, Woking
Woking F.C.
Woking Football Club is a football club from in Woking, Surrey, England, formed in 1889. They are playing in the Conference South in the 2011–12 season. For the 2011/2012 season, Woking are sharing their ground with Conference National club Hayes & Yeading United.-Promotion to the...
and Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
.
He began 2002–03 with Margate, playing in their 2–0 defeat at Leigh Genesis on 31 August. The next month he joined Gravesend & Northfleet, scoring on his debut on the 7th, in a 4–1 home win over Nuneaton Borough. Seven days later he scored against Forest Green Rovers
Forest Green Rovers F.C.
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is an English football club based in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, currently the longest-serving members of the Conference National. The club is affiliated to the Gloucestershire County FA.-Early years:...
, before he made his final appearance on 2 November, getting sent off in a 2–1 defeat at Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
. He was released later in the month and had spells with virtual unknowns Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
(Isthmian League
Isthmian League
The Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
) and Erith & Belvedere
Erith & Belvedere F.C.
Erith & Belvedere F.C., established 1922, is a football club representing Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley. They are currently members of the Kent League Premier Division after being relegated from the Southern League Division One East in 2005.They were also founder members of the Corinthian...
(Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
).
At age 24 (at the time he was often reported as 22 or 23), he got a second chance at a professional career, joining Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
of 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....
. He was handed a three month deal in September 2004, his foot in the door because his brother Efe was captain of the club. He replaced Andy Booth
Andy Booth
Andrew David "Andy" Booth is a retired professional footballer. Whilst at Huddersfield he announced his retirement on 22 April 2009, but remains at the club as an ambassador.-Huddersfield Town:...
86 minutes into a 3–0 win at Vale Park
Vale Park
Vale Park is a football stadium in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England. It is the home ground of Port Vale F.C., who have played at the ground since 1950....
on 11 September, Paweł Abbott grabbing the headlines with a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
. In November his contract was extended by six months, allowing him further time to impress boss Peter Jackson. In all he made nine appearances for the Terriers in 2004–05, getting just two starts and impressing only in the reserves. In March 2005 he was loaned out 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....
Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
, after impressing on trial, and scored in the final moments of the season in a 3–1 home win over 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...
. He was released by Huddersfield in May.
He spent 2005–06 with Darlington. He made 39 appearances, scoring eight goals, including a hat-trick at Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in a 4–4 draw on 27 August. His performances caught the eye of Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
's manager Martin Foyle
Martin Foyle
Martin John Foyle is an English former footballer, turned football manager. In his 20 year playing career he played 533 League games, scoring 155 goals...
, who won his signature in May 2006.
Port Vale
On 5 August 2006, his prolific strike partnership with Leon ConstantineLeon Constantine
Leon Charles Constantine is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Isthmian League side Lewes. A journeyman of lower league English football, he has had fifteen separate spells at fourteen different clubs within the space of just ten years...
had begun – Constantine scoring a brace and Sodje putting the third past 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...
in a 3–0 win. Three days later he scored the only goal at Boundary Park
Boundary Park
Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....
. The pair teamed up to put one each past Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, by the season's end the pair had 42 goals, sixteen coming from Sodje. On 10 March 2007, he also became the first Port Vale player to score four goals in an away league match since Lewis Campbell
Lewis Campbell (footballer)
Lewis Campbell was a Scottish footballer. He was pacey and difficult to defend against.-Playing career:Campbell played for Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Glasgow United and Hibernian before moving to England to play for Aston Villa. At Villa he earned an FA Cup runner-up medal in 1892 as he was unable to...
in 1893, as Vale completed a 5–1 victory at Millmoor
Millmoor
Millmoor is a stadium in Rotherham, England. It was built and was used for football matches, and until the end of the 2007–08 season was the home ground of Rotherham United F.C., until a dispute over ownership forced them to move to the Don Valley Stadium in nearby Sheffield.The stadium was...
against Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
. His hat-trick came in just 18 minutes to break a spell of eight games without scoring. Awarded with the player of the year award
Port Vale F.C. Player of the Year
The Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
, he stated his aim of trying to beat Constantine's 26 goals last season and try to get Vale into the Championship in 2007–08
2007–08 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2007–08 season was Port Vale's ninety-sixth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League One. Vale finished second-from-bottom, and were relegated, some twelve points from safety. Manager Martin Foyle left the club in September, and Lee Sinnott failed to...
.
Sheffield Wednesday
Vale sold Sodje for an undisclosed fee in August 2007, and the player signed a three-year contract with Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
. The bid (believed to be around £300,000) was made after Sodje was placed on the transfer list, at his own request. At the same time, Wednesday were also attempting to buy Sam from Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
, though the deal did not go through.
He made his debut by coming on as a substitute for Jermaine Johnson
Jermaine Johnson
Jermaine Johnson is a Jamaican professional footballer, who plays for Sheffield Wednesday. He started his career in his homeland with Tivoli Gardens, before coming to England, where he has also played for Bolton Wanderers, Oldham Athletic and Bradford City...
in the 63rd minute on 1 September 2007 at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
, against Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
in a 1–0 loss. His full debut came in another 1–0 loss against Preston at Deepdale
Deepdale
Deepdale is a stadium in the Deepdale area of Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and, up to 2010, England's National Football Museum. Preston North End are one of the founder members of the Football League.- History :...
on 15 September. He scored his first goal for the club on 3 November away at Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
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
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
on 10 November. After being hailed by some Wednesdayites as "The black David Hirst
David Hirst (footballer)
David Eric Hirst is an English former professional footballer, an exciting but injury prone striker who played for Sheffield Wednesday for much of his career.-Playing career:...
", 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 19 January. Unfortunately for his new fans, his season was cut short by an ankle injury in February. Despite this setback, he was still voted striker of the year by fans of the club.
Sodje started the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season by scoring two goals and setting one up for strike partner Marcus Tudgay
Marcus Tudgay
Marcus Tudgay is an English football player who plays for Nottingham Forest. He is a striker.-Derby County:Born in Shoreham, Sussex. Tudgay came through the ranks at Derby County and made his senior debut in August 2002...
in a 4–1 win over Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. However he also picked up a hamstring injury in the match and had to be substituted after just 21 minutes. He made his return coming off of the bench for Jermaine Johnson after 68 minutes against local rivals
Steel City derby
The Steel City Derby is a local derby that takes place between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, the two professional football league teams based in the city of Sheffield, England...
Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. Injury limited him to only nine further appearances that season. He picked up a hamstring injury in April.
Charlton Athletic
On 14 November, Sodje joined his brother SamSam Sodje
Samuel Okeremute Sodje is an English-born Nigerian footballer who plays as a defender for Notts County. Sodje also represents Nigeria at international level.-Early years:...
at Charlton Athletic. Initially signed on a 28 day emergency loan, this signing was made with an option of making the deal permanent. He made his debut on the same day, coming on for Dave Mooney
Dave Mooney
Dave Mooney is an Irish footballer, currently playing for Leyton Orient.-Shamrock Rovers:Born in Dublin, Mooney joined Shamrock Rovers, his first senior club, in 2000 and scored in every round when Rovers' won the U17 All Ireland title against Kingdom Boys in 2002. He made his first team debut...
. Sodje scored at Yeovil Town
Yeovil Town F.C.
Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05...
seven days later, after his brother was sent off. On 31 January 2010, he returned to Charlton Athletic on loan until the end of the season. On 20 May 2010, Sodje signed a permanent deal with the Addicks after participating in enough games to activate a clause in his loan deal.
Sodje mainly appeared for Charlton as a substitute during the 2010–11 season. His only goal this season came on the opening day in a 1-0 victory for Charlton over Bournemouth.
Hibernian
Sodje signed for Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
(SPL) side Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
on a free transfer on 31 January 2011. He made his debut two days later, setting up the opening goal in a 2–0 win against St. Mirren
St. Mirren F.C.
St Mirren Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Paisley, Renfrewshire who play in the Scottish Premier League, having been promoted from the First Division in 2005–06.St...
. Sodje scored his first goal for the club in their next game, a 2–1 win over Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
.
Statistics
|-|2000–01||Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
||First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|2000–01||Stevenage Borough||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||1||1||0||0||0||0||1||1
|-
|2001–02||Stevenage Borough||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||2||0||0||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|2001–02||Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||16||3||0||0||0||0||17||3
|-
|2002–03||Margate
Margate F.C.
Margate Football Club is an English football team based in the seaside resort of Margate, Kent, currently playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division. The club was known for a number of years during the 1980s as Thanet United....
||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|2002–03||Gravesend & Northfleet||Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
||7||2||0||0||0||0||7||2
|-
|2002–03||Heybridge Swifts
Heybridge Swifts F.C.
Heybridge Swifts are a non-league football club based in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. They were established in 1880 and were founding members of the Essex Senior League in 1971...
||Isthmian Premier||31||7||0||0||0||0||31||7
|-
|2003–04
2002–03 Southern Football League
The 2002–03 Southern Football League season saw Tamworth win the Premier Division to earn promotion to the Football Conference for the first time...
||Erith & Belvedere
Erith & Belvedere F.C.
Erith & Belvedere F.C., established 1922, is a football club representing Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley. They are currently members of the Kent League Premier Division after being relegated from the Southern League Division One East in 2005.They were also founder members of the Corinthian...
||Southern Div. 1 East||21||18||0||0||0||0||21||18
|-
|2004–05||Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
||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....
||7||0||0||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|2004–05||Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
||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....
||7||1||0||0||0||0||7||1
|-
|2005–06||Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
||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....
||36||8||1||0||1||0||39||8
|-
|2006–07
2006–07 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2006–07 season was Port Vale's ninety-fifth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League One. Martin Foyle's side again finished in mid-table, whilst exiting the FA Cup and the League Trophy at the Second Round...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||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....
||43||14||1||1||4||1||50||16
|-
|2007–08
2007–08 Port Vale F.C. season
The 2007–08 season was Port Vale's ninety-sixth season of football in the Football League, and fourth successive season in League One. Vale finished second-from-bottom, and were relegated, some twelve points from safety. Manager Martin Foyle left the club in September, and Lee Sinnott failed to...
||Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
||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....
||3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|2007–08||Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||19||7||1||0||1||0||21||7
|-
|2008–09||Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||11||2||0||0||0||0||11||2
|-
|2009–10||Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
||Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
||11||0||0||0||1||0||12||0
|-
|2009–10
2009–10 Football League
The Football League 2009–10, called the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, was the 110th completed season of the Football League. It began in August 2009 and concluded in May 2010, with the promotion play-off finals. The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The...
||Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
||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....
||25||5||0||0||0||0||25||5
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Charlton Athletic F.C. season
-League One:-League Cup:-Football League Trophy:-Squad:-Winter:*Bradley Wright-Phillips - Plymouth*Nathan Eccleston - Liverpool*Federico Bessone - Leeds-References:...
||Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
||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....
||15||1||4||0||1||0||21||1
|-
|-
|2010–11
2010–11 Hibernian F.C. season
Season 2010–11 for Hibernian was their 12th consecutive season of play in the Scottish Premier League. It was the first season played in the redeveloped Easter Road stadium, with its capacity increased to over 20,000 for the first time since it became an all-seater stadium in the early 1990s....
||Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
||SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
||15||6||0||0||0||0||15||6
|-
|2011–12
2011–12 Hibernian F.C. season
Season 2011–12 for Hibernian is their 13th consecutive season of play in the Scottish Premier League. The season began on 24 July with a 2–0 home defeat by Celtic, who eliminated Hibs from the Scottish League Cup. Hibs will also compete in the Scottish Cup...
||Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
||SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
||7||0||0||0||1||1||8||1
|-
256||69||7||1||8||1||276||71
22||6||0||0||1||1||23||7
278||75||7||1||9||2||299||78
Notes:
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe 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...
results included in totals. - Non-league statistics prior to 2004 may be incomplete.
Honours
- Port Vale F.C. Player of the YearPort Vale F.C. Player of the YearThe Port Vale Player of the Year award is voted for annually by Port Vale's supporters in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season. Towards the end of each season, fans are invited to cast their votes for this award.The inaugural award was...
: 20072006–07 Port Vale F.C. seasonThe 2006–07 season was Port Vale's ninety-fifth season of football in the Football League, and third successive season in League One. Martin Foyle's side again finished in mid-table, whilst exiting the FA Cup and the League Trophy at the Second Round... - Sheffield Wednesday Striker of the YearSheffield Wednesday F.C.Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
: 2008