Roy Essandoh
Encyclopedia
Roy Kabina Gina Essandoh (born 17 February 1976 in Belfast
) is a Northern Irish
footballer of Ghanaian descent currently without a club after being released by Bury Town FC
He is best remembered for his last gasp FA Cup
quarter final winner while with Wycombe Wanderers.
(his father Richard's birthplace) when he was seven months old. When he was eight, the family moved back to Northern Ireland, where he attended school.
when he was 18 years of age. Following a short spell at East Fife
, he moved to Finland
to play for VPS Vaasa until the turn of the new millennium when he returned to the United Kingdom
.
Upon his return followed the highlight of his career when, somewhat extraordinarily, Essandoh's agent responded to an appeal on Ceefax
by Wycombe Wanderers manager Lawrie Sanchez
for a striker and later went on to secure an FA Cup
semi-final appearance at the expense of Leicester City
by scoring a last-minute goal after coming on as a late substitute. Essandoh's goal in the FA Cup Quarter-Final against Leicester City was voted the 76th best FA Cup moment ever in Andy Gray's FA Cup Madness.
However, he was released at the end of his first season in English football, and after short stays at Barnet
(where he scored twice against Yeovil in the league and Bournemouth in the LDV Vans Trophy), Cambridge City
, Grays Athletic
, Bishop's Stortford
, Billericay Town
, Gravesend & Northfleet
and Kettering Town
, Essandoh returned to Bishop's Stortford
in 2005. In August 2010, Essandoh signed for St Neots Town
, before signing for Braintree Town
on 31 March 2011.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
) is a Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
footballer of Ghanaian descent currently without a club after being released by Bury Town FC
He is best remembered for his last gasp FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
quarter final winner while with Wycombe Wanderers.
Early life
Born in Belfast, Essandoh moved with his family to GhanaGhana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
(his father Richard's birthplace) when he was seven months old. When he was eight, the family moved back to Northern Ireland, where he attended school.
Career
Essandoh began his career at MotherwellMotherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
when he was 18 years of age. Following a short spell at East Fife
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
, he moved to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
to play for VPS Vaasa until the turn of the new millennium when he returned to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Upon his return followed the highlight of his career when, somewhat extraordinarily, Essandoh's agent responded to an appeal on Ceefax
Ceefax
Ceefax is the BBC's teletext information service transmitted via the analogue signal, started in 1974 and will run until April 2012 for Pages from Ceefax, while the actual interactive service will run until 24 October 2012, in-line with the digital switchover.-History:During the late 60s, engineer...
by Wycombe Wanderers manager Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrence Philip "Lawrie" Sanchez is a former Northern Irish football manager, and a former player. He is currently the manager of League Two side Barnet...
for a striker and later went on to secure an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final appearance at the expense of Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
by scoring a last-minute goal after coming on as a late substitute. Essandoh's goal in the FA Cup Quarter-Final against Leicester City was voted the 76th best FA Cup moment ever in Andy Gray's FA Cup Madness.
However, he was released at the end of his first season in English football, and after short stays at Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
(where he scored twice against Yeovil in the league and Bournemouth in the LDV Vans Trophy), Cambridge City
Cambridge City F.C.
Cambridge City Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division.-History:The club was founded in 1908 Cambridge Town F.C., as Cambridge had not been granted city status at that point, and were committed to amateur sport...
, Grays Athletic
Grays Athletic F.C.
Grays Athletic Football Club is an English football club currently based in Corringham, Essex after leaving the New Recreation Ground in Grays at the end of the 2009–10 season...
, Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford F.C.
Bishop's Stortford F.C. is an English football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at Woodside Park.-History:The club was established in 1874...
, Billericay Town
Billericay Town F.C.
Billericay Town Football Club are an English football club based in Billericay, Essex, who currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division....
, Gravesend & Northfleet
Gravesend & Northfleet F.C.
Ebbsfleet United Football Club is an English professional football team currently playing in the Conference National. The team plays their home matches at Stonebridge Road in Northfleet, Kent. However, the club is now looking to build a new stadium in the Ebbsfleet Valley vicinity in...
and Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
, Essandoh returned to Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford F.C.
Bishop's Stortford F.C. is an English football club based in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at Woodside Park.-History:The club was established in 1874...
in 2005. In August 2010, Essandoh signed for St Neots Town
St Neots Town F.C.
St Neots Town F.C. is an English football club based in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. The club are currently members of Division One Central of the Southern League and play at New Rowley Park.-History:...
, before signing for Braintree Town
Braintree Town F.C.
Braintree Town F.C. is an English football club based in Braintree, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference National and play their home matches at Cressing Road.-History:...
on 31 March 2011.
External links
- Interview with Essandoh's mother
- Roy Essandoh at NonLeagueDaily