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Dele Adebola
	Adebola pictured in 2008 while at Bristol City
Personal information
Full name	Bamberdele Olusegun Adebola
Date of birth	23 June 1975 (age 49)
Place of birth	Lagos, Nigeria
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
000?–1992	Crewe Alexandra
Senior career*
Years	Team
1992–1998	Crewe Alexandra
1993–1994	→ Bangor City (loan)
1994	→ Northwich Victoria (loan)
1998–2002	Birmingham City
2002	→ Oldham Athletic (loan)
2002–2003	Crystal Palace
2003–2008	Coventry City
2004	→ Burnley (loan)
2004	→ Bradford City (loan)
2008–2009	Bristol City
2009–2011	Nottingham Forest
2011–2012	Hull City
2012	→ Notts County (loan)
2012–2013	Rochdale
2013	→ Wrexham (loan)
2013	Rushall Olympic
2024–	Leamington Veterans
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Bamberdele Olusegun Adebola (born 23 June 1975) is a Nigerian retired footballer. Including loans, he has played for 16 clubs in his career, with his longest spells at Crewe Alexandra, Birmingham City and Coventry City.

Early life

Born in Lagos, Lagos State,^[2] Adebola was brought up in Liverpool after arriving in England as a baby with his family; as a schoolboy, he played in the same representative sides as Robbie Fowler. When offered a YTS place by Liverpool, the team he supported, he believed that trying to progress as a fellow left-footed striker at the club at the same time as Fowler would not be a good idea. Consequently, he accepted a similar offer from Crewe Alexandra.^[6]^[7]

Club career

Crewe Alexandra

He made his first team debut in the 1992–93 season in the Third Division at the age of 17, and in the following season gained experience by playing on loan at Bangor City in the Welsh Premier League and Conference side Northwich Victoria. He made a significant impact for Crewe in 1996–97, his 16 goals proving crucial in the club's promotion to the First Division.

He soon proved himself capable of scoring goals at that level, and attracted interest from several bigger clubs.^[8] Disappointed when Crewe rejected an offer for him from West Ham United, he made it clear to the club that he wanted to leave, and reluctantly the club made him available for transfer.^[9] In February 1998, Adebola was signed by manager Trevor Francis for fellow First Division club Birmingham City for a fee of £1 million.

Birmingham City

With seven goals in the remainder of that season, and scoring in each of his first five matches (in all competitions) in 1998–99, his future at Birmingham looked bright. In his first full season he scored 13 goals, but in 1999–2000 he was less productive, fell out of favour, and at the end of the season was put on the transfer list. Las Palmas, newly promoted to La Liga, announced that they had signed him,^[10] only for the move to fall through on medical grounds.^[11]

Though remaining on the transfer list, he was restored to the first team, and his goals helped Birmingham to reach the 2001 Football League Cup Final.^[11] The manager said he kept him on the transfer list in order to provoke him into the sort of performance commensurate with his power, pace and technical ability but which his "laid-back" character might otherwise inhibit.^[12]

A serious knee injury, sustained later that season when the player slid into a goalpost,^[13] effectively marked the end of his Birmingham career. A spell on loan at Oldham Athletic towards the end of the 2001–02 season helped him back to fitness, but new manager Steve Bruce chose not to renew his contract.

Crystal Palace

In August 2002, Adebola signed a one-year contract with Crystal Palace, after impressing former manager Trevor Francis in a trial.^[14] He played one season at the club, where he proved his fitness, making 48 appearances in all competitions.

Coventry City

Again released at the end of that season, Gary McAllister took him to Coventry City, where he initially failed to find any form, finishing the season out on loan to Burnley, ironically a club that had been keen to buy him before his injury.^[13]^[15] At Burnley he scored once in three appearances, his goal coming against Watford.^[16]

Another loan spell followed, this time at Bradford City for whom he scored three goals.^[17] It was only when recalled to the Coventry side on a regular basis in 2004–05, first under Peter Reid and particularly under Micky Adams, playing with the likes of Stern John and Gary McSheffrey, that his form picked up.

Bristol City

On 30 January 2008, Adebola signed an 18-month contract with Bristol City, moving for an undisclosed fee,^[18] despite Coventry wanting to renew his deal, which was due to end in the summer. Adebola made his debut on 2 February in a 3–0 defeat away to Queens Park Rangers,^[19] and scored in just seven minutes on his home debut to help City defeat Sheffield Wednesday 2–1.^[20] His performances in the 2008–09 season, during which he scored 10 goals from 42 appearances, earned him the club's Player of the Year award.^[21] The player rejected the club's offer of a year's extension to his contract, claiming he had been offered a two-year deal elsewhere.^[21]

Nottingham Forest

It was announced on 30 June 2009 that Adebola had signed a two-year contract with Nottingham Forest. He joined them on a free transfer after rejecting a one-year deal at Bristol City. Adebola struggled to hold down a regular place in the Forest side in the 2009–10 season. He was mainly restricted to substitute appearances, finding himself below Dexter Blackstock and Robert Earnshaw in the pecking order, but he did manage to force his way into the Forest team, particularly away from home, towards the end of the season. He scored a late consolation goal for Forest in the play-off semi-final second leg against Blackpool.

Hull City

He entered contract negotiations with Hull City at the end of the 2010–11 season. On 29 June it was confirmed that Adebola signed a one-year contract.^[22] He made his debut in the first game of the season on 5 August 2011 at the KC Stadium in the 1–0 defeat to Blackpool.^[23] On 20 March 2012, Adebola joined League One club Notts County on loan for the remainder of the season.^[24] He made six league appearances and scored once,^[25] an 89th-minute equaliser in a 4–3 win away at Wycombe Wanderers.^[26]

Rochdale

On 7 August 2012, Adebola signed a one-year deal with League Two club Rochdale.^[27] Under manager John Coleman, Adebola made 26 league appearances for Rochdale, but when Keith Hill took over as manager after the sacking of Coleman, Hill made it clear he wanted to let Adebola leave the club.

Wrexham (loan)

In February 2013, Adebola signed on loan for Conference leaders Wrexham, subject to international clearance.^[28] On 2 March, he made his debut in a 1–1 draw in a Conference match at The Racecourse against Alfreton Town. Adebola made 13 appearances for Wrexham, scoring twice, against Lincoln City and Ebbsfleet United. His last appearance for Wrexham was as an 88th-minute substitute, replacing Jay Harris, at Wembley Stadium in the Conference play-off final against Newport County. Wrexham lost 2–0, condemning them to a sixth season in non-league football. On his return to Rochdale, he was released.

Rushall Olympic

Adebola signed for non-league Rushall Olympic in August 2013.^[29]

Leamington Veterans

As of 2024, Adebola plays for local side Leamington Veterans, alongside his fellow former Coventry player David Busst.^[30]

International career

In March 1998 new Northern Ireland manager Lawrie McMenemy, on discovering Adebola to be a British citizen born abroad and therefore eligible to play for any of the home countries, selected him for his first match in charge, a friendly against Slovakia.^[31] Adebola had to withdraw due to injury, but did express an interest in playing for the country.^[32] He was also selected in Nigeria's provisional squad for the 1998 World Cup, but failed to make the cut.^[33]

Both Northern Ireland and Nigeria continued their pursuit of the player; in October 1998 McMenemy reported that Adebola was unwilling to play for Nigeria, and did not want to commit to Northern Ireland because he had his sights set on playing for England.^[34] In March 1999, McMenemy made a final abortive attempt to persuade him to play for Northern Ireland.^[35] Despite his lack of form at club level, he was still sufficiently highly rated by the Nigerian selectors to be included in the preliminary squad for the 2000 African Cup of Nations^[36] and, following talks with coach Jo Bonfrere, in the squad for a World Cup qualifier in July 2000.^[37] However, he did not accept any of these invitations.

Career statistics

As of match played 29 November 2011.^[38]

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
England			League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
1994–95	Crewe Alexandra	Second Division	30	8	0	0	0	0	30	8
1995–96			30	8	5	2	1	1	36	11
1996–97			35	16	3	1	1	1	39	18
1997–98		First Division	27	7	1	0	1	0	29	7
1997–98	Birmingham City		17	7	0	0	0	0	17	7
1998–99			41	14	1	1	4	2	46	17
1999–2000			43	5	1	0	5	1	49	6
2000–01			31	6	1	1	8	5	40	12
2001–02	Oldham Athletic (loan)	Second Division	5	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
2002–03	Crystal Palace	First Division	39	5	4	0	5	2	48	7
2003–04	Coventry City		28	2	3	0	2	1	33	3
2003–04	Burnley (loan)		3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
2004–05	Bradford City (loan)	Championship	15	3	0	0	0	0	15	3
2004–05	Coventry City		25	5	1	1	0	0	26	6
2005–06			44	12	3	0	2	0	49	12
2006–07			40	8	2	0	1	1	43	9
2007–08			26	4	2	1	3	1	31	6
2007–08	Bristol City		20	6	0	0	0	0	20	6
2008–09	Bristol City		39	10	2	0	1	0	42	10
2009–10	Nottingham Forest		34	4	2	0	2	0	38	4
2010–11	Nottingham Forest		29	2	2	1	1	0	32	3
2011–12	Hull City		10	0	0	0	0	0	10	0
Total	England		611	133	33	8	37	15	681	156
Career total			611	133	33	8	37	15	681	156

Honours

Crewe Alexandra

Football League Second Division play-offs: 1997

Birmingham City

Football League Cup runner-up: 2000–01^[39]

References

^ "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/02/2013 and 28/02/2013" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 9781845966010.
^ "Dele Adebola: 1993/1994 Biography & Statistics". Welsh Premier League. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
^ Harman, John, ed. (2005). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 485, 501. ISBN 978-1-869833-52-7.
^ Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. p. 503. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.
^ Culley, Jon (24 February 2001). "Adebola out to upstage an old idol". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
^ Szreter, Adam (5 September 1998). "Adebola lifts the Blues". The Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Sky Blues watching Adebola transfer race". 4thegame.com. 5 November 1997. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.
^ "Adebola set to move on". Crewe Guardian. 7 November 1997. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Shock as Adebola quits". BBC Sport. 1 July 2000. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Adebola looking forward to a Blue final". ESPN Soccernet. 9 January 2001. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008.
^ "Francis wants Burchill permanently". BBC Sport. 13 December 2000. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
^ ^a ^b "Clarets target's injury shock". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 4 May 2001. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Palace sign Adebola". BBC Sport. 14 August 2002. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
^ "Francis wants to keep Clarets target Adebola". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 25 November 2000. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Bristol City sign striker Adebola". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2008.
^ "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Bristol City 2–1 Sheff Wed". BBC Sport. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
^ ^a ^b "Adebola scoops Bristol City award". Bristol Evening Post. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
^ "Tigers complete Adebola signing". Hull City A.F.C. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011.
^ "Hull 0–1 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
^ "Notts County sign Hull City striker Dele Adebola". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
^ "County late show downs Wycombe". Sky Sports. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
^ "Dele Adebola joins Rochdale after Reece Gray injury". BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
^ "Dele Adebola moves to Wrexham on loan from Rochdale". BBC Sport. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
^ "Major new signing for Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic F.C. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
^ Johnston, Neil (15 March 2024). "'Somebody help me' - the injury that shocked football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
^ "N Ireland shock as McMenemy picks Nigerian". Irish Independent. 13 March 1998. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
^ Anderson, David (24 March 1998). "Adebola to miss Slovakia clash". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
^ "Player profile". Crewe Alexandra F.C. Retrieved 2 April 2007. ^{[dead link]}
^ Anderson, David (9 October 1998). "McMenemy scours leagues for talent". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
^ Anderson, David (25 March 1999). "McMenemy is ignoring Germany in crisis claims". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
^ "Sports Digest". Irish Examiner. 14 December 1999. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.
^ "Adebola called into Nigeria squad". BBC Sport. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
^ "Player profiles: Dele Adebola". Nottingham Forest F.C. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009.
^ "Blues shot down as Liverpool lift cup". BBC Sport. 25 February 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

External links

Dele Adebola at Soccerbase

[1] "List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/02/2013 and 28/02/2013" (PDF). The Football Association. Retrieved 12 April 2013.

[Hugman2010-11_14-2] Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 9781845966010.

[3] "Dele Adebola: 1993/1994 Biography & Statistics". Welsh Premier League. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2014.

[4] Harman, John, ed. (2005). Alliance to Conference 1979–2004: The first 25 years. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 485, 501. ISBN 978-1-869833-52-7.

[5] Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. Headline. p. 503. ISBN 978-0-7553-6107-6.

[6] Culley, Jon (24 February 2001). "Adebola out to upstage an old idol". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2007.

[7] Szreter, Adam (5 September 1998). "Adebola lifts the Blues". The Independent. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[8] "Sky Blues watching Adebola transfer race". 4thegame.com. 5 November 1997. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007.

[9] "Adebola set to move on". Crewe Guardian. 7 November 1997. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[10] "Shock as Adebola quits". BBC Sport. 1 July 2000. Retrieved 2 April 2007.

[LgeCupPrev-11] "Adebola looking forward to a Blue final". ESPN Soccernet. 9 January 2001. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008.

[12] "Francis wants Burchill permanently". BBC Sport. 13 December 2000. Retrieved 2 April 2007.

[LETinjury-13] "Clarets target's injury shock". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 4 May 2001. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[14] "Palace sign Adebola". BBC Sport. 14 August 2002. Retrieved 16 April 2012.

[15] "Francis wants to keep Clarets target Adebola". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 25 November 2000. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[sb0304-16] "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[sb0405-17] "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[18] "Bristol City sign striker Adebola". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2008.

[sb0809-19] "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[20] "Bristol City 2–1 Sheff Wed". BBC Sport. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 10 February 2008.

[PotY-21] "Adebola scoops Bristol City award". Bristol Evening Post. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2009.

[22] "Tigers complete Adebola signing". Hull City A.F.C. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011.

[23] "Hull 0–1 Blackpool". BBC Sport. 5 August 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2011.

[24] "Notts County sign Hull City striker Dele Adebola". BBC Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[sb1112-25] "Games played by Dele Adebola in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

[26] "County late show downs Wycombe". Sky Sports. 28 April 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2015.

[27] "Dele Adebola joins Rochdale after Reece Gray injury". BBC Sport. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

[28] "Dele Adebola moves to Wrexham on loan from Rochdale". BBC Sport. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.

[29] "Major new signing for Rushall Olympic". Rushall Olympic F.C. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2013.

[30] Johnston, Neil (15 March 2024). "'Somebody help me' - the injury that shocked football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 March 2024.

[31] "N Ireland shock as McMenemy picks Nigerian". Irish Independent. 13 March 1998. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

[32] Anderson, David (24 March 1998). "Adebola to miss Slovakia clash". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.

[Crewe-33] "Player profile". Crewe Alexandra F.C. Retrieved 2 April 2007. ^{[dead link]}

[34] Anderson, David (9 October 1998). "McMenemy scours leagues for talent". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.

[35] Anderson, David (25 March 1999). "McMenemy is ignoring Germany in crisis claims". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.

[36] "Sports Digest". Irish Examiner. 14 December 1999. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011.

[37] "Adebola called into Nigeria squad". BBC Sport. 30 June 2000. Retrieved 2 April 2007.

[38] "Player profiles: Dele Adebola". Nottingham Forest F.C. Archived from the original on 6 July 2009.

[39] "Blues shot down as Liverpool lift cup". BBC Sport. 25 February 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

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Dele Adebola