Afolabi Adedoyin Olamilekan Oluwatimilehin Obafemi (born 24 November 1994) is an English professional footballer who last played as a forward for Barking, having previously played in the Football League with Leyton Orient and Dagenham & Redbridge.

Afolabi Obafemi
Personal information
Full name Afolabi Adedoyin Olamilekan Oluwatimilehin Obafemi[1]
Date of birth (1994-11-25) 25 November 1994 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Walthamstow, London, England
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
0000–2008 Ryan
2008–2011 Watford
2011–2013 Leyton Orient
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Leyton Orient 9 (0)
2011Scarborough Athletic (loan) 1 (0)
2012AFC Sudbury (loan) 2 (0)
2012Bishop's Stortford (loan) 1 (1)
2013–2014 Dagenham & Redbridge 22 (2)
2014 Welling United 5 (0)
2014 Hayes & Yeading United 3 (0)
2014–2015 Billericay Town
2015–2016 Welling United 12 (2)
2015–2016Bedford Town (loan) 8 (2)
2016 Staines Town 4 (0)
2016–2018 Wingate & Finchley 51 (10)
2018 Barking 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:05, 3 September 2018 (UTC)

Career edit

Early career edit

Born in Walthamstow, London, Obafemi's first football club as a youngster was Ryan F.C.[3] During his spell at Ryan, Obafemi netted a record 48 goals in one season. During that season, he netted 48 times for the Sunday team, and 42 times whilst playing for the Saturday team. Obafemi spent a total of five years at Ryan F.C. before being scouted by Watford F.C.[citation needed][4]

Obafemi began his academy career with Watford's youth academy before switching to Leyton Orient. He was also a talented sprinter, winning the 100 metres final at the London Youth Games in 2009, in a time of 11.6 seconds.[5]

Leyton Orient edit

In his first season in Orient's youth team, Obafemi was top scorer with 18 goals.[6] In December 2011, he went on a work experience loan to Scarborough Athletic, playing in the 2–1 defeat at Barton Town Old Boys on 10 December.[7]

On 30 March 2012 he signed for A.F.C. Sudbury, again on work experience, making his debut as a late substitute in the 1–0 win over Harlow Town on 7 April.[8]

Obafemi made his full Orient debut on 5 May as a substitute in the 2–1 home win against Rochdale, the last game of the season.[9]

In August 2012 Obafemi went on loan to Conference South club Bishop's Stortford, and scored in his only game in the 1–0 win over Boston United,[10] before being recalled by the Os.

Obafemi was released by Orient on 24 April 2013.[11]

Dagenham & Redbridge edit

Dagenham & Redbridge announced the free transfer signing of Obafemi on 11 July 2013. He signed a one-year deal with the club.[12] In June 2014, after not being offered a new deal, he returned to the club for pre-season training to try and impress and earn a new contract.[13] However, during July he was released.[14]

Hayes & Yeading edit

In September 2014 he joined Hayes & Yeading United having been with Welling United, Maidstone United and Dulwich Hamlet on trial,[15] and made his debut as a substitute in the 1–1 draw at Hemel Hempstead Town on 20 September.[16] After making only three substitute appearances he moved to Billericay Town the following month, and stayed until the end of the season.

Obafemi signed for Welling United before the start of the 2014–15 season, and made his debut as a substitute in the 1–0 home win over Guiseley on 8 August.[17] He scored his first goal for the club in the 2–1 home defeat by Braintree Town on 29 August.[18]

In December 2015 he joined Bedford Town on loan,[19] and he scored on his debut in the 2–1 defeat at home to AFC Rushden & Diamonds on 26 December.[20]

Personal life edit

His younger brother Michael Obafemi is also a footballer.[3]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 1 September 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leyton Orient 2011–12[21] League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2012–13[22] League One 8 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 10 0
Total 9 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 11 0
Scarborough Athletic (loan) 2011–12[23] NCE Premier Division 1 0 1 0
AFC Sudbury (loan) 2011–12[24] IL Division One North 2 0 2 0
Bishop's Stortford (loan) 2012–13[25] Conference North 1 1 1 1
Dagenham & Redbridge 2013–14[26] League Two 22 2 1 0 1 0 3[a] 1 27 3
Welling United 2014–15[23] Conference Premier 5 0 5 0
Hayes & Yeading United 2014–15[23] Conference South 3 0 1 0 4 0
Welling United 2015–16[23] National League 12 2 2 0 0 0 14 2
Bedford Town (loan) 2015–16[23] SL Division One Central 8 2 8 2
Staines Town 2016–17[27] IL Premier Division 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Wingate & Finchley 2016–17[28] IL Premier Division 10 2 0 0 1[b] 0 11 2
2017–18[28] IL Premier Division 39 8 4 0 5[c] 0 48 8
2018–19[28] IL Premier Division 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 51 10 4 0 6 0 61 10
Barking 2018–19[29] IL North Division 4 1 0 0 1[d] 0 5 1
Career totals 122 18 8 0 1 0 12 1 143 19
  1. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in Isthmian League Premier Division Play-offs
  3. ^ Three appearances in Alan Turvey Trophy, two in FA Trophy
  4. ^ Appearance in the Alan Turvey Trophy

References edit

  1. ^ "Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. 18 May 2013. p. 37. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  2. ^ a b Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2012). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 (43rd ed.). London: Headline. p. 486. ISBN 978-0-7553-6356-8.
  3. ^ a b "Former Ryan FC player Michael Obafemi makes Premier League debut". Ryan F.C. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Afolabi Obafemi". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Havering's youth take gold in the capital's thrilling 'mini-Olympics'". London Evening Standard. 6 July 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Odubajo handed Orient start". East London and West Essex Guardian. 5 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Barton blues for Boro". Scarborough Evening News. 12 December 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Pond goal keeps hope alive for Sudbury". Suffolk Free Press. 12 April 2012. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Leyton Orient 2–1 Rochdale". BBC Sport. 5 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Pilgrims suffer narrow defeat". Boston United F.C. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  11. ^ "De'Reece Vanderhyde and Harry Lee are offered the chance to shine at the O's". Leyton Orient. 24 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  12. ^ "Afolabi Obafemi: Dagenham sign former Leyton Orient striker". BBC Sport. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  13. ^ "Daggers begin pre-season training". Barking & Dagenham Post. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  14. ^ "Daggers boss Burnett hopeful on Cureton deal". Barking & Dagenham Post. 24 July 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Obafemi Joins Hayes & Yeading". Football Conference. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  16. ^ "Hemel Hempstead Town 1–1 Hayes and Yeading United". Hayes and Yeading United F.C. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Welling United 1–0 Guiseley". BBC Sport. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Welling United 1–2 Braintree Town". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Wings Fordward Becomes an Eagle". Pitchero non league. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  20. ^ "Ex-Leyton Orient Youngster Obafemi Scores on Bedford Town Debut". All Nigeria Soccer. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Games played by Afolabi Obafemi in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  22. ^ "Games played by Afolabi Obafemi in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  23. ^ a b c d e "A. Obafemi - Aylesbury United". Aylesbury United FC. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Games played by Afolabi Obafemi in 2011/2012 for AFC Sudbury". A.F.C. Sudbury. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  25. ^ "Afolabi Obafemi Bishop's Stortford 2012/2013 player appearances". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  26. ^ "Games played by Afolabi Obafemi in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Staines Town: Appearances - Afolabi Obafemi". Football Web Pages. Archived from the original on 1 January 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  28. ^ a b c "Wingate & Finchley: Appearances - Afolabi Obafemi". Football Web Pages. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  29. ^ "First Team: Player Statistics". Barking Official Site. Retrieved 3 September 2018.