Michael Uwezu // (born 12 December 1990) is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Lydd Town. He began his career at Fulham and has also played for Lincoln City, Forest Green Rovers and FC Linköping City in Sweden.

Michael Uwezu
Uwezu playing for Forest Green Rovers in 2012
Personal information
Full name Michael Uwezu
Date of birth (1990-12-12) 12 December 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth Irete, Nigeria
Height 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Lydd Town
Youth career
Arsenal
000?–2009 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Fulham 0 (0)
2010Lincoln City (loan) 2 (0)
2010 Lincoln City 0 (0)
2010 Dulwich Hamlet
2010–2011 Northampton Town 4 (1)
2011–2012 Forest Green Rovers 25 (2)
2014–2015 Thamesmead Town 6 (1)
2016–2018 FC Linköping City[1] 65 (27)
2020–2021 East Grinstead Town 16 (3)
2021–2022 Burgess Hill Town 14 (4)
2022–2023 Ashford United 1 (0)
2023–2024 Haywards Heath Town 15 (7)
2024– Lydd Town 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:54, 21 April 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Early career

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Born in Irete, Imo State, Uwezu began his career with Arsenal's academy before moving to their London rivals Fulham. Michael can play wide or as a central striker and signed his first professional contract with Fulham at the end of the 2008–09 season after scoring 11 goals in 18 games for the Academy Under-18s that season.[2]

Fulham

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At the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Uwezu was given the number 40 shirt. He was an unused substitute three times for Fulham's Europa League group matches against CSKA Sofia (home and away),[3][4] and FC Basel (away).[5]

He was sent on a month loan to Lincoln City on 1 January 2010, along with Matthew Saunders.[6] He made his first senior appearance and debut the following day in a 4–0 loss to Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round, coming on as a substitute for Lenell John-Lewis.[7]

Uwezu returned to Fulham on 1 February 2010, after appearing twice for Lincoln in the league and once in the FA Cup. [8] He then continued his good form for Fulham's reserve side, scoring two goals in four games towards the end of the season, and this form was good enough for him to be given a trial at Carlisle United, with an eye to a loan move for the 2010–11 season. On 1 July 2010, Fulham announced that Uwezu had been released from his contract with Fulham.[9] He made no senior appearances for the club.

Forest Green Rovers

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On 6 August 2011, Uwezu featured as a trialist for Forest Green Rovers in a 2–1 win over Gloucester City. And on 3 November 2011, Uwezu signed a short-term contract with Forest Green.[10][11] Uwezu made his Forest Green debut on 5 November 2011 coming on as a substitute in Forest Green's home win over Alfreton Town.[12]

On 6 January 2012, Uwezu signed an extended contract at The New Lawn after impressing in his first two months with the club.[13] On 3 March 2012, Uwezu scored his first goal for Forest Green in a 2–1 home win against Cambridge United.[14] At the end of the season Uwezu was released by Forest Green.[15]

Thamesmead Town

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In the 2014–15 season Uwezu played for Thamesmead Town[16] in the Isthmian League Division One North.[17]

FC Linköping City

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In 2016, Uwezu moved abroad for the first time in his career, signing with Swedish fourth-tier club FC Linköping City. He played 65 league games for the club, scoring 27 goals and occasionally captaining the side, before leaving at the end of the 2018 season.[1][18][19]

East Grinstead Town

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Uwezu joined Isthmian League side East Grinstead Town in January 2020.[20]

Burgess Hill Town

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Uwezu joined Burgess Hill Town in August 2021.[21]

Ashford United

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In May 2022, Uwezu joined Ashford United.[22] He made one league appearance for the club, as a late substitute in a 1–0 win at Burgess Hill Town on 13 August.[23]

Haywards Heath Town

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Later in the 2022-23 season, Uwezu moved on to Haywards Heath Town, where he made seven league appearances, scoring three goals, as the club were relegated from the Isthmian League;[24] he stayed with the club for the following season in the Southern Combination League, adding eight league appearances and four more goals.[25]

Lydd Town

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Uwezu joined Lydd Town at the start of the 2024-25 season.[26]

Career statistics

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Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2009–10 Fulham Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2009–10 Lincoln City League Two 2 0 1 0 0 0 - 3 0
2010–11 Northampton Town League Two 4 1 0 0 0 0 - 4 1
2011–12 Forest Green Rovers Conference Premier 25 2 0 0 0 0 - 25 2
Total England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career total 31 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 32 3

References

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  1. ^ a b "Michael Uwezu" (in Swedish). Svenska Fotbollförbundet. 25 March 2019.
  2. ^ Who Are Milson, Uwezu and Saunders; Vitalfootball.co.uk
  3. ^ "CSKA Sofia v Fulham". Fulham F.C. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Fulham 1–0 CSKA Sofia". Fulham F.C. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Basel 2–3 Fulham". Fulham F.C. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Quartet Join Lincoln". Fulham F.C. 31 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Bolton 4–0 Lincoln". BBC Sport. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Fulham Duo Return". Lincoln City FC. 1 February 2010. Archived from the original on 7 March 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  9. ^ "Player Contract Round-Up". Fulham FC. 1 June 2010. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Uwezu pens Forest Green deal". Stroud News & Journal. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  11. ^ "Forest Green Rovers sign up striker Michael Uwezu". BBC Sport. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Forest Green Rovers 4–1 Alfreton Town". BBC Sport. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Four players secure deals at Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 6 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Forest Green 2–1 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 3 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Thomson and Uwezu released". Stroud News & Journal. 2 May 2012.
  16. ^ "Gaffer's all smiles as George settles points". Thamesmead Town F.C. 5 April 2015.
  17. ^ "Thamesmead Town | Appearances | Michael Uwezu | 2014-2015 | Football Web Pages".
  18. ^ "Michael Uwezu lämnar City!" (in Swedish). FC Linköping City. 25 March 2019.
  19. ^ "51. Michael Uwuzu". FC Linköping City. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
  20. ^ "East Grinstead Town | Appearances | Michael Uwezu | Football Web Pages".
  21. ^ "Burgess Hill Town | Appearances | Michael Uwezu | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  22. ^ "ASHFORD COMPLETE SIGNING OF MICHAEL UWEZU". ashfordunitedfc.com. 29 May 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  23. ^ "罗比·威廉姆斯VS大卫·吉尔伯特 2023斯诺克苏格兰公开赛 清流_虎牙直播_huya". www.huya.com.
  24. ^ "Haywards Heath Town | Appearances | Michael Uwezu | 2022-2023 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  25. ^ "Michael Uwezu player stats | Southern Combination Football League". fulltime.thefa.com.
  26. ^ https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/lydd-town/appearances/michael-uwezu/948524
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