Moses Ashikodi

Moses Ashikodi (born 27 June 1987) is a retired professional footballer.

Having started his career at Millwall, he has also played professionally for West Ham United, Gillingham, Rangers, Watford, Bradford City, Swindon Town, Hereford United and Shrewsbury Town.

Ashikodi has played semi-professional football for Ebbsfleet United, Kettering Town, York City, Enfield Town, Margate, Farnborough, Cray Wanderers, AFC Hornchurch, Eastbourne Borough, Maldon & Tiptree, Walton Casuals, Walton & Hersham, Carshalton Athletic, Croydon, East Grinstead Town, Whyteleafe, Guildford City, Chatham Town, Three Bridges, Rochester United, VCD Athletic and South Park.

He has been capped twice for Antigua & Barbuda, having represented England at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-19 levels.

Ashikodi began his career in the Millwall youth system.

In doing so, at 15 years and 240 days, he became the youngest player to make a first team appearance for Millwall and the youngest player to make his Football League debut between 1988 and 2008.

He made a further four substitute appearances during the 2002–03 season, and was chosen by the club's youth academy staff as Millwall's Schoolboy of the Year award for a second successive season.

On 22 February 2003, he made his professional debut as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Ashikodi's career at Millwall effectively ended in February 2004 after a training ground incident that reportedly saw him threaten teammate Mark McCammon with a plastic knife.

The club launched an investigation into the events, and on 29 April he left the club by mutual consent.

A club statement read: "The disciplinary process has been concluded. We wish him the best of luck in his future career."

On 5 August 2004, Ashikodi joined Championship club West Ham United on a two-year contract after impressing during a trial.

Manager Alan Pardew said: "Moses is getting a last chance with us. He is a major talent and, hopefully, he will have learned his lesson."

He failed to make a first team appearance and was released at the end of the 2005–06 season.

In August 2005, Ashikodi joined League One side Gillingham on a four-month loan.

On 20 August, he made his debut in a 1–0 victory against AFC Bournemouth.

The match proved to be his only victory during the loan spell, featuring in two defeats and a draw.

His final appearance came on 15 October in a goalless draw with Yeovil Town.

Replacing Andy Hessenthaler at half-time, Ashikodi picked up two yellow cards and was dismissed within 29 minutes.

He made a total of four substitute appearances before returning to his parent club.

He signed a contract until the end of the 2005–06 season.

Upon signing for the club, he said: "I know that I did not have the best of times at my previous clubs but this is now behind me and all I want to do now is give 110% for Rangers. It is a fresh start and I am really looking forward to playing in Scotland and scoring goals again".

On 23 April, he made his only appearance for the first team as a late substitute away to Celtic.

Ashikodi joined Scottish Premier League club Rangers in January 2006 after a successful trial period.

On 1 January 2007, Ashikodi completed a move to Premier League club Watford after impressing during a two-week trial.

He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract for a nominal fee.

On 6 January, he scored the final goal in a 4–1 FA Cup win over Stockport County on his debut.

The goal was his first at senior level.

He played his first Premier League game against Aston Villa on 20 January.

In March 2007, Ashikodi joined League One side Bradford City on a one-month loan.

The loan was extended until the end of the season two weeks later, and he scored twice in eight games for the club.

His loan spell was cut short after he sustained a broken leg in a fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, which ruled him out for the remainder of the season.

After recovering from his broken leg, Ashikodi was loaned out to League One side Swindon Town in January 2008.

Expected to remain at the club for the rest of the season, he made 10 appearances before being forced to return to Watford in early April after a loose screw on a plate in his leg required surgery ruled him out of the remainder of the season.

In August 2008, Ashikodi joined League One side Hereford United on a five-month loan.

He scored in his second game for the club, a 2–1 loss to Championship side Crystal Palace in the League Cup on 12 August.

In mid-September he returned to Watford for treatment on an injury, but subsequently returned to Hereford to complete the loan period.

Ashikodi's contract was terminated in February 2009.

Later that month he played on trial for both Luton Town, scoring in the side's reserve team game against Peterborough United, and Shrewsbury Town, where he scored twice in a reserve fixture.

Ashikodi made eight appearances for Hereford, with one goal scored, and returned to his parent club in January 2009.