Yemi Odubade

Yemi Odubade (born 4 July 1984) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Southern League Premier Division club Gosport Borough.

Odubade began his football career in England, playing in the Sussex County League for Eastbourne Town in 2002, where he scored over 70 times in two seasons at the East Sussex club in all competitions.

Odubade began his football career in England, playing in the Sussex County League for Eastbourne Town in 2002.

This attracted transfer interest from Yeovil Town, signing for the club in July 2004.

He scored over 70 times in two seasons at the East Sussex club in all competitions, before attracting the attention of Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson ahead of the 2004–05 season.

He subsequently joined the club on a one-year contract on 29 July 2004 after a successful trial.

He made his debut as a substitute for Yeovil in a 4–3 defeat against Torquay United in the Football League Trophy on 28 September 2004.

Odubade made his second Yeovil appearance in a 3–1 victory away at Histon in an FA Cup tie on 4 December 2004, scoring his only goal for the club in injury-time.

Odubade made 17 appearances for Eastbourne during the second half of the 2004–05 season, scoring 13 times.

At Yeovil, Odubade found first-team opportunities limited and left the club in February 2005 in order to join Eastbourne Borough.

The following season, Odubade impressed Oxford United manager Brian Talbot in two FA Cup ties whilst playing for Eastbourne Borough, and he joined the League Two club two months later for a fee of £25,000.

He spent three-and-a-half years at Oxford, playing 149 games.

He made a further four appearances for the club, before leaving Yeovil on 9 February 2005 due to personal reasons, and subsequently joined Conference South club Eastbourne Borough two days later.

Odubade made his Eastbourne Borough debut in the club's 2–0 victory against Basingstoke Town three days after signing for the club, playing 45 minutes of the match.

Odubade scored five goals in his first three games for Eastbourne, as he scored a hat-trick in the club's 4–0 home victory against Thurrock on 19 February 2005.

He scored his last goal of the season in Eastbourne's 3–0 away win against Cambridge City in the play-off semi-finals on 7 May 2005, and was in the team that lost 2–1 to Altrincham in the final.

Odubade opted to stay at Eastbourne Borough ahead of the 2005–06 season, and subsequently started in the club's first game of the season, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1–0 away win against Bishop's Stortford.

After scoring three goals in the club's first five matches of the season, Odubade did not score again until November 2005 – scoring Eastbourne's goal in a 1–1 draw against Carshalton Athletic on 8 November 2005.

Odubade made an impact in the club's FA Cup run during the same season, helping Eastbourne take Oxford United to a replay in November 2005.

Odubade played eight games throughout Oxford's 2005–06 season, scoring once, as the club were relegated to the Conference National.

After impressing Oxford manager Brian Talbot in the two ties, Odubade joined Oxford two months later for a fee of £25,000, on an 18-month contract, on 27 January 2006.

On joining Oxford, Odubade said "It brings a tear to my eye just the thought of leaving Eastbourne. But I wanted to get back into the Football League and I just feel I am very lucky to have this second chance".

In total, Odubade played 40 times for Eastbourne Borough in all competitions, scoring 20 goals.

Odubade made his debut a day after signing for the club, starting in a 3–0 defeat against Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park, but was substituted after just 33 minutes with Rushden three goals ahead.

He scored his first goal for Oxford in a 2–1 loss away to Wycombe Wanderers on 25 February 2006, having been substituted onto the pitch at half-time.

Under the new management of Jim Smith, Odubade started the 2006–07 season by appearing as a 60th-minute substitute in Oxford's 2–0 win against Halifax Town.

Odubade came on as a half-time substitute against Dagenham & Redbridge on 15 August 2006, and scored the only goal of the game in the 57th minute.

Odubade's first 15 appearances of the 2006–07 season were made as a substitute, and he started his first game of the season in Oxford's 1–1 draw against Altrincham on 14 October 2006.

Odubade joined Stevenage on a free transfer in May 2009, and helped Stevenage earn promotion to the Football League for the first time in the club's history, finishing as the club's top goalscorer during the season.

In January 2011, Odubade signed for Newport County on loan, before joining Conference Premier club Gateshead on a free transfer in June 2011.

After spending two years at Gateshead, during which he spent a brief spell on loan at Forest Green Rovers, he then joined Eastleigh in May 2013.

He spent three years at Eastleigh, helping the club win the Conference South in his first season.

In September 2016, Odubade signed for Maidstone United of the National League and spent one year there before making a return to Eastbourne Borough in July 2017.

An initial loan move to Weymouth in December 2018 was made permanent a month later, as the club secured the Southern League Premier South title in his first season there.

After helping Weymouth earn promotion into the National League during the 2019–20 season, he signed for Salisbury in September 2020.

His first season at Salisbury was curtailed due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, before playing for the club during the first half of the 2021–22 season.

A transfer to Dorchester Town followed in February 2022, where he spent the remainder of that season.

Odubade signed for AFC Totton of the Southern League Division One South ahead of the 2022–23 season.

Odubade was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but moved to England at a young age and grew up in East Sussex.

He attended The Bishop Bell School in Eastbourne.