Yemi Odubade - Career

Career

Despite being born in Lagos, Nigeria, Odubade grew up in East Sussex. He attended The Bishop Bell School in Eastbourne. He began his football career in England, playing in the Sussex County League for Eastbourne Town in 2002. He scored over 70 times in just two seasons at the East Sussex club in all competitions, before attracting the attention of then–Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson before the start of the 2004–05 season, he subsequently joined the club on a one-year contract in July 2004 after a successful trial. He made his debut as a substitute for the Somerset side in a 4–3 defeat against Torquay United in the Football League Trophy in September 2004. He made his second Yeovil appearance in a 3–1 victory away at Histon in an FA Cup tie, scoring his first and only goal for the club deep into injury-time. He made a further four appearances for the side, before leaving the club in February 2005 due to personal reasons, and subsequently joined Conference South side Eastbourne Borough two days later. Odubade made his Eastbourne Borough debut in the club's 2–0 victory against Basingstoke Town just three days after signing for the club, playing 45 minutes of the match. In the following game, he scored twice as Eastbourne came from back from a two goal deficit to draw 2–2 at Cambridge City, scoring both goals within the space of five minutes. Odubade made it 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. He also scored Eastbourne's third goal in a 3–1 win in the following game against Newport County, latching onto a long ball and beating the goalkeeper first time. Throughout March 2005, Odubade scored in four consecutive games, netting against Cambridge City, Havant & Waterlooville, Sutton United, and Hayes to take his tally to ten goals for the club. He also provided the assists for two of Eastbourne's goals in a 3–0 win against Redbridge, and scored two goals in late April 2005 against Bishop's Stortford and Weston-Super-Mare respectively. He scored his last goal of the season in Eastbourne's 3–0 away win against Cambridge City in the play-off, and was in the side that lost 2–1 to Altrincham in the final. Odubade made a total of 17 appearances for Eastbourne during the second half of the 2004–05 campaign, scoring 13 times.

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. Odubade scored his second goal of the season a week later, scoring the opening goal of the match as Eastbourne lost 3–2 against Basingstoke Town, as well as scoring in the club's 2–1 home loss to Weston-Super-Mare. After scoring three goals in the club's first five matches of the season, Odubade failed to score again until November 2005 – scoring Eastbourne's goal in a 1–1 draw against Carshalton Athletic. He also scored and assisted a goal in the club's 3–2 away victory against Farnborough Town at Cherrywood Road. Odubade impressed in the club's FA Cup run during the same season, helping the club take Oxford United to a replay in November 2005. 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 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.