Dennis Chiedozie Oli (born 28 January 1984 in Newham, England) is an English footballer who last played for Grays Athletic in the Isthmian League North Division. He previously played for Queens Park Rangers, Gravesend & Northfleet, Farnborough Town, Swansea City, Cambridge United, Grays Athletic, Gillingham, Wycombe Wanderers, Havant & Waterlooville, Hemel Hempstead Town, Farnborough, Thurrock and Kingstonian.
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Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Dennis Chiedozie Oli[1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 28 January 1984||
Place of birth | Newham, England | ||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1] | ||
Position(s) | Striker / Winger | ||
Youth career | |||
2000–2001 | Queens Park Rangers | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2000–2004 | Queens Park Rangers | 23 | (0) |
2003–2004 | → Gravesend & Northfleet (loan) | 5 | (0) |
2004 | → Farnborough Town (loan) | 4 | (0) |
2004 | Swansea City | 1 | (0) |
2004 | Cambridge United | 4 | (1) |
2005–2008 | Grays Athletic | 135 | (40) |
2007–2008 | → Gillingham (loan) | 6 | (2) |
2008–2012 | Gillingham | 148 | (27) |
2012–2013 | Wycombe Wanderers | 10 | (0) |
2013–2014 | Havant & Waterlooville | 33 | (8) |
2014–2016 | Hemel Hempstead Town | 40 | (13) |
2016–2017 | Farnborough | 37 | (11) |
2017 | Thurrock | 14 | (6) |
2017–2018 | Kingstonian | 7 | (1) |
2018–2019 | Grays Athletic | 35 | (4) |
Total | 502 | (113) | |
International career | |||
2005–2006 | England C | 4 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Career
editOli came through the youth system at Queens Park Rangers and made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Wigan Athletic in February 2002.[2] He made 23 league appearances for Queen Park Rangers but was sent on loan to Gravesend & Northfleet in November 2003 to gain more first-team experience.[3] This was followed by a one-month loan to Farnborough Town in February 2004.[4] He joined Swansea City on a free transfer in August 2004 but made only one appearance before leaving at the end of the month.[5] He joined Cambridge United on a one-month deal in September 2004 after impressing during a short trial spell.[6] He made four appearances, scoring one goal against Mansfield,[7] for Cambridge but chose to leave at the end of his one-month contract in October 2004.[2]
Oli joined Grays Athletic and made 28appearances in the remainder of the 2004–05 season as Grays won promotion to the Conference National as Conference South champions and won the FA Trophy.[8][9][10] He made a further 46 appearances for Grays in the 2005–06 season as Grays reached the promotion playoffs and won the FA Trophy for a second year, when he scored the opening goal in the 2–0 victory over Woking.[11][12][13] He made 48 league and cup appearances in the 2006–07 season as Grays finished above the relegation places,[14] and signed a new two-year contract with Grays in May 2007.[15]
Former Grays manager, Mark Stimson, signed Oli for Gillingham on loan in November 2007 with a view to a permanent move in January 2008.[16] Oli made his Gillingham debut in a Football League Trophy southern section quarter final at home to Dagenham & Redbridge, scoring his first goal rounding off the 4–0 win on 13 November 2007.[17] He signed a permanent contract at Gillingham in January 2008, keeping him at the club until 2010,[18] and in that time, he helped Gillingham win the League Two play-off final at Wembley Stadium.
In July 2012, Oli joined Wycombe Wanderers on a one-year deal, but was released a year later after not being offered a new contract. He then signed for Havant & Waterlooville of the Conference South.[19]
Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Oli once again joined Mark Stimson signing for Thurrock.[20]
Honours
edit- FA Trophy: 2005, 2006
- Conference South (VI): 2005
- Football League Two play-off winner 2008-09
References
edit- ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
- ^ a b "Dennis Oli". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Oli joins Gravesend". BBC Sport. 20 November 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Oli joins Farnborough". BBC Sport. 16 February 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Swansea to release Oli". BBC Sport. 23 August 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Oli signs deal with U's". BBC Sport. 10 September 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Cambridge 2–2 Mansfield". BBC. 11 September 2004. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ "Dennis Oli". 2004–05 season. SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Grays are promoted to Conference". BBC Sport. 26 March 2005. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Grays Ath 1–1 Hucknall Town (aet)". BBC Sport. 22 May 2005. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Dennis Oli". 2005–06 season. SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ Hodges, Vicky (12 May 2006). "Stimson aims to lift his players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Grays beat Cards to retain Trophy". BBC Sport. 14 May 2006. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Dennis Oli". 2006–07 season. SoccerFactsUK. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Striker Oli signs new Grays deal". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2007.
- ^ "Gillingham sign Oli and Griffiths". BBC Sport. 12 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2007.
- ^ "Gillingham 4 (2) – 0(0) Dag & Red". Soccerbase. Racing Post. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Gillingham sign Grays striker Oli". BBC Sport. 17 January 2008. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
- ^ "Lee Bradbury Makes a Double Signing". Havant & Waterlooville F.C. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ "Mark Stimson signs Dennis Oli". Thurrock F.C. 22 May 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
External links
edit- Dennis Oli player profile at gillinghamfootballclub.com
- Dennis Oli player profile at qpr.co.uk
- Dennis Oli at Soccerbase
- Dennis Oli 2004–05 stats at SoccerFactsUK
- Dennis Oli 2005–06 stats at SoccerFactsUK
- Dennis Oli 2006–07 stats at SoccerFactsUK
- Dennis Oli 2007–08 stats at SoccerFactsUK