Michael Onovwigun Explained

Michael Onovwigun
Fullname:Michael Richie Onovwigun[1]
Birth Date:9 April 1996
Birth Place:Clapham, England
Height:[2]
Position:Central midfielder
Youthyears1:2011–2014
Youthclubs1:Brentford
Years1:2014–2016
Clubs1:Chesterfield
Caps1:6
Goals1:0
Years2:2014–2015
Clubs2:Sheffield (loan)
Caps2:5
Goals2:1
Years3:2015
Clubs3:Stalybridge Celtic (loan)
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2016
Clubs4:Gateshead (loan)
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Years5:2016
Clubs5:Dulwich Hamlet
Caps5:2
Goals5:0
Years6:2016
Clubs6:Kingstonian
Caps6:9
Goals6:2
Years7:2016–2017
Clubs7:Farnborough
Caps7:4
Goals7:0
Years8:2017
Clubs8:Southport
Caps8:1
Goals8:0
Years9:2017
Clubs9:Merstham
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Years10:2017–2019
Clubs10:Dulwich Hamlet
Caps10:31
Goals10:0
Years11:2018
Clubs11:Carshalton Athletic (loan)
Caps11:13
Goals11:1
Years12:2019
Clubs12:Carshalton Athletic
Caps12:2
Goals12:0
Years13:2019
Clubs13:Lewes
Caps13:12
Goals13:0
Years14:2020
Clubs14:Dartford
Caps14:0
Goals14:0
Years15:2020
Clubs15:Staines Town (dual-reg)
Caps15:5
Goals15:1
Years16:2020
Clubs16:Maldon & Tiptree
Caps16:3
Goals16:0
Years17:2023
Clubs17:AFC Whyteleafe
Caps17:5
Goals17:0
Totalcaps:103
Totalgoals:5

Michael Richie Onovwigun (born 9 April 1996 in Clapham, England) is a retired English semi-professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

Onovwigun was a product of the Brentford academy and began his professional career with Chesterfield in 2014. After his release in 2016, Onovwigun embarked on a journeyman career in non-League football before retiring in 2020.

Playing career

Brentford

Born in Clapham, London,[3] Onovwigun began his career in the academy at Brentford and signed a two-year scholarship during the 2012 off-season.[4] After featuring regularly for the Development Squad in friendly matches during the 2012–13 pre-season, Onovwigun was called into the first team squad for a friendly versus Wycombe Wanderers on 7 August 2012 and he replaced Jake Reeves after 73 minutes of the 4–1 victory.[5] Onovwigun made over 50 appearances for the youth team and 9 for the Development Squad between 2011 and 2014 and departed the club at the end of the 2013–14 season,[6] [7] [8] [9] after failing to be offered a professional contract.[10]

Chesterfield

On 31 July 2014, Onovwigun signed a one-year professional Development Squad contract at League One club Chesterfield after a successful trial.[11] He received his maiden call into the first team squad for a league match versus Rochdale on 16 August and made his professional debut when he came on as an 89th-minute substitute for Jimmy Ryan in a 2–1 win. Onovwigun joined Northern Premier League First Division South club Sheffield on a loan that was later extended until 3 January 2015.[12] [13] He made eight appearances and scored two goals for the club.[14] On 6 February 2015, Onovwigun and Chesterfield teammate Charlie Dawes joined Conference North club Stalybridge Celtic on one month loans.[15] He made just one appearance and after his return to Chesterfield,[16] he had a run of three first team calls in March 2015 and made one substitute appearance against Gillingham in the middle of the month. Onovwigun finished the 2014–15 season with three appearances and the option to extend his contract was taken up for another season.[17]

Onovwigun made his only appearance of the 2015–16 season as a substitute during a 3–1 League Cup first round extra time defeat to Carlisle United on 11 August 2015. On 24 March 2016, he joined National League club Gateshead on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season.[18] Onovwigun made three appearances he departed Chesterfield when his contract expired.[19]

Non-league football

On 16 August 2016, Onovwigun transferred to Isthmian League Premier Division club Dulwich Hamlet. He made just two appearances, before moving within the division to join Kingstonian on 31 August.[20] After making 11 appearances and scoring two goals, he transferred to Southern League First Division Central club Farnborough on 24 November.[21] Onovwigun moved back up to the National League to join Southport on 7 January 2017 and returned to the Isthmian League Premier Division to sign for Merstham on 6 March.[22] [23]

Onovwigun rejoined Dulwich Hamlet at the beginning of the 2017–18 season and was a part of the team which secured promotion to the National League South, though he did not feature in Hamlet's successful Isthmian League Premier Division play-off campaign.[24] After signing a new contract,[25] Onovwigun joined Isthmian League Premier Division club Carshalton Athletic on a three-month loan in September 2018 and after returning to Dulwich Hamlet for the second half of the 2018–19 season,[26] he rejoined Carshalton on a permanent basis during the 2019 off-season.[27]

Onovwigun made two early-2019–20 season appearances for Carshalton Athletic, before transferring to division rivals Lewes in late August 2019.[28] Until his release in December 2019,[29] Onovwigun was a regular member of the Lewes team and he moved up to the National League South to join Dartford in January 2020.[30] After just one appearance for the Darts, he joined Isthmian League South Central Division club Staines Town on a dual-registration deal in February and then moved to North Division club Maldon & Tiptree on a permanent transfer in early March.[31] [32] Onovwigun made three appearances for the Jammers,[33] before the 2019–20 Isthmian League season was ended early.[34] He announced his retirement from non-League football in July 2020.[35] [36]

Onovwigun made five appearances for Southern Counties East League First Division club AFC Whyteleafe during the 2022–23 season.[37]

Sunday league football

In 2020, Onovwigun dropped into Sunday league football and joined Orpington & Bromley District Sunday League Senior Division club Lambeth Allstars.[38] [39]

Personal life

Onovwigun attended a football and education programme at the University of East London.[40]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2014–15League One2000001[41] 030
2015–16League One4000100040
Total6000101040
Sheffield (loan)2014–15Northern Premier League First Division South513[42] 182
Stalybridge Celtic (loan)2014–15Conference North1010
Gateshead (loan)2015–16National League3030
Dulwich Hamlet2016–17[43] Isthmian League Premier Division2020
Kingstonian2016–17[44] Isthmian League Premier Division92101[45] 0112
Farnborough2016–17[46] Southern League First Division Central4040
Southport2016–17National League1010
Merstham2016–17[47] Isthmian League Premier Division1010
Dulwich Hamlet2017–18Isthmian League Premier Division210003[48] 0240
2018–19National League South100002[49] 0120
Total3300050380
Carshalton Athletic (loan)2018–19[50] Isthmian League Premier Division1314[51] 0171
Carshalton Athletic2019–20[52] Isthmian League Premier Division2020
Total15140191
Lewes2019–20[53] Isthmian League Premier Division120303[54] 0180
Dartford2019–20National League South001[55] 010
Staines Town (dual-reg)2019–20[56] Isthmian League South Central Division5151
Maldon & Tiptree2019–20Isthmian League North Division3030
AFC Whyteleafe2022–23Southern Counties East League First Division5050
Career total103540101811266

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/02/2015 and 28/02/2015 . 26 November 2017 . The Football Association . 16.
  2. Web site: Michael Onovwigun . 1 December 2015 . 11v11.
  3. Web site: Player Profile . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160414213521/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/team/player-profile/michael-onovwigun/21 . 14 April 2016 . 30 December 2014.
  4. Web site: Bees Sign New Scholar . 31 July 2014 . Brentfordfc.com.
  5. Web site: Wycombe Wanderers 1 Brentford 4 . 31 July 2014 . Brentfordfc.com.
  6. Web site: Youth Team Stats 2012/13 . 31 July 2014 . Brentfordfc.co.uk . 7 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140707054729/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/yt-stats-201213-896748.aspx . dead .
  7. Web site: 30 April 2014 . 2013/14 Youth Team Statistics . 31 July 2014 . Brentfordfc.co.uk . 13 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140813055858/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/1314-youth-team-stats-1768075.aspx . dead .
  8. Web site: 2012/13 Development Squad Stats . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160527081959/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/201213-ds-player-stats-887837.aspx . 27 May 2016 . 31 July 2014 . Brentfordfc.co.uk.
  9. Web site: 31 May 2014 . 2013/14 Brentford Development Squad stats . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160809161732/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/news/article/201314-development-squad-stats-1710997.aspx . 9 August 2016 . 31 July 2014 . Brentfordfc.co.uk.
  10. Web site: 19 April 2014 . Professional Contracts Offered . 31 July 2014 . Brentfordfc.com.
  11. Web site: Spireites Sign Teenage Midfielder . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140731144812/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/20140730-spireites-sign-teenage-midfielder-1793616.aspx . 31 July 2014 . 31 July 2014 . Chesterfield-fc.co.uk.
  12. Web site: Two new faces at Club . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207121727/http://www.sheffieldfc.com/news/two-new-faces-club . 7 December 2014 . 30 December 2014.
  13. Web site: 13 December 2014 . Loanee Stays Longer at Club . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141230125303/http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/loanee-stays-longer-at-club-35847/ . 30 December 2014 . 30 December 2014.
  14. Web site: Fixtures and results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100921/http://www.sheffieldfc.com/fixtures-and-results/16/2174 . 4 March 2016 . 30 December 2015 . Sheffield FC.
  15. Web site: Young Duo Move on Loan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150207121223/http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/young-duo-move-on-loan-2251702.aspx . 7 February 2015 . 17 August 2016.
  16. Web site: Player Profile Michael Onovwigun . 17 August 2016 . Stalybridge Celtic – Official Site.
  17. Web site: Griffin . Paula . Former Chesterfield midfielder joins Dulwich Hamlet . 25 March 2023 . www.pitchero.com . en.
  18. News: Michael Onovwigun: Chesterfield midfielder joins Gateshead on loan . BBC Sport . 24 March 2016.
  19. Web site: Drew Talbot and Jordan Slew among players released by Chesterfield . 15 May 2016 . www.thestar.co.uk.
  20. Web site: Done Deal: Ex-Chesterfield midfielder makes Kingstonian switch . 31 August 2016 . Your Local Guardian.
  21. News: 24 November 2016 . Onovwigun & Orenuga Sign for Boro . en-US . Pitchero Non-League . dead . 19 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170420151529/http://nonleague.pitchero.com/uncategorized/onovwigun-orenuga-sign-for-boro-51362/ . 20 April 2017.
  22. News: 7 January 2017 . Onovwigun Moves Back North . en-US . Pitchero Non-League . dead . 19 April 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170420143310/http://nonleague.pitchero.com/news/the-national-league/onovwigun-moves-back-north-52272/ . 20 April 2017.
  23. Web site: This Weekend's Match Preview – Merstham (Home) KO 3.00 PM . 25 March 2023 . www.pitchero.com . en.
  24. Web site: Dulwich Hamlet Appearances Michael Onovwigun 2017–2018 . 9 January 2018 . Football Web Pages . en.
  25. Web site: Ten Sign Up Again . 29 November 2018 . Dulwich Hamlet Football Club . en.
  26. Web site: Player Updates . 29 November 2018 . Dulwich Hamlet Football Club . en.
  27. Web site: 10 August 2019 . Match Summary – Potters Bar Town . 26 August 2019 . Carshalton Athletic Football Club . en.
  28. Web site: Internal transfers w/e 31st August 2019 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200112133156/https://www.betvictoristhmian.co.uk/betvictor-isthmian-league-internal-transfers-we-31-58538 . 12 January 2020 . 12 January 2020 . The BetVictor Isthmian League . en.
  29. Web site: Collins . Barry . 11 January 2020 . Lewes vs Carshalton Athletic . 12 January 2020 . Lewes FC progcast . en-US.
  30. Web site: 23 January 2020 . Dartford v Dulwich Hamlet . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200807031917/http://puredfc.com/site/?p=9000 . 7 August 2020 . 30 January 2020 . Pure DFC . en-US.
  31. Web site: So many Swans the Queen should be informed! . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200217181103/https://www.betvictoristhmian.co.uk/so-many-swans-the-queen-should-be-informed-61069 . 17 February 2020 . 17 February 2020 . The BetVictor Isthmian League . en.
  32. Web site: Jammers Add Onovwigun . 29 May 2020 . www.pitchero.com . en.
  33. Web site: Michael Onouwigun – Maldon & Tiptree 1st Team . 29 May 2020 . www.pitchero.com.
  34. Web site: FA Council ratify decision to end non-league season below National League . 29 May 2020 . Maldon and Burnham Standard . en.
  35. 1288540614666182657 . herefor2mins . Thanks to everyone that's helped me along the way really appreciate all of you 1/2 ....
  36. 1288540628956192769 . herefor2mins . 2/2.
  37. Web site: Michael Onovwigun player stats Southern Counties East Football League . 30 September 2023 . fulltime.thefa.com.
  38. Web site: Michael Onovwigun . 8 February 2021 . Lambeth Allstars . en-GB.
  39. Web site: Michael Onovwigun . 8 February 2021 . fulltime-league.thefa.com.
  40. Web site: Football . 27 April 2019 . University of East London (UEL).
  41. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  42. 2 appearances in Northern Premier League Challenge Cup, 1 appearance and 1 goal in Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup
  43. Web site: Michael Onovwigun – First XI . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200203235438/https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/dulwichhamlet/teams/56196/player/michael-onovwigun-1723558/39469 . 3 February 2020 . 21 October 2017 . Dulwich Hamlet Football Club.
  44. Web site: Michael Onovwigun – First Team . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032717/http://www.kingstonian.com/teams/72292/player/michael-onovwigun-1736560/39138 . 1 December 2017 . 11 December 2016 . Kingstonian FC.
  45. Appearances in Isthmian League Cup
  46. Web site: Michael Onovwigun Profile . 19 April 2017 . Aylesbury United FC.
  47. Web site: Merstham Appearances Michael Onunwigun 2016–2017 . 21 July 2019 . Football Web Pages.
  48. 2 appearances in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in London Senior Cup
  49. Appearance in London Senior Cup
  50. Web site: Carshalton Athletic Appearances Michael Onovwigun 2018–2019 . 29 November 2018 . Football Web Pages . en.
  51. 2 appearances in FA Trophy, 1 appearance in Isthmian League Cup, 1 appearance in Surrey Senior Cup
  52. Web site: Carshalton Athletic Appearances Michael Onovwigun 2019–2020 . 11 August 2019 . Football Web Pages.
  53. Web site: Lewes Appearances Michael Onovwigun 2019–2020 . 26 August 2019 . Football Web Pages.
  54. 2 appearances in Sussex Senior Challenge Cup, 1 appearance in FA Trophy
  55. Appearance in Kent Senior Cup
  56. Web site: Staines Town Appearances Michael Onovwigun 2019–2020 . 17 February 2020 . Football Web Pages.