Mike Fondop Explained

Mike Fondop
Fullname:Karl Mike Fondop Talom[1]
Birth Date:27 November 1993
Birth Place:Yaoundé, Cameroon[2]
Height:1.9m (06.2feet)
Position:Striker
Currentclub:Oldham Athletic
Clubnumber:9
Years1:2014–2015
Clubs1:Stanway Rovers
Caps1:29
Goals1:10
Years2:2015–2016
Clubs2:Billericay Town
Caps2:24
Goals2:10
Years3:2016–2017
Clubs3:Oxford City
Caps3:23
Goals3:7
Years4:2017–2018
Clubs4:Guiseley
Caps4:19
Goals4:3
Years5:2018
Clubs5:F.C. Halifax Town (loan)
Caps5:12
Goals5:4
Years6:2018–2019
Clubs6:Wrexham
Caps6:21
Goals6:5
Years7:2019
Clubs7:Maidenhead United (loan)
Caps7:11
Goals7:1
Years8:2019–2020
Clubs8:Chesterfield
Caps8:29
Goals8:10
Years9:2020–2021
Clubs9:Aldershot Town
Caps9:4
Goals9:0
Years10:2021
Clubs10:Burton Albion
Caps10:17
Goals10:2
Years11:2021–2022
Clubs11:Hartlepool United
Caps11:8
Goals11:0
Years12:2022–
Clubs12:Oldham Athletic
Caps12:68
Goals12:23
Club-Update:17:53, 10 August 2024 (UTC)

Karl Mike Fondop Talom (born 27 November 1993) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for side Oldham Athletic.

Early and personal life

Fondop moved from Cameroon to England in 2013, to study for a degree in actuarial sciences at the University of Essex, graduating with a first-class degree in 2017.[3]

Career

Fondop began his career with Eastern Counties League side Stanway Rovers,[4] having played on trial at Whitehawk in July 2014.[5] The following season, he went on trial with the under-21 team at Billericay Town before being given a chance in the first team, where he scored eight goals in his first six games.[6] Fondop left Billericay in May 2016 having agreed on a deal to join Margate, for which he was criticised by manager Craig Edwards as he left the club the day before a cup final. The move fell through after Margate declined to pay compensation to Billericay.[7] [8] Fondop joined Oxford City for the 2016–17 season. After a trial with Cheltenham Town the following summer, he joined Guiseley for the 2017–18 season.[7] He joined FC Halifax Town on loan in February 2018, and scored four goals in twelve games to help the Shaymen avoid relegation.[9] In July 2018, he joined Wrexham on a two-year deal.[10] Fondop was labelled a "cult hero" after five goals in his first nine games,[11] but he did not add to that tally in the league and was allowed to join Maidenhead United on loan in February 2019.[12] In August, he left the Welsh club by mutual consent and signed for Chesterfield.[13] Fondop finished the curtailed 2019–20 season as the Spireites' top scorer with eleven goals in all competitions, but left the club at the end of the season to "keep his options open" according to manager John Pemberton, before joining Aldershot Town in November 2020 on a short-term deal.[14]

After this deal expired, he signed for Burton Albion in February 2021 on a contract until the end of the season.[15] He made his English Football League debut on 20 February as a substitute in a 0–3 defeat at home to Sunderland.[16] In his second Burton appearance and his first start, he scored his first goal for them in a 2-1 win at Charlton Athletic on 23 February 2021.[17] On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would be one of 12 players leaving Burton at the end of the season.[18]

Fondop signed for Hartlepool United on 16 September 2021.[19] [20] He left at the end of his contract on 17 January 2022,[21] and signed for Oldham Athletic on 31 January.[22] [23]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stanway Rovers2014–15[24] ECFL Premier Division291000323212
Billericay Town2015–16Isthmian League Premier Division241000002410
Oxford City2016–17[25] National League South237222[26] 0279
Guiseley2017–18National League193421[27] 0245
FC Halifax Town (loan)2017–18National League1240000124
Wrexham2018–19National League2154011266
Maidenhead United (loan)2018–19National League1110000111
Chesterfield2019–20National League291011103111
Aldershot Town2020–21National League40001151
Burton Albion2020–21League One172000000172
Hartlepool United2021–22League Two80200030130
Oldham Athletic2021–22League Two2200000022
2022–23National League35113200204013
2023–24National League3091000113210
2024–25National League1100000011
Total68234200317526
Career total265751770015529787

Notes and References

  1. https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/agents/intermediaries/intermediary-transactions---1-february-2018-to-31-january-2019.ashx?la=en
  2. Web site: England - M. Fondop-Talum - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. uk.soccerway.com. 30 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Mike Fondop: Hard work paying off for Wrexham striker. 6 September 2018. 8 October 2018. Aled Williams. BBC Sport.
  4. Web site: Interview Mike Fondop-Talom. Lars. Meijer. 20 November 2019. 30 March 2021.
  5. Web site: TOWN GO DOWN TO PENALTY – Whitstable Town FC. www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk. 30 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Fondop wants to follow in the footsteps of Rowan Liburd. Echo. 27 November 2015 .
  7. Web site: Guiseley Bring In Fondop-Talom. 3 October 2017.
  8. Web site: Edwards labels Fondop's move to Margate on eve of Under-21 final as "despicable". Echo. 11 May 2016 .
  9. Web site: Mike Fondop-Talom. 30 March 2021.
  10. News: Striker Fondop-Talom joins Wrexham. BBC Sport.
  11. News: Hard work paying off for Wrexham's Fondop. BBC Sport.
  12. Web site: Wrexham AFC striker Mike Fondop joins Maidenhead United on loan. The Leader. 14 February 2019 .
  13. Web site: Mike Fondop didn't want to leave Wrexham AFC but the striker is enjoying life at Chesterfield. The Leader. 18 October 2019 .
  14. Web site: Former Chesterfield striker Mike Fondop signs for National League rivals. www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
  15. Web site: BREWERS SIGN STRIKER MIKE FONDOP UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON. www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk.
  16. News: Burton Albion 0–3 Sunderland. BBC Sport.
  17. Web site: Charlton 1-2 Burton . 23 February 2021. BBC Sport. 24 February 2021 .
  18. Web site: 12 PLAYERS TO LEAVE BURTON ALBION AT END OF THEIR CONTRACTS. www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk.
  19. Web site: Pools Sign Mike Fondop. www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk.
  20. News: Hartlepool sign forwards Cook & Fondop. BBC Sport .
  21. Web site: Mike Fondop Leaves Pools. www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk.
  22. Web site: Target Man Signs For Latics. www.oldhamathletic.co.uk.
  23. News: Oldham sign Hartlepool forward Fondop. BBC Sport .
  24. Web site: Stats for a player: Karl Fondop-Talom . FA Fulltime . 21 February 2021. Select season via dropdown menu.
  25. Web site: Mike Fondop Profile | Aylesbury United FC. www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk.
  26. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearances in Oxfordshire Senior Cup
  27. Appearances in the FA Trophy