Showunmi: Enoch Olusesan (Enoch)

2008-2010 (Player Details)

Striker

Born: Kilburn, London: 21-04-1982

Debut v Scunthorpe United: 09-08-2008

6'5" 14st 10lbs (2008)

A late-starter in the game, he was twenty-one when he signed for Luton Town from Non-League Willesden Constantine, having first completed a Business degree at London South Bank University, in early September 2003. This followed a successful trial spell with the Hatters that saw him feature regularly during the 2003-04 pre-season against such teams as AFC Wimbledon. A tall and bustling striker who also possesses pace, was able to sign for Luton who had a very small squad due to the administrative receivership that they were under, which prevented them signing new players. Regular midfielder and captain Kevin Nicholls, who was later to play for Leeds, received an injury that was to prevent him playing for three months, and Luton were able to use this injury to seek dispensation from the Football League to sign Showunmi. His debut came against Plymouth Argyle in September 2003, and his first goal arrived in an LDV Vans Trophy win against Rushden & Diamonds in November. After some enthusiastic displays, he became increasingly popular with the Luton fans who came to expect both moments of incredible skill and mistakes of a Non-League player in a professional game. He improved with each game he played. Late in the season scored a hat-trick in a home match against Brentford. In total he scored seven goals in twenty-eight appearances during the 2003-04 season, which culminated with his international debut for the Nigerian national team as a seventy-first minute substitute in a 3-0 victory against the Republic of Ireland at The Valley on 30th May 2004. He also made a substitute in Nigeria's next game. a 2-0 victory over Jamaica. Luton's promotion season in 2004-05 saw Showunmi regularly used as a "super-sub" to score six goals in thirty-eight matches, only seven of which he started. In 2005-06 Showunmi often played in midfield, with moderate success, due to injuries to many midfield players at the club. On 3rd October 2006, the football agent Charles Collymore was charged with "touting" Enoch to Millwall, without the consent of Luton Town. While at Kenilworth Road he scored fourteen goals in one hundred and two league games, of which sixty-two were from the bench. In the Cup competitions he netted once in three starts and five substitute appearances and scored once from three starts and one game off the bench in other games. Before the 2006-07 season, Showunmi moved to Bristol City on a Bosman transfer. He had a good start to the season scoring in three consecutive games making him an instant fans' favourite. However, he featured sporadically for the rest of the season due to injuries and good form from other City strikers. Despite not being a first team regular he finished the season as Bristol City's second top scorer, behind Phil Jevons, with thirteen goals in all competitions. He faced strong competition for his first-team place at the start of the 2007-08 season, especially after fellow strikers Lee Trundle and Darren Byfield signed for the club with Steve Brooker also being in contention after returning to fitness. On 23rd January 2008 he started discussing personal terms with League One high-fliers Leeds United, after Leeds and Bristol City agreed terms for a permanent deal to take him to Elland Road. But there was to be a final twist when Enoch snubbed a move to the Yorkshire side and stayed at Ashton Gate to fight for his place in the team. However, on 31 January 2008, he completed a move to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on an emergency loan until 1st March 2008. This was later extended for another month, but at the start of April Showunmi decided to return to Ashton Gate in order to aid with the club's promotion push. At Hillsborough he failed to score in ten games in the League of which four were as a substitute. On 9th April 2008, Showunmi was charged by the FA with "engaging the services of an individual, who was not a licensed agent or entitled to act in such a capacity, to represent him in contract negotiations with Luton Town in or around February 2004 and between November 2005 and January 2006", an allegation which incurred both Bristol City and Charles Collymore. He was released by City at the end of the 2007-08 season. His record with Bristol showed that he scored thirteen goals in fifty League appearances, of which twelve were from the bench, in the Cups he netted three times from seven starts and one game as a substitute and he scored twice in three starts in other games. Showunmi signed a two year contract for the Elland Road club, on a free transfer on 7th July 2008, following his release from Bristol City. Showunmi made his debut on 11th July in a friendly against York City in a 1-1 draw where he was given the nickname "Big Enoch" by the fans. He scored his first Leeds United goal on his League debut in the opening game of the 2008/09 season against Scunthorpe United in a victory at Glanford Park on 9th August 2008. He scored his second goal against Crystal Palace in the Second Round of the Carling Cup to make it 4-0 to Leeds. In the Third Round of the Carling Cup, he scored his third goal against Hartlepool United to guide Leeds to a 3-2 win. He scored again in a 4-2 win over Rotherham United in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on 8th October 2008 and in the League, as United went down 2-1 at Tranmere Rovers, on 13th December 2008. On the 14th January 2009 the club revealed Showunmi had suffered a blood clot in his lung but had since returned to training. On 18th July 2009, Enoch scored his first goal since his injury in a pre-season friendly against Irish champions Glentoran. On Monday 10th August Showunmi scored in the 1st Round of the League Cup for Leeds against Darlington. However it was his final goal for Leeds, although he did play several games subsequently, mostly as an impact player in the later stages of games. His contract was terminated by mutual consent in January 2010. He joined Falkirk on 14th January 2010, where he scored once in twenty-one League games, six of which were as a substitute. After Falkirk had suffered relegation he was released by the club.