Enoch Showunmi

Football player infobox
playername = Enoch Showunmi


fullname = Enoch Olusesan Showunmi
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|4|21
height = height|ft=6|in=6
cityofbirth = Kilburn, London
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Leeds United
clubnumber = 21
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs = Willesden Constantine
years = 2003-2006
2006-2008
2008
2008-
clubs = Luton Town
Bristol City
→ Sheffield Wednesday (loan)
Leeds United
caps(goals) = 102 (14)
050 (13)
010 0(0)
007 0(4)
nationalcaps(goals) = 002 0(0)
nationalyears = 2004-
nationalteam = Nigeria
pcupdate = 14:21, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 19:27, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

Enoch Olusesan 'Big Show' Showunmi (born April 21, 1982, in Kilburn, London) is a Nigerian International footballer currently playing for Leeds United. He is of Yoruba descent via Nigerian parents.

Pre-Football

Showunmi entered the professional ranks relatively late, signing for his first professional club, Luton Town, at the age of 21 from non-League Willesden Constantine, having first completed a Business degree at London South Bank University.

Clubs

Luton Town

A tall and bustling striker who also possesses pace, Showunmi joined Luton in early September 2003 following a successful trial spell with the Hatters that saw him feature regularly during the 2003-04 pre-season against such teams as AFC Wimbledon. At the time of his signature Luton 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 received an injury that was to prevent him playing for 3 months, and Luton were able to use this injury to seek dispensation from the Football League to sign Showunmi.

Showunmi's 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 increasingly enthusiastic displays that indicated a player making the most of his opportunity, Showunmi's stock rose 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 and late in the season scored a hat-trick in a home match against Brentford. In total he scored 7 goals in 28 appearances during the 2003-04 season, which culminated with his international debut for the Nigerian national team as a 71st minute substitute in a 3-0 victory against the Republic of Ireland national football team at The Valley on May 30 2004. He was also a substitute in Nigeria's following 2-0 victory against Jamaica.

Luton's promotion season in 2004-05 saw Showunmi regularly used as a "super-sub" to score 6 goals in 38 matches, only 7 of which he started, including a late winner against Bournemouth after Luton had played most of the game with only 10 men.

In 2005-06 Showunmi often played in midfield, with moderate success, due to injuries to many midfield players at the club.

On October 3 2006, the football agent Charles Collymore was charged with "touting" Enoch to Millwall, without the consent of Luton Town.

Bristol City

Before the 2006-07 season, Enoch moved to Bristol City on a Bosman transfer. He had a good start to the season scoring in 3 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 13 goals in all competitions.

Showunmi 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 23 January 2008 he started discussing personal terms with League 1 high-fliers Leeds United, after Leeds and Bristol City agreed terms for a permanent deal to take Enoch 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, he completed a move to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on an emergency loan until 1 March. 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.

On 9 April, 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 along with fellow striker Darren Byfield, midfielder Alex Russell and defenders Martin Slocombe and Tamas Vasko.

Leeds United

Showunmi signed a two year contract for the Elland Road club on 7 July, following his release from Bristol City. Showunmi made his debut on 11 July in a friendly against York City in a 1-1 draw where he was given the given the nickname "Big Enoch". 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 the 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 them to a 3-2 win.

Trivia

* He was a body double for Patrick Vieira in an advertisement for Nike, Inc. in 2002

* He quickly became a fans' favourite at Ashton Gate, even having a crowd chant dedicated to him: "What's that coming over the hill, is it Showunmi? Is it Showunmi?" to the tune of The Automatic's popular single Monster.

References

*
*ESPNsoccernet|id=36977|name=Enoch Showumni

External links

* [http://superleeds.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/showumni-in-profile/ Enoch Showunmi profile] at superleeds.com
* [http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10327~24513,00.html Enoch Showunmi profile] at bcfc.co.uk
* [http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10372~24513,00.html Enoch Showunmi profile] at lutontown.co.uk
* [http://www.swfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10304~24513,00.html Enoch Showunmi profile] at swfc.co.uk
* [http://www.members.aol.com/loonquawl894/box.html Enoch Showunmi fansite]
* [http://www.lutonfc.com/playerprofile.asp?PlayerID=110 Biography on unofficial Luton website]