Balogun, Abiola

Abiola Balogun eschewed the usual career trajectory around these parts. He spent his younger years playing for LOASS (Leyton Orient Advanced Soccer School) in the Olympian League, rather than the youth team of a semi-pro club.

He performed consistently at LOASS, adding more goals to his tally each season.

By the time he joined Forest in 2015, he was a fully-grown man, and his pace and power helped him to six goals in 20 first team appearances.

He left the club was Terry Fogarty was replaced as manager, eventually turning up at Enfield 1893, where Matt Hanning, Fogarty’s former assistant, was now in charge.

He spent the next three seasons playing sporadically at Enfield, but never really securing a first team place. In 2017-18, he appeared 20 times, but only four of these came as starts.

He did score a crucial last minute goal in 2017 (his only one that season), coming in the 120th minute against Leverstock Green in the FA Vase.

He turned up at the start of the 2018-19 season, but only made two substitute appearances for the club.