{{short description|English footballer}} {{use British English|date=June 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Carl Asaba | image = | fullname = Carl Edward Asaba<ref name="coludata">{{Cite web |title=Colchester United – Player profile |url=http://www.coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=564 |access-date=22 February 2013 |publisher=Coludata.co.uk}}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1973|01|28}}<ref name="Soccerbase">{{soccerbase}}</ref> | birth_place = Westminster, London, England<ref name="coludata" /> | height = {{height|m=1.88}}<ref name="Soccerbase" /> | position = Forward | years1 = 1993–1994 | clubs1 = Dulwich Hamlet | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1994–1997 | clubs2 = Brentford | caps2 = 54 | goals2 = 25 | years3 = 1995 | clubs3 = → Colchester United (loan) | caps3 = 12 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 1997–1998 | clubs4 = Reading | caps4 = 33 | goals4 = 8 | years5 = 1998–2001 | clubs5 = Gillingham | caps5 = 77 | goals5 = 36 | years6 = 2001–2003 | clubs6 = Sheffield United | caps6 = 67 | goals6 = 23 | years7 = 2003–2005 | clubs7 = Stoke City | caps7 = 70 | goals7 = 9 | years8 = 2005–2006 | clubs8 = Millwall | caps8 = 21 | goals8 = 3 | totalcaps = 334 | totalgoals = 106 }} '''Carl Edward Asaba''' (born 28 January 1973) is an English former footballer who played as a forward in the Football League. He began his career with non-league Dulwich Hamlet, his goalscoring prowess earning him a move to Brentford in 1994. He played for Colchester United on loan, before moving to Reading in 1997. He had successful stints with Gillingham, where he scored 36 goals in 77 league appearances, and Sheffield United, scoring 23 times in 67 league games. He also played for Stoke City and ended his career with Millwall. Returned to involvement in the world of professional football in 2021 via co-commentary for BBC Radio Sheffield and expert analysis for Sheffield United TV live. Appointed ambassador for the Sheffield children's hospital charity in 2020 and has organised charity events via Sarbs Charity Events with events giving people a chance to 'beat-a-Blade' (himself and former players) in sporting activities with all proceeds going directly to the Children's Hospital Charity.
==Career==
Born in Westminster, London, Asaba started his career with Dulwich Hamlet. He earned a moved to Brentford in 1994 having scored a number of goals at non-league level. He made little impact in his debut season, however in his first full season his form improved considerably, developing pace and strength on the ball.<ref name="VB">{{Cite web |title=Brentford – Carl Asaba |url=http://www.brentford.vitalfootball.co.uk/player.asp?p=2406 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510191811/http://www.brentford.vitalfootball.co.uk/player.asp?p=2406 |archive-date=10 May 2015 |access-date=2 March 2013 |publisher=Vital Football Brentford}}</ref> Asaba made 12 league appearances and scored two goals for Colchester United on loan in 1995.<ref name="coludata" /> He made his professional debut at Colchester, where he scored on his debut against Barnet.<ref name="coludata" /> He returned to Brentford, scoring 23 goals in the 1996–97 season as the Bees lost out in the play-offs.<ref name="WWCU">{{Cite book |last1=Whitehead |first1=Jeff |title=The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years |last2=Drury |first2=Kevin |publisher=Breedon Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-85983-629-3 |location=Derby |page=15}}</ref> Asaba's goalscoring exploits then saw him earn an £800,000 move to Reading in 1997.<ref name="Soccerbase" />
After failing to make an impact at Reading, scoring just eight goals in 32 league appearances, Asaba was signed to Gillingham for a club record fee of £590,000.<ref name="Soccerbase" /> He soon formed a formidable partnership with Robert Taylor and finished the 1998–99 season as the club's top scorer, scoring 23 goals in all competitions.<ref name="BMH">{{Cite web |title=11. Carl Asaba (1998–2001) |url=http://brianmooreshead.wordpress.com/2001/10/21/11-carl-asaba-1998-2001/ |access-date=2 March 2013 |publisher=Brian Moore's Head}}</ref> He scored in the season's play-off final against Manchester City, opening the scoring 1–0 to Gillingham in the 81st minute.<ref name="POF" /> Strike partner Taylor scored the second in the 86th minute, but a last minute comeback from City took the tie to extra time and then on to penalties, which City won 3–1.<ref name="POF">{{Cite news |title=Shoot-out success for City |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/356672.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> In a spell that was dogged by injury, Asaba scored 40 goals in 91 appearances in all competitions.<ref name="BMH" />
Asaba joined Sheffield United for a fee of £92,500 on 9 March 2001.<ref name="Soccerbase" /> He became a fan favourite after scoring the winner in a 2–1 win over bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby on 1 April 2001.<ref name="SSD">{{Cite news |title=Asaba swings steel city derby |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1253094.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> On 16 December 2002, Sheffield United reported Reading player John Mackie to The Football Association and Professional Footballers Association after racially abusing Asaba during a 2–0 win for United on 14 December 2002,<ref name="Racial">{{Cite news |title=Blades report Mackie |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/2581189.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> prompting an apology from Mackie and two weeks' of his wages donated to the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign.<ref name="Apology">{{Cite news |title=Mackie says sorry |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/2583191.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> Mackie was later handed a three-match ban and a £1,500 fine, with a five-match ban and another £1,500 suspended until the end of the following season.<ref name="Mackie ban">{{Cite news |title=Mackie handed ban |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/2806507.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref>
On 6 August 2003, Asaba signed for Stoke City on a free transfer,<ref name="Stoke">{{Cite news |title=Stoke sign Asaba |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/3128043.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> and made his debut three days later in a 3–0 win over Derby County.<ref name="STO-DER">{{Cite news |title=Derby 0–3 Stoke |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3113043.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> His time with Stoke was largely unsuccessful, scoring only nine league goals in 70 appearances.<ref name="Soccerbase" /> With 12 months remaining on his Stoke contract, Asaba handed-in a transfer request in May 2005.<ref name="TFRRQ">{{Cite news |title=Striker Asaba set to leave Stoke |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/4583493.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref>
Millwall moved to sign Asaba on 25 August 2005 on a free transfer.<ref name="Millwall">{{Cite news |title=Millwall swoop to snap up Asaba |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/4184090.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> He played in 24 games and scored four goals for Millwall<ref name="Soccerbase" /> before being one of eight players released from the club at the end of the 2005–06 season.<ref name="MILREL">{{Cite news |title=Eight players released by Lions |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/4995390.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref>
After leaving Millwall, Asaba began training with Leicester City on non-contract terms in October 2006.<ref name="Trial">{{Cite news |title=Farrelly to train with Leicester |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/5407056.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> However, he failed to agree a permanent deal with the club, and also failed to agree to terms with Nottingham Forest and Yeovil Town.<ref name="Leic">{{Cite news |title=Asaba & Foxes fail to agree deal |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/5356100.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> In November 2006, he was given a trial at Chesterfield, where he also failed to sign permanently.<ref name="CFC">{{Cite news |title=Asaba given trial at Chesterfield |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/6121870.stm |access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref>
== Personal life == After retiring from football, Asaba settled in Sheffield and entered the motor trade.<ref name="Sutcliffe">{{Cite web |last=Sutcliffe |first=Richard |title=Carl Asaba: 'I found retiring from football so hard. It was like my identity had been taken away' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3351080/2022/06/08/carl-asaba-brentford-sheffield/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref> During the 2021–22 season, he worked as a co-commentator for BBC Radio Sheffield and Sheffield United's in-house television channel.<ref name="Sutcliffe" />
==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other{{ref label|Other|A|}} !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Brentford |1994–95<ref name="BBB90s">{{Cite book |last1=Croxford |first1=Mark |title=The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties |last2=Lane |first2=David |last3=Waterman |first3=Greville |publisher=Legends Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=9781906796723 |location=Sunbury, Middlesex |pages=480–481}}</ref> ||Second Division |0||0||0||0||0||0||1||1||1||1 |- |1995–96<ref name="BBB90s" /> |Second Division |10||2||1||0||1||0||1||0||13||2 |- |1996–97<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=1996|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |Second Division |44||23||3||0||4||0||5||1||56||24 |- !colspan="2"|Total !54!!25!!4!!0!!5!!0!!7!!2!!70!!27 |- |Colchester United (loan) |1994–95<ref name="coludata" /> |Third Division |12||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||12||2 |- | rowspan="3"|Reading |1997–98<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=1997|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |First Division |32||8||3||1||7||3||0||0||42||12 |- |1998–99<ref name="Soccerbase9899">{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=1998|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |Second Division ||1||0||0||0||2||1||colspan="2"|―||2||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !33!!8!!3!!1!!9!!4!!0!!0!!45!!13 |- |rowspan="4"|Gillingham |1998–99<ref name="Soccerbase9899" /> |Second Division |41||20||1||0||0||0||7||2||49||22 |- |1999–2000<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=1999|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |Second Division |11||6||1||0||0||0||2||0||14||6 |- |2000–01<ref name="Soccerbase0001" /> |First Division |25||10||0||0||3||2||0||0||28||12 |- !colspan="2"|Total !77!!36!!2!!0!!3!!2!!9!!2!!91!!40 |- | rowspan="4"|Sheffield United |2000–01<ref name="Soccerbase0001">{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=2000|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |First Division |10||5||0||0||0||0||colspan="2" |―||10||5 |- |2001–02<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=2001|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |First Division |29||7||2||0||2||0|| colspan="2" |―||33||7 |- |2002–03<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=2002|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |First Division |28||11||1||0||5||1||3||0||37||12 |- !colspan="2"|Total !67!!23!!3!!0!!7!!1!!3!!0!!80!!24 |- | rowspan="3"|Stoke City |2003–04<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=2003|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |First Division |37||8||2||0||1||0|| colspan="2" |―||40||8 |- |2004–05<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=2004|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |Championship |33||1||1||0||1||1|| colspan="2" |―||35||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !70!!9!!3!!0!!2!!1!!0!!0!!75!!10 |- ||Millwall |2005–06<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=252|season=2005|access-date=2 March 2013}}</ref> |Championship |21||3||0||0||3||1|| colspan="2" |―||24||4 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !334!!106!!15!!1!!29!!9!!19!!4!!397!!120 |}
{{refbegin}} :A. {{note|Other}} The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals (including those as a substitute) in the Football League play-offs and Football League Trophy. {{refend}}
==Honours==
===Club=== ;Brentford *1996–97 Football League Second Division play-off runner-up (level 3)
;Gillingham *1998–99 Football League Second Division play-off runner-up (level 3) *1999–2000 Football League Second Division play-off winner (level 3)
===Individual=== *1996–97 PFA Team of the Year Second Division (level 3)
:''All honours referenced by:''<ref name="CUDBD D2PO">{{Cite web |title=Division Two (League One) Play-off Finalists |url=http://www.Coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayerHonours/PlayerLeagueOnePlayoff.html |access-date=2 March 2013 |publisher=Coludaybyday.co.uk}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}} *{{NeilBrownPlayers|player8/carlasaba}}
{{1996–97 Football League Second Division PFA Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asaba, Carl}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from the City of Westminster Category:People from Westminster Category:Men's association football forwards Category:English men's footballers Category:Dulwich Hamlet F.C. players Category:Brentford F.C. players Category:Colchester United F.C. players Category:Reading F.C. players Category:Gillingham F.C. players Category:Sheffield United F.C. players Category:Stoke City F.C. players Category:Millwall F.C. players Category:English Football League players