Elkanah Onyeali

Elkanah Bollington Onyeali (7 June 1939 – 11 August 2008) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a centre forward for Tranmere Rovers, scoring 8 goals in 13 games in the Football League during the 1960–61 season.[3] Onyeali was one of the first African players to play in England,[4] and the first black player to play professionally on Merseyside.[5]

Elkanah Onyeali
Personal information
Full name Elkanah Bollington Onyeali[1][2]
Date of birth 7 June 1939
Place of birth Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Date of death 11 August 2008 (aged 69)
Place of death Umunjam, Imo State, Nigeria
Position(s) Centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1960–1961 Tranmere Rovers 13 (8)
1961 Holyhead Town
1961–1962 Prescot Cables
National team
1959–1961 Nigeria 11 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He came to England in 1960, to study at Birkenhead Technical College, and was offered a contract by local club Tranmere Rovers. However, he was released after one season as the new manager did not want to accommodate a part-time player.[5] Both before and after coming to England, he also played for the Nigeria national team, scoring 11 goals in as many games between 1959 and 1961.[6] Between September 1961 and October 1962, Oneyali played for Prescot Cables whilst studying at Liverpool University and was the club's top scorer during the 1961–62 season. He returned to Nigeria at the end of his studies.[7]

He later studied in the United States before returning to Nigeria, where he coached teams including the Trojans and the Spartans.[5]

Onyeali died in August 2008, aged 69.[8]

References
  1. Elkanah Onyeali at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. "Elkanah Onyeali". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  3. "Tranmere Rovers: 1946/47 – 2009/10". Neil Brown. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  4. Phil Vasili (30 May 2008). "The Occluded History of Black Footballers in Britain". Pitch Invasion. Retrieved 6 November 2010.
  5. "Black History Month – Elkanah Onyeali". Tranmere Rovers F.C. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  6. Solaja, Kunle (26 April 2011). "Elkanah Onyeali, the unsung scorer". SuperSport. MultiChoice. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  7. 'From Slacky Brow to Hope Street' (book, published 1990)
  8. Nick Hilton (23 August 2008). "Death of a pioneering footballer". The Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 6 November 2010.


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