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Next Game: Boston At Edgar Street On Saturday April 20th Kick-Off 3.00pm

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

More about last night's trialists

Below are a few details on last night's three new trialists at Hereford United.

Samuel Oli:

22 year old Samuel Oji (born 9 October 1985) is an English football player who plays as a defender. He is currently without a club, having been released by Leyton Orient at the end of the 2007–08 season. He is of Nigerian ancestry.

Born in Westminster, London, Oji started his career as a youth player at Arsenal. He signed a full-time contract with Birmingham City for the start of the 2004–05 season.

In 2005–06 he spent six weeks on loan at Doncaster Rovers, for whom he made his debut in the Football League as a second-half substitute against Gillingham. In February 2006 he made his only first-team appearance for Birmingham as a very late substitute in the 2006 FA Cup fourth round replay against Reading. A year later he joined Bristol Rovers on a month's loan, later extended to two months. In the summer of 2007 he had a trial with Southend United, then in August signed for Leyton Orient on a month's loan, later extended to three months.

With only six months remaining on his contract, Oji was released by Birmingham on 8 January 2008 and joined Leyton Orient until the end of the 2007–08 season. He was released by Orient at the end of the season.

Jerry Ani:

A 23 year old Nigerian forward who played for Valletta after being transferred from Naxxar Lions where he was top scorer in the 2004/5 season with 18 goals.

Previously he had been with Adamawa United, a Nigerian side.

Unfortunately Ani had a series on injuries at Valletta and he moved to Kalba-based Al-Ittihad in the United Arab Emirates to try and regain his goal scoring ability.

"I enjoyed playing in the UAE with Kalba Club," Ani told uefa.com. "I learned a lot from our coach, Sergio Teves, the coach of the Benin Under-20 national team. Then at the beginning of this season, I nearly joined a Russian club but the deal fell through at the last moment."

He then signed for Kercem Ajax [FC] who play in the top league on the island of Gozo where he regained his eye for a goal and was noticed by the Nigerian Football Authorities.

Last year he was chosen to play for the Nigerian Under 23 squad against Ghana.

"It was such a big experience to don my national team jersey," he said. "Our coach Samson Siasia - a former national team player himself and a great coach - was inspirational during my brief return home."

Ali is said to have high hopes of playing in European Football again.

"Only God knows why I work so hard in professional football," he said. "My dream is to play for a big club and to have the opportunity to help less fortunate people in this world who are suffering. That is my dream in football. I am a happy man but I will be even happier if my dream comes true."

May be it will come true at Hereford United.

Richard Langley:

28 year old Richard Langley (born Harlesden London 27 December 1979) is a Jamaican footballer who is unattached after playing for Luton Town last season.

He rose through the youth system at Queens Park Rangers, signing a professional contract in 1996. In 2001 he made his international debut for Jamaica, despite being born in London, England. He qualifies for Jamaica through his father.

After a trial with Crystal Palace (who decided they did not need him), he signed for Cardiff City in 2003 for an initial fee of £200,000 rising to around £250,000 on appearances. He returned to QPR in August 2005, but was not given a contract extension. He joined Luton on a free transfer a year later, and wore the number 17 shirt for the 2006-2007 season.

In mid-January of 2008, it was rumoured Langley would join the exodus at Luton Town by joining Championship club Sheffield Wednesday. Colchester United, Bradford City and Lincoln City were also rumoured to be interested in the Jamaican.

He has now been released from Luton and is believed to have had trials at both Darlington and MK Dons before coming to Hereford United.