I can’t help but feel sorry for the staff, management and directors at York City Football Club on reading about the departure of Onome Sodje. YCFC seem to have done everything to support and help him in his fight to stay in the UK to play football. This effort was not without cost to a club that is always short of funds. However, with the help of Archbishop Sentamu and York MP Hugh Bailey, the appeal was ultimately successful and Onome has been allowed to stay and work in the UK. Just not at York!

Now Onome is only a young lad, not 21 until 17th July this year, but I like to think that even at that age I would have wanted to stay with the club to show my gratitude. Well he’s gone and will presumably earn big bucks now with Barnsley, so maybe he will show his gratitude to the club and to the McGills with a personal financial donation to YCFC.

Would YCFC do the same again for another young African hopeful? Perhaps by showing some appreciation to YCFC, Onome can make sure they would.