LANRE OYEBANJO has proven he can pass exams as well as he can a football after graduating from university with a mathematics and finance degree.

The York City right-back has just been awarded a 2:1 from London’s City University to become the latest player at Bootham Crescent to don a cap and gown.

Dan Parslow completed his sports science studies last summer and Oyebanjo believes attitudes towards further education are now changing within the game.

Not long since, former England and Chelsea full-back Graeme Le Saux was left feeling alienated at clubs he played for when he chose to read The Guardian on team buses rather than the Racing Post.

But Oyebanjo reckons players are now giving alternative and future career options careful consideration, saying: “In our dressing room alone, Pars has a degree, Chris Kettings is in the second year of his, Jamal Fyfield has started one and David McGurk has got qualifications too.

“The PFA (Players’ Football Association) help, support and encourage you a lot and, as players, we are privileged in that we have a lot of time outside of football to do something else that interests us. I am pleased with my 2:1 and it’s good to have.

“Football is a tough and cruel game but there are a lot of opportunities out there for lads to get into education now. You never know what can happen and, having that in the background, now it’s done, means I can fully focus on my football and having a successful season on the pitch.”

Former Republic of Ireland under-21 international Oyebanjo completed his course in three years – the same time it would take a full-time student.

He has balanced gaining a good education with making progress in the football world ever since getting three grade ‘B’ A-levels in maths, psychology and PE despite attending school only once a week during his second year of sixthform after signing for Brentford.

Oyebanjo went on to leave the classroom behind during his first two years at Histon but, in his third season with the then Conference outfit, combined life as a full-time student with playing on a part-time basis.

That changed when he moved to York to become a professional footballer a year later, but he continued his studies in the same time frame as his undergraduate peers.

“I had the option of doing the course part-time but that could have taken five years and I wanted to get it done quicker,” City’s rampaging right-back revealed. “I always said football needed to be my priority and, if I had needed to miss an exam because of a game, I would have done.

“But the university helped in the way I was able to shift a few lectures here and there. A lot of the material I needed was also online and I had a lot of help from mates getting other stuff I needed.

“Otherwise, it was all up to me putting in the extra hours to catch up and I didn’t mind that because I like to keep busy.”

Oyebanjo was also quick to thank his employers for their understanding over the last two seasons, especially during those magical nine days in 2012 when he was preparing for important examinations on and off the pitch.

“The club were really supportive whenever I needed a day off and that got pretty crazy sometimes, especially during the two Wembley finals,” he recalled.

“I had an exam on the Thursday before the FA Trophy final so did not train until the day before and then scored a goal in the game.

“I had another exam the following week and, then, after winning the play-off final on the Sunday, I had an exam the following day so, while all the lads went out partying, I went straight to the library because I had exams early the next morning. Looking back, I suppose the exams might have helped me deal with both occasions.

“I’ve never really thought about it like that because I thrived on the chance to play at Wembley and didn’t feel nervous but the fact that I had my exams to think about, at the same time, meant I looked forward to the football even more because I knew, when I was getting in from training, I would be burying my head in the books.”

For now, however, Oyebanjo intends to do all his studying of angles and percentages on the football pitch.

At 23, he is not really contemplating a life outside of the game but, on possible career paths, he added: “Maybe I could go into accountancy or investment banking but I haven’t given it too much thought because I still think I’ve got a good few years left in the game yet.

“Maths was always my favourite lesson and, as a subject, it keeps a lot of doors open, so the degree will give me options and it’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it but not have it.”

With his 2:1, Oyebanjo has also trumped former City team-mate Clarke Carlisle who, despite being widely regarded as the country’s most intelligent footballer, has yet to finish his sports writing and broadcasting media degree.

Laughing at suggestions that he is now a valid challenger to Carlisle’s ‘Britain’s brainiest’ crown, Oyebanjo said: “Clarke was a top lad when he was here.

“He likes to throw a lot of big intellectual words around but I will stick to numbers and let him concentrate on Countdown and Question Time!”

 

Skipper hits the front in defence of Press award

THE reigning Press Player of the Year Chris Smith has jumped to the top of this season’s standings.

Smith leapt above Lanre Oyebanjo in the competition after being awarded two points as our second-highest rated player during last weekend’s 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers.

The other points went to our man-of-the-match Ryan Jarvis (three) and third-highest rated player Dan Parslow (one).

Parslow also picked up the bonus two points on offer to The Press Player of the Month contest having polled the most man-of-the-match votes from visitors to our website.

To be in with a chance of presenting the August Player of the Month with a framed photograph before a City home game, vote for your man of the match from today’s game at Exeter by visiting www.yorkpress.co.uk or tweet your choice to @daveflettpress The Press Player of the Year latest standings: Smith 7 points, Oyebanjo 6, McGurk 5, Chambers 4, Clay 3, Jarvis 3, Davies 1, Parslow 1.

The Press Player of the Month standings: Oyebanjo 9, Chambers 7, Smith 7, McGurk 5, Clay 3, Jarvis 3, Parslow 3, Davies 2, Fyfield 1.

Goals: Jarvis 3.

Assists: Bowman 1, Cresswell 1, Smith 1.

Bad boys: Smith two yellow cards; Bowman one red; Chambers one yellow, Clay one yellow, Coulson one yellow, Cresswell one yellow, Montrose one yellow, Oyebanjo one yellow, Platt one yellow.

 

Nigel’s double act

YORK City boss Nigel Worthington will be East Riding Minstermen’s guest speaker at Pocklington Town Football Club on Thursday, September 12.

The evening will start at 7.30pm with members and non-members of the supporters’ group all welcome.

East Riding Minstermen also have four spaces left on their minibus for the trip to Newport County on Saturday, October 19.

Pick-up points will be at the Black Bull on Hull Road in York, Pocklington Bus Station, Selby (if required) and Goole’s Airmyn Road Tennis Courts.

The cost is £30 for members and £35 for non-members and anybody interested in reserving a place should phone John Uttley on 07805 226342.

Meanwhile, Worthington will also be a guest speaker at Harrogate Conservative Club on Monday night.

The event has been organised by Harrogate Minstermen and will start at 7pm.