Mike Fondop

Mike Fondop

Personal information
Full name	Karl Mike Fondop Talom [1]
Date of birth	(1993-11-27) 27 November 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth	Yaoundé, Cameroon [2]
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [2]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Oldham Athletic
Number	20
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2015	Stanway Rovers	29	(10)
2015–2016	Billericay Town	24	(10)
2016–2017	Oxford City	23	(7)
2017–2018	Guiseley	19	(3)
2018	→ F.C. Halifax Town (loan)	12	(4)
2018–2019	Wrexham	21	(5)
2019	→ Maidenhead United (loan)	11	(1)
2019–2020	Chesterfield	29	(10)
2020–2021	Aldershot Town	4	(0)
2021	Burton Albion	17	(2)
2021–2022	Hartlepool United	8	(0)
2022–	Oldham Athletic	67	(22)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:04, 20 April 2024 (UTC)

Karl Mike Fondop Talom (born 27 November 1993) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for National League side Oldham Athletic.

Early and personal life

Fondop moved from Cameroon to England in 2013, to study for a degree in actuarial sciences at the University of Essex, graduating with a first-class degree in 2017. ^[3]

Career

Fondop began his career with Eastern Counties League side Stanway Rovers, ^[4] having played on trial at Whitehawk in July 2014. ^[5] The following season, he went on trial with the under-21 team at Billericay Town before being given a chance in the first team, where he scored eight goals in his first six games. ^[6] Fondop left Billericay in May 2016 having agreed a deal to join Margate, for which he was criticised by manager Craig Edwards as he left the club the day before a cup final. The move fell through after Margate declined to pay compensation to Billericay. ^{[7] [8]} Fondop joined Oxford City for the 2016–17 season. After a trial with Cheltenham Town the following summer, he joined Guiseley for the 2017–18 season. ^[7] He joined FC Halifax Town on loan in February 2018, and scored four goals in twelve games to help the Shaymen avoid relegation. ^[9] In July 2018, he joined Wrexham on a two-year deal. ^[10] Fondop was labelled a "cult hero" after five goals in his first nine games, ^[11] but he did not add to that tally in the league and was allowed to join Maidenhead United on loan in February 2019. ^[12] In August, he left the Welsh club by mutual consent and signed for Chesterfield. ^[13] Fondop finished the curtailed 2019–20 season as the Spireites' top scorer with eleven goals in all competitions, but left the club at the end of the season to "keep his options open" according to manager John Pemberton, before joining Aldershot Town in November 2020 on a short-term deal. ^[14]

After this deal expired, he signed for Burton Albion in February 2021 on a contract until the end of the season. ^[15] He made his English Football League debut on 20 February as a substitute in a 0–3 defeat at home to Sunderland. ^[16] In his second Burton appearance and his first start, he scored his first goal for them in a 2-1 win at Charlton Athletic on 23 February 2021. ^[17] On 12 May 2021 it was announced that he would be one of 12 players leaving Burton at the end of the season. ^[18]

Fondop signed for Hartlepool United on 16 September 2021. ^{[19] [20]} He left at the end of his contract on 17 January 2022, ^[21] and signed for Oldham Athletic on 31 January. ^{[22] [23]}

Career statistics

As of 20 April 2024

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Stanway Rovers	2014–15 [24]	ECFL Premier Division	29	10	0	0	–		3	2	32	12
Billericay Town	2015–16 [25]	Isthmian League Premier Division	24	10	0	0	–		0	0	24	10
Oxford City	2016–17 [25]	National League South	23	7	2	2	–		2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	27	9
Guiseley	2017–18 [2]	National League	19	3	4	2	–		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	24	5
FC Halifax Town (loan)	2017–18 [2]	National League	12	4	0	0	–		0	0	12	4
Wrexham	2018–19 [2]	National League	21	5	4	0	–		1 [lower-alpha 2]	1	26	6
Maidenhead United (loan)	2018–19 [2]	National League	11	1	0	0	–		0	0	11	1
Chesterfield	2019–20 [2]	National League	29	10	1	1	–		1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	31	11
Aldershot Town	2020–21 [2]	National League	4	0	0	0	–		1 [lower-alpha 2]	1	5	1
Burton Albion	2020–21 [2]	League One	17	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	17	2
Hartlepool United	2021–22 [2]	League Two	8	0	2	0	0	0	3	0	13	0
Oldham Athletic	2021–22 [2]	League Two	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
	2022–23 [2]	National League	35	11	3	2	0	0	2	0	40	13
	2023–24 [2]	National League	30	9	1	0	0	0	1	1	32	10
	Total		67	22	4	2	0	0	3	1	74	25
Career total			264	74	17	7	0	0	15	5	296	86

1. One appearance in FA Trophy, one appearances in Oxfordshire Senior Cup
2. Appearances in the FA Trophy

References

1. https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/agents/intermediaries/intermediary-transactions---1-february-2018-to-31-january-2019.ashx?la=en ^{[ bare URL PDF ]}
2. "England - M. Fondop-Talum - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
3. Aled Williams (6 September 2018). "Mike Fondop: Hard work paying off for Wrexham striker". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
4. Meijer, Lars (20 November 2019). "Interview Mike Fondop-Talom" . Retrieved 30 March 2021.
5. "TOWN GO DOWN TO PENALTY – Whitstable Town FC". www.whitstabletownfc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
6. "Fondop wants to follow in the footsteps of Rowan Liburd". Echo. 27 November 2015.
7. "Guiseley Bring In Fondop-Talom". 3 October 2017.
8. "Edwards labels Fondop's move to Margate on eve of Under-21 final as "despicable"". Echo. 11 May 2016.
9. "Mike Fondop-Talom" . Retrieved 30 March 2021.
10. "Striker Fondop-Talom joins Wrexham". BBC Sport.
11. "Hard work paying off for Wrexham's Fondop". BBC Sport.
12. "Wrexham AFC striker Mike Fondop joins Maidenhead United on loan". The Leader. 14 February 2019.
13. "Mike Fondop didn't want to leave Wrexham AFC but the striker is enjoying life at Chesterfield". The Leader. 18 October 2019.
14. "Former Chesterfield striker Mike Fondop signs for National League rivals". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk.
15. "BREWERS SIGN STRIKER MIKE FONDOP UNTIL THE END OF THE SEASON". www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk.
16. "Burton Albion 0–3 Sunderland". BBC Sport.
17. "Charlton 1-2 Burton". BBC Sport. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
18. "12 PLAYERS TO LEAVE BURTON ALBION AT END OF THEIR CONTRACTS". www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk.
19. "Pools Sign Mike Fondop". www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk.
20. "Hartlepool sign forwards Cook & Fondop". BBC Sport.
21. "Mike Fondop Leaves Pools". www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk.
22. "Target Man Signs For Latics". www.oldhamathletic.co.uk.
23. "Oldham sign Hartlepool forward Fondop". BBC Sport.
24. "Stats for a player: Karl Fondop-Talom". FA Fulltime. Retrieved 21 February 2021. Select season via dropdown menu.
25. "Mike Fondop Profile | Aylesbury United FC". www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk.