Former Lincoln City forward Derek Asamoah is looking for his next club at 45 after announcing his departure from Whitstable Town.
The Keith Alexander-era Imp joined Whitstable in the summer following a spell at Sittingbourne, but his stay with the Isthmian League South East Division side has proved brief. He confirmed his exit on November 8, making clear that retirement is still some way off his thoughts.
Writing on social media, in a post reported by the News & Star, Asamoah thanked supporters and outlined his determination to carry on. There was no suggestion of a player preparing to call time on a career that has taken him around the world.
“My time at the club was short and sweet, really appreciated the love and support from the fans.
“As always, I gave 110% every time I stepped onto the pitch.
“I’m more motivated and hungrier than ever, and excited for what comes next!”
Asamoah remains a familiar name from Alexander’s final two seasons at Sincil Bank. He arrived from Mansfield Town in 2005 and possessed extraordinary pace, although turning that speed into a consistent end product proved considerably more difficult.
His City record amounted to 43 appearances in all competitions, including 35 league outings, with just two goals. Both came at home, in a 2-1 victory over Oxford United and a 3-1 win against Chester City, the latter giving his future loan employers a close look at what he could offer.
That Chester move from Sincil Bank is a remarkable moment in his career: it remains the only loan spell Asamoah has had. Usually, when a player is in the twenties in terms of clubs, it includes loans, but not our Derek. Of all the clubs he has represented, his sole temporary transfer came while he was contracted to Lincoln, and it produced eight goals in 17 league appearances.
That was four times his entire Lincoln goal return, achieved in fewer than half as many appearances. It was an understandably frustrating contrast for us, having watched a player whose pace so often promised more than the final touch delivered. It was no surprise Asamoah left City in 2006, with Alexander’s farewell neatly capturing both his appeal and the frustration surrounding his time here. It was a warm assessment, but one that acknowledged the missing ingredient.
“I’m sorry to see him go as he’s been a good servant to the club, albeit at times you want more of an end product. He’s a crowd pleaser and a likeable lad and I wish him all the best.”
Lincoln was still a relatively early stop in a career that had already included Barking, Asante Kotoko, Hampton & Richmond Borough, Slough Town, Northampton Town and Mansfield. After leaving us, he scored ten league goals for Shrewsbury Town before joining French side Nice in 2007. He never made a first-team appearance in France, but subsequent moves took him to Hamilton Academical in Scotland, Lokomotiv Sofia in Bulgaria, and South Korean clubs Pohang Steelers and Daegu. Along the way, he also won four caps for Ghana, scoring once.
His return to English football brought a spell at Carlisle United between 2014 and 2017, including an equaliser against Liverpool at Anfield in a League Cup tie in September 2015. Carlisle drew 1-1 before losing on penalties, with Asamoah scoring in front of the Kop. Guiseley followed, before a lengthy non-league chapter featuring Haringey Borough, Cheshunt, New Salamis and Brightlingsea Regent. He returned to both New Salamis and Haringey before moving on to Sittingbourne and, eventually, Whitstable.
For all the frustration over his goal return at Sincil Bank, Asamoah has squeezed an extraordinary amount out of his career. More than 20 years after first pulling on a Lincoln shirt, he is still looking for another defence to run at.
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