Suleyman Zuhdu

**Last statistical update: 15:59, 16 September 2023 (UTC)**

**Suleyman Frederick Zuhdu** is a footballer who played for **Hashtag United** (men).

## Career

### Pre-HTU

Ryan
Zuhdu was with Ryan in the Essex Olympian League - Senior Division Two in the latter portion of 2011–12. He would appear twice versus Upminster and Old Southendian.

Ryan (return)
After missing 2012–13, Zuhdu made 1 appearance for Essex Olympian League - Senior Division Two team Ryan in 2013–14 as a substitute in a 19 October 2013 Senior Division Cup road success at A1 Sports.

Frenford
Zuhdu joined Frenford in 2014–15, coming off the bench once for their senior squad as he predominantly participated for their under-21 team - amassing 15 goals in 17 matches.

Manford Way
Zuhdu headed off to Manford Way on 18 July 2015. He featured in August versus Harold Hill and Bishop's Stortford Swifts, prior to notching his 1st goal in a 12 September win on the road to Buckhurst Hill. The forward scored thrice in November against Bishop's Stortford Swifts, Newham United and Newbury Forest, which preceded goals across the latter part of the season in encounters with Harold Hill, White Ensign and Springfield. Zuhdu got those 7 goals across 25 appearances in 2015–16, which would be a match tally that he would repeat in 2016–17 - though this time netting 17 goals. In 2016, the forward converted thrice in a 5–1 away victory at Buckhurst Hill - which was surrounded by 1 goal in matches with Hannakins Farm, Harold Hill and Rayleigh Town.

Zuhdu completed 2015–16 with strikes against Harold Wood Athletic (brace), Leigh Ramblers, Harold Hill, Canning Town, Bishop's Stortford Swifts, Buckhurst Hill, Canning Town (brace) and Hannakins Farm (brace).

Grays Athletic
Prior to the 2017–18 campaign, Isthmian League - North Division club Grays Athletic acquired the services of Zuhdu. He debuted in an away triumph at Tilbury, which preceded the forward notching goals against Redbridge (FA Cup preliminary round on 19 August 2017) and Barking (league on 9 September) - notably receiving a red card in 1 of the 2 intermediate matches on 6 September at home to Hertford Town in an FA Cup 1st qualifying round replay. His last showing came on 1 November versus Cray Wanderers in the FA Trophy 1st qualifying round.

Manford Way (return)
After spending the initial chunk of 2017–18 with Grays Athletic, Zuhdu switched back to Manford Way around November 2017. 12 appearances came his way throughout the rest of the season, but the forward failed to find the back of the net in that time - though was sent off in an 18 April 2018 match-up with Bishop's Stortford Swifts at home.

Buckhurst Hill
Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Zuhdu signed with Essex Olympian League - Premier Division outfit Buckhurst Hill. 14 goals arrived in his 1st season with *The Stags*, as he netted sole goals over Sungate (away and home) and Harold Wood Athletic, braces against Canning Town, ex-club Manford Way (league and cup) and Rayleigh Town alongside a hat-trick over Canning Town. 2019–20 (curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic) would see him net 1 less after hitting the back of the net 13 times, as he added doubles versus Basildon Town and Rayleigh Town (cup) and a treble over Harold Wood Athletic amongst 1 goal in matches with Rayleigh Town (away and home), Kelvedon Hatch, Hutton, Shenfield and Cuffley.

2020–21 would also be pandemic affected, though the forward managed to increase his previous season tallies as he converted 20 times from 14 appearances - only failing to score in 3 matches. He got the campaign underway with an opening day hat-trick versus Kelvedon Hatch on 5 September 2020, which came prior to 4 goals in his following 4 games against Bishop's Stortford Swifts, Leigh Ramblers, Rayleigh Town and Catholic United. On 17 October, Zuhdu hit 5 during an 8–3 thrashing of Springfield. After that, single strikes past Canning Town, Harold Wood Athletic and Springfield were superseded by braces over Hutton and Basildon Town. *The Stags* finished the campaign with promotion, as he himself concluded with a goal in an 8 May 2021 victory against Canning Town.

In the subsequent Thurlow Nunn League - Division One South, Zuhdu had a remarkable campaign as he notched 37 goals from 41 appearances. He and they went scoreless in his 1st appearance of the season on 31 July 2021 against Harwich & Parkeston, though the forward struck back with 9 goals in 5 fixtures in August as a solo goal over Wormley Rovers was followed by consecutive doubles past Halstead Town, Wivenhoe Town, Park View and Burnham Ramblers. Across the rest of 2021, Zudu scored further versus Harwich & Parkeston, Great Yarmouth Town (brace), Gorleston, Newbury Forest (hat-trick) and Cornard United (brace). 2022 would begin in January with a double over Wormley Rovers and a treble past Holland.

In February and March, Zuhdu notched doubles past May & Baker, Haverhill Borough, AFC Sudbury Reserves, Coggeshall United and, as a substitute, Newbury Forest. The forward added goals in April against May & Baker (double), Wivenhoe Town and Halstead Town as *The Stags* secured a 2nd straight promotion. Zuhdu's goalscoring exploits continued in the Essex Senior League as he claimed 10 goals in 17 games, initially striking versus Stansted (twice across an FA Cup tie that required a replay) and Waltham Abbey as August switched to September in late-2022. He would depart the club at the end of November, having gotten the rest of his goals in encounters with Sawbridgeworth Town, Clapton, Enfield, Stansted (league), Lakenheath, Athletic Newham and Clapton.

Brightlingsea Regent
Zuhdu completed a move to Isthmian League - Premier Division side Brightlingsea Regent on 25 November 2022. A day later, the forward made it a goalscoring debut by converting in a 1–1 away draw at Herne Bay. He subsequently scored a brace at home to Bishop's Stortford on 2 January 2023, which fell in-between sole goals versus Billericay Town (on 26 December) and [Margate (on 7 January). His on-fire start led to him signing a contract with *The R's* on 11 January following "a lot of interest from other clubs". Zuhdu continued his form with 2 goals in his next 2 matches with Hastings United and Folkestone Invicta. 1 goal (vs. Herne Bay on 11 February) in his subsequent 7 games followed, a streak that also saw him sent off in an encounter with Aveley (on 25 March).

Zuhdu's time with Brightlingsea Regent came to a close to end 2022–23, as the forward notched April strikes past Wingate & Finchley, Corinthian-Casuals (brace) and Horsham. However, his 12 goals in 17 total matches couldn't stop *The R's* suffering relegation to the Isthmian League - North Division.

### HTU

2023–24
On 4 July 2023, HTU of the Isthmian League - Premier Division announced the signing of Zuhdu. He noted that he had rejected offers from elsewhere in favour of a move to *The Tags*, stating: "because I really like the manager, and I’ve watched a few of your games. You’re a quality team with quality players, and I’m looking forward to getting started". He scored on his unofficial debut for Jay Devereux's team, netting in a pre-season friendly on the day of his arrival away at Barking as HTU won 3–1 at the Lawtech Stadium. He followed that up with goals versus AFC Sudbury on 8 July and Farnham Town on 15 July. Zuhdu's final goal of the exhibition phase arrived in a 5 August encounter at Heybridge Swifts. After a tally of 4 goals in 10 overall matches, the club announced on 4 September that the forward had "decided to leave".

### Post-HTU

Buckhurst Hill (return)
Zuhdu rejoined Buckhurst Hill of the Essex Senior League on 9 September 2023. He scored a 91st minute winner later that day as they won 1–0 at home to White Ensign.

## Style Of Play

Though primarily a centre-forward, Zuhdu is capable of playing elsewhere along the frontline as well as in midfield - having played in the latter position earlier in his career.

## HTU Statistics

Breakdown

'*Other Cups' includes competitions like the FA Trophy, the FA Vase and friendly tournaments. See also: HTUwiki:DataIssues.*

Appearances (10)
Barking  v  Hashtag United

AFC Sudbury  v  Hashtag United

Hashtag United  v  Redbridge

Farnham Town  v  Hashtag United

Enfield  v  Hashtag United

Walton & Hersham  v  Hashtag United

Heybridge Swifts  v  Hashtag United

Hashtag United  v  Dulwich Hamlet

Hashtag United  v  Folkestone Invicta

Hornchurch  v  Hashtag United

Goals (4)
Barking  v  Hashtag United

AFC Sudbury  v  Hashtag United

Farnham Town  v  Hashtag United

Heybridge Swifts  v  Hashtag United

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Suleyman Frederick Zuhdu player stats" .
2. ↑ "@SuleyZuhdu happy 18th birthday suley!!!! Lyyyy xxxxxx" , 12 October 2012.
3. ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 "Suleyman Frederick Zuhdu player stats" .
4. ↑ "Manford Way are pleased to announce the signings of Fope Coker, Suley Zuhdu & Tyler Shaw. For more details" , 18 July 2015.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Grays Athletic - Appearances - Suley Zuhdu - 2017-2018" .
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Suleyman Frederick Zuhdu player stats" .
7. ↑ "𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴!✍️ We are delighted to announce the signing of forward Suleyman Zuhdu! Suleyman joins us from @BHFC\_1st , where he scored 41 goals in 41 games last season! Welcome to Regent Suleyman!🔴⚫️" , 25 November 2022.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 "Brightlingsea Regent - Appearances - Suleyman Zuhdu - 2022-2023" .
9. ↑ "SULEY SIGNS DEAL WITH REGENT!" , 11 January 2023.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "SULEYMAN ZUHDU SIGNS!" , 4 July 2023.
11. ↑ "SULEY LEAVES" , 4 September 2023.
12. ↑ "HE’S BACK!" , 9 September 2023.
13. ↑ "WHO LEFT, WHO SIGNED AND WHY? Hashtag United 23/24 Squad Update" , 10 August 2023.