Freddie Ladapo: Huddersfield's New Striker Hungry for Fifth Promotion in Six Seasons
Freddie Ladapo reflects on his non-league roots and hopes to play a role in his fifth promotion in six seasons with Huddersfield Town. His journey through League One and Championship football has shaped his prolific goal-scoring career.
Image Credits: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Huddersfield Town new boy Freddie Ladapo is hoping to play a part in a fifth promotion in six seasons – but credits his spell in non-league for equipping him with the mentality that turned him into the prolific EFL goal scorer he has become.
From Non-League to EFL Prolificacy
Ladapo has reached double figures in League One for Plymouth, Rotherham and Ipswich Town since 2018/19, playing a part in two promotions for the Millers and Ipswich’s rapid march up to the Premier League.
But his non-league days are still at the back of his mind, with Ladapo saying: “Even now, it feels like a long time ago, but I still remember it like it was yesterday.
“I scored my first and only hat-trick in non-league. I really got to grips with men’s football. I got to see how five, four, three points matter, and players who would work a side job as well as playing football,” he told SportsBoom.com.
It opens your eyes to the bigger picture, and then when you are blessed to then become a professional, you want to grasp it and enjoy every little bit of it.
Freddie Ladapo
Making a Name at Plymouth and Rotherham
Premier League Crystal Palace came calling to sign Ladapo from Margate in 2016, but he made just one top-flight appearance for the club and spent a season out on loan before leaving to join third-tier Southend United.
But it was at Plymouth that Ladapo really made a name for himself as a League One hotshot, scoring 18 goals for a side who ended the season relegated and attracting the attention of newly relegated Rotherham.
Ladapo said: “In terms of being in the EFL, that was my first start of showing what I can do and embracing the challenge that was in front of me.”
“I scored a lot of goals and earned a good move out of it, and that's when that move helped me to even then see promotions and see what achievements then looks like, which was good.”
Ladapo’s continued form helped Rotherham get promoted twice in three seasons before he joined a newly ambitious Ipswich Town in 2022/23. He immediately repeated the trick with them, scoring 17 goals in their League One promotion campaign.
But the striker found opportunities in the Championship limited and left on loan for Charlton in the second half of last season, before being granted his release on transfer deadline day after Kieran McKenna led the Tractor Boys straight into the Premier League.
New Chapter with Huddersfield
Now back in the third tier again with Huddersfield, Ladapo has no hard feelings whatsoever about his departure from Ipswich, saying: “I think we were definitely both in agreement that was the next step for me, even though I tried very hard to stay and play some games that I did very well in in pre-season.”
“I worked hard every single day and the manager McKenna) was happy to see me off in the form that I was in.”
“He's a positive manager as well, and he helped me a lot to get back up to fitness and get back up to speed and I'm hoping I can bring that here.”
“I was lucky enough to be invited to the last game of last season, and so I got a chance to be there.”
“You know, I walked on the pitch, and I celebrated with everyone, everyone congratulated me as well for the part that I played in the season.”
“So as difficult as it was, I've accepted it, and it's in the past now for me. I'm happy with the send-off that I received, and I'm happy to embrace this new challenge.”
That's what the players even back at Ipswich said to me: ‘go well and go and get another promotion, you’re at a fantastic club.
Freddie Ladapo
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.