Tariq Ahmed Issa (born 2 September 1997) is a footballer who plays as a forward for Needham Market.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tariq Ahmed Issa[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1997-09-02) 2 September 1997 (age 24)[2] | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Needham Market | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Trinity | |||
| 2009–2016 | Colchester United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2020 | Colchester United | 2 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | → Needham Market (loan) | 13 | (3) |
| 2019 | → Maldon & Tiptree (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2021 | Needham Market | 0 | (0) |
| 2021– | Coggeshall Town | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:35, 16 February 2020 (UTC) | |||
Issa joined Colchester United's Academy at the age of 12 from Trinity Football Club based in Southend-on-Sea. He made his professional debut for the club in 2016. In August 2018, he joined Needham Market on loan. He also had a loan spell at Maldon & Tiptree in 2019. He was released by Colchester in July 2020. Issa rejoined Needham on a permanent basis in 2021.
Forward Issa joined the Colchester United Academy at the age of 12 from Trinity Football Club in Southend-on-Sea. He broke into Colchester's under-18 side while still an under-16 player,[4] and was the first Colchester Academy player to come through the educational system associated with Thurstable School in Tiptree.[5] He and teammate Cameron James signed four-year contracts with the club in July 2015,[6] before agreeing a new four-year deal in July 2016.[7]
Issa made his first-team debut in the EFL Trophy on 4 October 2016, replacing Dion Sembie-Ferris at half-time in Colchester's 2–1 defeat to Southampton U23.[8] He made his English Football League debut on 19 August 2017 as a substitute for Drey Wright in Colchester's 3–0 defeat against Luton Town.[9]
On 30 August 2018, Issa signed for Southern League Premier Division Central side Needham Market on loan until January 2019.[10][11] He made his debut on 1 September as a half-time substitute in Needham's 3–0 defeat at Alvechurch.[12]
In August and September 2019, Issa made seven appearances on loan for Isthmian League North Division side Maldon & Tiptree.[13] However, in October 2019 it was reported he had suffered a knee injury that would require surgery.[14]
Issa was one of 16 players to be released by Colchester United in summer 2020.[15]
In July 2021, Issa signed for Needham Market on a permanent basis.[16]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Colchester United | 2016–17[17] | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017–18[18] | League Two | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[19] | League Two | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[20] | League Two | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Needham Market (loan) | 2018–19[21] | SL Premier Division Central | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | 3[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| Maldon & Tiptree (loan) | 2019–20[13] | Isthmian League North Division | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 1[lower-alpha 5] | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Career total | 19 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 29 | 3 | ||