20 Facts About Al Bangura

Alhassan "Al" Bangura was born on 24 January 1988 and is a Sierra Leonean former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Al Bangura played for the Sierra Leone national team and is notable for having been the victim of human trafficking when he was a teenager and the subject of a deportation case in the United Kingdom in 2007.

Al Bangura was born and brought up in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and his father was the head of the Poro Secret Society, however he died when Alhassan was a young child.

Al Bangura refused to do so, and instead fled to Guinea aged just 15 years-old, saying later, "I didn't like it at all so I fled to Guinea".

Al Bangura made a total of 20 appearances, 16 of which were in the Premier League as Watford finished bottom of the table in 20th place and were relegated back to the Championship.

Al Bangura made a total of six appearances for Brighton.

On 1 July 2011, Al Bangura signed for Forest Green Rovers on a two-year contract, linking up with his former youth coach at Watford, Dave Hockaday, who was then manager at Forest Green.

Al Bangura picked up a knee injury later in the month whilst training and was required to undergo surgery which led to him missing the start of Rovers season.

Al Bangura then suffered another knee injury which led to him having a second operation in just four months to correct it.

On 6 December 2012, Al Bangura extended his contract with Forest Green for a further two years, keeping him at the club until June 2015.

Al Bangura impressed new Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray to the extent that he was rewarded with a short-term deal to join the club until the end of the season.

Al Bangura took time away from football after leaving Coventry City, however he returned to playing in January 2016.

In January 2016, Al Bangura signed for National League South side St Albans City.

Al Bangura was called up to the Sierra Leone squad by national manager Ahmed Kanu in October 2008.

In early 2007 Al Bangura was cleared to stay in the UK.

In November 2007, Al Bangura appeared before an Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, with Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd speaking on his behalf.

On 11 December 2007 he lost his case to stay in the UK, despite Al Bangura fearing a return to his homeland, where he could be under threat from the Soko tribe, formerly led by his late father.

On 15 December 2007, Watford fans staged a half-time protest during the club's game against Plymouth Argyle, holding up posters on which Al Bangura's face appeared under the words "He's family", with Argyle fans in the 18,000 crowd joining in the protest.

Four days later the Home Office announced that Al Bangura would be allowed to remain in the UK while he applied for a work permit, a process that would take place in parallel with his appeal against deportation back to Sierra Leone.

Al Bangura won his appeal to stay in the UK after being awarded a work permit by a six-strong Government panel on 14 January 2008.