What better way to begin a new feature looking at family ties within The Football League than to look at the extraordinary Sodje family. Since big brother Efetobore took his first steps in league football with Macclesfield Town in 1997 the Sodje surname has been a familiar one on teamsheets up and down the country.

Efe, as he has become more commonly known, had already started to make a name for himself for three seasons prior to joining the Silkmen after breaking into the then Stevenage Borough first-team whilst studying for a degree in business finance. Having starting out at Broadhall Way, the central defender has gone on to represent Macclesfield, Luton Town, Colchester United, Crewe Alexandra, Huddersfield Town, Yeovil Town, Southend United, Gillingham and his current club Bury.

The 38-year-old now has well over 500 career appearances under his belt, including nine caps for Nigeria who he represented in 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan - appearing against England in the group stages - and last year he played his part in the Shakers promotion to npower League 1 - the eighth promotion of a 14-year professional career.

Younger brothers Akpo and Sam have followed the Bury defender into the professional game in England and, as Efe told football-league.co.uk, this is a big family bursting with sporting prowess:

"Although I am the eldest in terms of the footballers I am actually sixth oldest in our family. There are ten of us: seven brothers and three sisters.

"I was born in England but in 1981 our parents decided that it was important for us to know where we come from, which is the Delta State in Nigeria. We went back and I grew up over there before we all came back to live in London. Given that we were a sporting family you would think our father wanted us to all become footballers but that is far from the case really. He was a good player himself and was always encouraging us in everything that we did, but back then African families all wanted their sons to join a 'respectable' profession. You were supposed to become lawyers or engineers and have 'proper jobs' - football wasn't seen that way.

"But we grew up playing sport and my older brother Bright played rugby for Blackheath, Hull KR and Sheffield Eagles and we all looked up to him and what he did. Rugby was never really a game I wanted to play, I preferred football and fortunately I got my chance at Stevenage and have always felt very privileged to be playing the game professionally."

31-year-old striker Akpo is currently with Hibernian, having started out at Queens Park Rangers and has represented 12 teams during his career while Notts County defender Sam, a year his senior, has played for 10. Having played for so many clubs between them during their respective careers in England it may be a surprise to learn that meetings on the football field have been few and far between.

"I have played against Akpo, and against Sam three times and have always said the same thing. When we play each other we only see the tops, not who is inside them and you can forget brotherly love until the final whistle.

"I think the fact that I played in The Football League gave the others someone to look up to, although I doubt they would admit to that. Our other brother Steve is also a good player and  our cousin Onome has been at Barnsley so we are a real football family. My family is important to me, as is my bandanna, which is always in the team colours. I play in that for my mother so my family is always close to me when I play."

Efe is the first to admit he is now in the twilight years of his career but looks back with real pride at what he has achieved, not just for the Sodje name but for his homeland. After a career that has brought him so much it is now time to put something back, as he explains:

"I am very grateful to the game. I didn't play a game wearing boots until I was 18 or 19 because nobody did in Nigeria, so I appreciate what the game has given me. I reckon I could still play barefoot but I'm never going to get permission am I?

"Because of my roots I am very involved in 'Boots for Africa' and every year we send about 5,000 pairs of boots out to the kids free of charge. Football is huge out there and it is great to be asked to help. As the oldest in the family I know I can't play forever but working with the charity might be something I go in to, and I have my UEFA B license so might stay in the game. Who knows?

"I am very proud of my family and what my brothers have done in football. Three of us have played for Nigeria. Not bad considering we were supposed to become a family of lawyers!"

Just for Family Football Fun
Can you name the one team that all three brothers have played for? If so let us know on twitter @football_league. Mark your guess #FamilyFootball.

The Family Football Festival
The Football League launched a 47 match Family Football Festival at the end of September to encourage families to attend a fun-filled npower Football League game this Autumn.

Click here for more information