Ollie Shield interview: Proving people wrong, his footballing twin and the power of adaptability | OneFootball

Ollie Shield, last season’s Under-18s Player of the Year, reflects on his first season with Brentford B and having to be adaptable when making the step up.

The 18-year-old full-back has had to bide his time to take opportunities in a season characterised by learning and patience.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult, I’d say different. There’s a process in everything and the club have a pathway for me and what that pathway looks like is down to them," Shield begins.

“Overall it’s been an enjoyable season but a different one because I’ve had to learn the skill of being patient and taking my opportunity when it comes.

“At some points I’ve done and that and others I haven’t. It’s a learning curve and I’m learning from every opportunity I get whether that’s first team, B team or under-18s."

Shield joined the club as a forward after being let go at Southampton, but has found a new position at right-back with Brentford.

“It wasn’t a difficult conversation," he says. "Isaac [Holland] was eligible to play in the FA Youth cup last year coming down from the B team and played at right wing.

"Lydia Bedford [former U18s head coach] last season said we think you’d be a good asset at right-back, with good energy going forward and communication and leadership and I’ve really slotted in well there. There’s still a lot to learn but overall I’ve really enjoyed developing there."

After an incredibly successful individual season with the U18s last year, Shield is enjoying the challenge of competition for spots in the B team who are still in contention to win three trophies.

“I’ve enjoyed working with both Neil [MacFarlane] and Sam [Saunders]," Shield continues.

"They’ve got a really good dynamic to the age group. The games programme really helps and together they work hard with me individually to give me the tools I need to progress.

“That one-on-one perspective is brilliant but also the team dynamic really helps with how we win."

One of those competitions is the London Senior Cup, where the young defender registered two assists in the 3-2 semi-final win over Barking.

"Barking was really tough," he admits. "It was a great challenge. All of the lads, whether it was the 18s that stepped up or the more experienced B-team boys. As a whole team we did a good job and used the more experienced ones and the energy of the young ones to really battle hard.

"I got two assists which was a good confidence builder and now we have the final coming up and we’ll need to dig deep again to get the result that I think we rightly deserve."

Shield is just one example of the pathway that Brentford’s Academy is providing for young players to push for places in the B team and beyond.

"It’s a brand new academy so we’ve all been through it together," he says.

"It’s always a nice moment when you see your friends make their mark, like Emeka [Peters] who got two goals at Barking - I was in with digs with him last year. Otis [Honor] and Isaiah [Powis] have done really well too.

"With everyone coming up it shows what a good group and set-up we have. Neil and Sam put their trust in young players and me especially having already been with them for a year.

"It shows that there’s a pathway for the young ones and if you take your opportunity you can grab it with two hands."

Shield can also learn from a unique experience in the footballing world; his twin Harry (also a full-back) plays for Plymouth Argyle after the pair grew up together at Southampton’s Academy: "We were at Southampton for 10 years together and then took our different paths. It was always going to happen and it was difficult at the start but we’re both doing what we love and he’s doing really well there.

"He was the travelling man under Wayne Rooney in the first team. We learn from each other, we’re both full-backs and we give each other as much encouragement and support as we can.

"It can be a hard world being a footballer but we support each other and we have our family that helps support us and we’re always there for each other."

Shield then reflects on being released by the Saints and the determination it has given him to forge his own path.

"I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason," he concludes.

"They were of the opinion that I wasn’t good enough for the pathway, but football is a game of opinion.

"I want to go out and prove them wrong. I’m not the finished article yet, there are still more people to prove wrong."