OLLIE Kensdale says he had always dreamed of playing for Colchester United – after cheering them on at Layer Road as a boy.

The 18-year-old defender made his senior bow for the U’s when he started their Checkatrade Trophy clash at Cambridge United, on Tuesday night.

Kensdale, who has been at Colchester’s academy since the age of ten, watched the likes of Greg Halford as a U’s fan growing up.

Now he is wearing the club’s blue and white himself after becoming the club’s latest youth-team player to make his senior debut for John McGreal’s side.

Kensdale: “It’s a massive achievement and it’s a great feeling of pride.

“It’s a great feeling for me and my family.

“I dreamt about it before, coming in as a young boy from the academy and wondering if I’d ever do it.

“My dad is from Colchester and he’s brought me up supporting the club.

“I’ve supported the club since I was a boy and went and saw them for years.

“I went with my dad to watch Colchester from the age of 11 onwards and I remember going to see them at Layer Road.

“The first player I remember watching was Greg Halford who I thought was really good and more recently, it’s the likes of Frankie Kent and Cameron James who have risen up through the academy.

“At this club, you know what you’re getting.

“To be a League Two club and Cat Two academy, it’s a great stepping stone and the gaffer gives you chances if you’re good enough – it’s just whether you take it or not.”

Kensdale became the first player born this century to represent the U’s first team, after starting at Cambridge.

He said: “I didn’t expect that but it’s another milestone for me.”

Kensdale, who has recently been on loan at Bostik League North side Maldon and Tiptree, played for an hour of Colchester’s defeat at Cambridge.

The U’s bowed out of the Checkatrade Trophy after losing 3-1 at the Abbey Stadium, in their final Group B clash.

Kensdale added: “Any game is hard at this level and we were playing a League Two team.

“It was a good game to show what I could do.

“The manager told me to just play my own game and I feel like I did that.

“I didn’t feel too nervous and just got my first pass away.

“It was good to get that first start to show what I can do and hopefully, the manager was impressed.

“It was a great feeling to make my debut.

“I’ve obviously been involved a little bit this season.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling coming away with the loss but a great feeling for myself and I hope it’s the first of many.”