The teenager made his first-team debut for Stanley last season. This season Ogle has made five first-team appearances to date and been a regular on the bench, despite his tender years.

It has been a steady rise for the fullback who swapped the NSW coastal suburb of Thirroul for the north of England in 2010 at the age of 11.

"I had a friend that was over here and he said it would be to good idea to see where you’re at in football compared to the English kids," Ogle explained to FourFourTwo.

"He said come over and have a trial, and I did with Preston, Wigan and Accrington. And Acrrington said straight away we like you, we want to sign you pretty much after the first training session. So we made the decision to move over.

"From day one I really enjoyed my football and went, it got to the serious point where it was any decision to go for full-time football, even before I moved here. This is my dream, go to the main land where football is everything. So I thought why not?"

 


After he and his family recloated to the UK, Ogle has worked his way up through the youth team into manager John Coleman's first-team calucations.

"I started off in Under-11s and Under-12s, had two years in the youth team and then in my second year I was youth team captain, that was a good experience," he said.

"Then I got a two-year professional contract at the end of it. It’s a good club to be at for development. It’s a real eye-opener, especially when I first started. They’ve given me a chance and I feel like I’ve taken it. I just have to keep impressing on a weekly basis."

A fullback who can play on the left or right, Ogle's first chance in League Two came against Luton Town in April.

"I was still a second-year scholar in the youth team," he said.

"I was fortunate enough to train with them a fair bit in the season, get on the bench a few times. Get on the bench against Bradford in the FA Cup, that was a great experience. I got my league debut in the last game of the season, last season, against Luton. It was good for me.

"I was nervous the first time I was involved with the team, because everything was new to me. But I think I fit in with the team so much the players made me feel welcome. I did have a few nerves going on to the pitch against bigger lads, stronger lads, they were a lot more physical.

"I was only 18 and I wasn’t the biggest. But it set me up with all the other training I’d had with the team so I thought when I ran on the pitch I’m not out of place. So I went out and did what I had to do.

"This season I’ve been on the bench on a regular basis. I managed to get on a few times, the gaffer said a few nice words to me after the game. I feel I’ve done a good job when I’ve come on and I don’t feel out of place at all."

Accrington Stanley are riding high in League Two, currently sitting in fifth place and only eight points behind league leaders Luton.

The club is gunning for promotion and a step up to League One after recording six losses in its first 21 games, but with a game in hand.

"From day one pre-season the gaffer said with the team we’ve got here we can push for automatic promotion," Ogle said.

"All the boys have got that in their head. We’ve had a great start to the season. It’s a great position to be in come Christmas."

 


For Ogle, one day representing Australia and playing in the Premier League remain his goals. But for now he is gaining invaluable experience and helping Stanley try and snare promotion up England's football pyramid.

"There’s no doubt it," he said.

"Every young Aussie kid dreams of putting on the green and gold. It’s no different with me. It’s one of the big things I really want to do. I’ve always had that in the back of my mind.

"I really want to push for a higher league, whether that’s with Accrington or whether they feel they can sell me on. I’ll happily go and just work as hard as I can to get up the leagues and hopefully one day put on the green and gold and play in the Premier League."

Image: Lancashire Telegraph.