Trials, goals, and a call from Geoff Warner – Ollie Harris’ road to Binfield stardom

Ollie Harris celebrates his goal for Binfield. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com
Ollie Harris celebrates his goal for Binfield. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

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Binfield will be hoping to make it three away wins in a row in the Buildbase FA Vase when they travel to Norfolk to face Fakenham Town on Saturday (12.30 pm ko).

The Moles have already won at Newhaven – 4-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw – and at Deal, coming from behind to triumph 4-1 in magnificent fashion last Saturday.

So they are certainly looking forward to another long coach excursion this weekend.

“Yes, we will be going there in a confident mood,” said Ollie Harris, who set up the equaliser before bagging two goals against the Kent club. “We have a very good group at the club and there is a great spirit.”

Ollie Harris nets for Binfield in the FA Vase. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com
Ollie Harris nets for Binfield in the FA Vase. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

Harris considered his side showed “great resilience” after a slow start and falling behind in the seventh minute.
He continued: “We rode our luck a bit in the first 10 minutes when they (Deal) were on top, but we grew into it and controlled the rest of the game.”

The 22-year-old forward capped a tremendous individual and team performance with a brilliant goal from outside the area as the tie went into stoppage time, one of the best he has ever scored.

“It was certainly up with the ‘worldie’ volley I scored for Beaconsfield in the FA Youth Cup. It came at a time when I was doing the scholarship programme at the FAB Academy.” he stated.

His soccer career had started with the Reading FC Academy at Hogwood Park before switching to Wycombe Wanderers.

He then fell out of love with the game for a year as “I was not really enjoying my football”.

“At Bristol Rovers, I scored a goal in a game we lost but they told me they wouldn’t sign me because I was too small”

But he returned with Woodley Saints for a couple of seasons before spending three seasons with the FAB Academy based at Bisham.

He had trials with Football League clubs but “sadly nothing worked out for me which was frustrating.”
Harris recalled: “At Bristol Rovers, I scored a goal in a game we lost but they told me they wouldn’t sign me because I was too small.

The Binfield players congratulate each other. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com
The Binfield players congratulate each other – Ollie Harris is second from the left. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

“At Reading, I played an in-house game and scored two goals with each foot, but was told I didn’t show enough skills, I think I didn’t do a step-over or something like that.

“I went up to Blackburn Rovers and scored a goal along with an assist and also Notts County, where I scored again, but both said I was too small and not strong enough at the time.

“I then went to Flackwell Heath for half a season as they have close links with the FAB Academy and then had a time at Burnham, scoring 26 goals in 24 games before finishing the season with Basingstoke.

“I did a camp called A23 (Academy) run by Ashley Smith pre-season and coaches came down to watch us. Uxbridge liked me and so I went there and had a good pre-season, but was mainly on the bench and so I went back to Burnham.

“I played for 20 minutes in a cup tie against Binfield and after the game, Dodsy (Jamie McClurg) came over to me and said ‘well played, you looked one of their best players’.

“During the lockdown Geoff (Warner) at Binfield gave me a call and I spoke to them and it has proved a good move for me.”

Geoff Warner at Binfield FC. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com
Geoff Warner at Binfield FC. Photo: Neil Graham / ngsportsphotography.com

Harris, who is a sports coach at schools, is hoping he and the Moles will continue their fine run this Saturday and take another step on the long and winding road towards Wembley.

Fakenham play at the second level of the Thurlow Nunn League in Division One North and were the leaders when the season was suspended with nine wins and two draws from 11 games.

If Binfield win at Fakenham, they will be away yet again, going to either Combined Counties League Premier Division leaders Sutton Common Rovers or Hadley, who play in the Essex Senior League.

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Tuesday 19th March 2024

Binfield19:45Sutton Common Rovers
Hillingdon Borough19:45Windsor
Holmer Green Dev19:45Prestwood
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