The 2024/25 season was undoubtedly a tough one for Bristol Rovers, but it proved to be a season of progress and an opportunity for 17-year-old Ollie Dewsbury.
Straight off the back of completing his GCSEs, the young forward joined the Gas' first-team squad for pre-season before coming off the bench in Rovers' fixture against Tottenham Hotspur U21s in the Vertu Trophy.
Dewsbury was then loaned out to Yate Town and Taunton Town to gain experience at the senior level. However, after impressive performances caught the attention of everyone at the Club, the Wales youth international was recalled to the Gas and made six appearances in Sky Bet League One, making his first start for Rovers in the final fixture of the season against Blackpool.
It was a challenging campaign for the Pirates, who will be starting next season in League Two. Dewsbury admitted it was a difficult season for the Club but admitted it was 'brilliant' for his development.
“First and foremost, it was very difficult,” he said. “That’s the main thing. I was just focusing on helping the team as much as I could, but in terms of my development, it was brilliant.
“Especially to start on the last game of the season. I really enjoyed that. I thought I did alright. I really enjoyed it, but I’m just looking at areas to improve now.”
He later added: “I learned lots, to be fair. Even training with the first team is brilliant, and then playing in the games, you just learn so much. I would say even my time in non-league really helped. Just getting exposure to football, really. It was brilliant.”
Upon his return to Rovers from his loan at Southern League Premier South outfit Taunton, Dewsbury was immediately included in the Gas' squad to face Huddersfield Town at The Memorial Stadium.
With the Pirates leading thanks to Ruel Sotiriou's strike, Dewsbury came on with a matter of minutes left to play for his league debut to help his team claim a victory. Not only was it a proud moment for Dewsbury personally but also for the Rovers Academy, with graduates Jed Ward, Kofi Shaw and Scott Sinclair on the pitch at the same time.
Dewsbury was pleased to help his team earn a win over a Terriers side pushing for a place in the playoffs and believes the Academy players making an impact proves there is a pathway at the Club for youngsters coming through.
“It was brilliant,” said Dewsbury. “Especially for my league debut, it was really good, and we topped it off with a win, so I couldn’t really ask for much more.
“It just shows that there is a pathway here, and if you work hard, you can make things happen.
“I’ve got good friends in the academy now, and I’m just trying to reflect on my time and show it’s 100 per cent doable and there’s things that you can work for.”
A season of personal development for Dewsbury concluded with his first start for the Gas away to Blackpool. Joining Rovers’ Academy at age seven, it was a moment the forward had been working towards for about a decade.
“I only knew on the morning of the game,” he reflected. “I knew I was in the squad and travelled to Blackpool, but to know that I was starting was very good. I was really excited, and especially on the last game of the season that far away with all the fans that turned up, it was brilliant.”
Soon after the end of the 2024/25 season, Rovers announced the return of Darrell Clarke as Head Coach, with the 47-year-old back at the Club after guiding the Gas to back-to-back promotions between 2014-18.
Coming through the ranks when Clarke was first at the Club, Dewsbury cannot wait to get going once again.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I was obviously in the Academy when he was here last time. So, it will be brilliant to meet up with him and get working straight away.
“All the memories in the Thatchers End watching, and now, hopefully, we can do it on the pitch and get back to where we belong.
“It should motivate us players. There’s something there that we can aim for and strive for promotion. So, I’m really excited. “I just want to get back on the pitch straight away and keep improving.”
