David Ogbonna is set to embark on the most difficult challenge of his career yet, having made the jump up to the National League with a move to Sutton this summer.
Looking to navigate the National League for the first time, the young winger will get the opportunity to experience Step One for the first time, having spent his footballing journey so far towards the lower echelons of the football pyramid, and but has shown his talent combined with dedication to reach the level he now has.
After arriving at Gander Green Lane for the first time, Ogbonna received a tour from Head Coach Steve Morison and greeted Director of Football Terry Bullivant, before sitting down with SUFCtv for a chat.
“It feels great to be here, I was buzzing to get the call” Ogbonna said, “I know that Sutton came in last season and I felt that I wasn’t ready, but now I feel it’s time to make the jump here, and be here going forward.”
The 23-year old began his career at Hendon, but quickly made the move to Hertford where he became a key part of the Blues’ frontline, and offered a real goalscoring threat from the flanks during a four-year stint in Hertfordshire, with 31 goals across his latter two years being a testament to the danger he possesses.
“I started off when I at Hendon, I signed for them when I was 17, and they gave me experience of First Team football” he added, “then I moved to Hertford Town where I had a good few seasons. I then got my move to Slough and now here.”
“I would say I’m a dynamic winger. I can play on the left and the right. Very tricky, fast, like to move my man, get crosses in. I mainly look up to Raheem Sterling, he’s a good winger when he was at Man City, and Ousmane Dembélé as well, he’s very good with both feet.”
“I like scoring from both sides, I think one of my trademark goals from the left wing is cutting in and shooting into the top corner. On the right side I try to switch it up, get in more crosses and shooting with my left as well, so I can do a bit of both.”
Having secured a move to the National League South in 2023, Ogbonna had taken the next step in a path destined to end at the top, and his talent was rewarded when he was named Young Player of the Season by his manager at Slough Town following the conclusion of his first campaign at Arbour Park.
“It felt great [to win the award], I felt that in my first season at Slough I was a fans’ favourite and I’d have people on the edge of their seats at times. I just like the ball, running at players.”
“My time at Slough was good, it was great, you can see the different levels, the different styles of play and you start to understand the different levels that is given to you, you’ve got to adapt to certain situations in different games’
Looking ahead though, the forward maintained that he is ready to make the step up to the National League, having previously come close to joining Sutton earlier than he has. He will also benefit from a familiar face, having become the second Slough player to arrive at Gander Green Lane this summer.
“100% I back myself, you’ve got to back yourself. I feel that I’m ready for the step up.”
“I’ve known Edon [Pruti] for a bit now, we used to do some sessions back in our area because we live close to each other. Yeah, we’re good mates so it’ll help for sure.”
