Ollie Kensdale

Ollie Kensdale
Personal information
Full name Oliver James Kensdale[1]
Date of birth (2000-04-20) 20 April 2000[2]
Place of birth Colchester, England
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3]
Positions
Team information
Current team
Boreham Wood
Number 25
Youth career
2008–2017 Colchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Colchester United 3 (0)
2017 → Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 4 (0)
2018 → Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 3 (0)
2018 → Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 6 (2)
2019 → Bath City (loan) 5 (0)
2020 → Braintree Town (loan) 2 (0)
2021 Concord Rangers 14 (0)
2021–2024 Southend United 103 (2)
2024–2025 Eastbourne Borough 32 (0)
2025–2026 Barnet 6 (0)
2026– Boreham Wood 0 (0)
International career
2024 England C 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:10, 9 January 2026 (UTC)

Oliver James Kensdale, born 20 April 2000, is an English footballer. He plays as a centre-back or central midfielder for Boreham Wood.

Career

Born in Colchester,[2] Kensdale joined the Development Centre at hometown club Colchester United at age seven. He enrolled in the club's Academy two years later. A former pupil at Colchester's St Benedict's Catholic College,[4] he signed on as a scholar at the club in July 2016.[5][6]

Kensdale joined Isthmian League, North Division side Maldon & Tiptree for his first game.[4] He made his club debut on 30 September 2017 in the Jammers' 4–2 win against Tilbury.[7] He made four league appearances and two appearances in the FA Trophy for the club. He played a three more games for the club on loan in March 2018.[8]

At the end of his scholarship, Kensdale was offered a professional contract with Colchester in May 2018.[9]

Kensdale rejoined Maldon & Tiptree in a third loan spell early in the 2018–19 season.[10] He scored his first goal in senior football in his final appearance for the Jammers, a 3–2 win at Dereham Town on 10 November 2018, scoring twice.[11]

On 13 November 2018, Kensdale made his first-team debut in Colchester's EFL Trophy game against Cambridge United.[12] He then started in Colchester's League Two 1–1 draw with Exeter City at the Colchester Community Stadium on 24 November 2018.[13]

After becoming the first Colchester United player born after 2000, Kensdale signed his first professional contract on 24 December 2018, committing until summer 2021.[14]

On 11 October 2019, Kensdale joined National League South side Bath City in a month-long loan deal.[15] He made his debut on 12 October 2019 in Bath's 1–1 home draw with Maidstone United.[3]

In October 2020, Kensdale joined National League South side Braintree Town, where he made his debut in their 1–0 defeat at Chippenham Town.[16]

Colchester announced that Kensdale was one of seven under-23 players who had their contract terminated by mutual consent on 1 February 2021.[17]

On 14 February 2021, Kensdale joined National League South side Concord Rangers.[18]

On 31 December 2021, Kensdale joined National League side Southend United for an undisclosed fee.[19]

On 20 September 2024, it was announced that Southend United had terminated Kensdale's contract with no further comments to be made. He scored twice in 110 appearances for the Shrimpers.[20]

On 2 November 2024, Kensdale joined National League South side Eastbourne Borough, making 35 appearances as they made the division's playoffs.[21]

On 23 May 2025, Kensdale agreed to join newly promoted League Two side Barnet on a two-year deal.[22]

On 9 January 2026, Kensdale signed for National League side Boreham Wood.[23]

Style of play

Kensdale operates as either a centre-back or central midfielder. Prior to his scholarship, he refined himself into a commanding centre-back and as a leader of the defensive line.[5]

Career statistics

As of 9 January 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Colchester United 2017–18[24] League Two 0000000000
2018–19[25] League Two 2000001[a]030
2019–20[26] League Two 1000001[a]020
2020–21[27] League Two 0000001[a]010
Total 3000003060
Maldon & Tiptree (loan) 2017–18[8] Isthmian League North Division 7000–2[b]090
2018–19[10] Isthmian League North Division 6210–0072
Total 13210–20162
Bath City (loan) 2019–20[3] National League South 5000–0050
Braintree Town (loan) 2020–21[3] National League South 2000–0020
Concord Rangers 2020–21[3] National League South 1000–0010
2021–22[3] National League South 13020–00150
Total 140200000160
Southend United 2021–22[3] National League 15000–1[b]0160
2022–23[3] National League 45110–3[b]0491
2023–24[3] National League 40110–1[b]0421
2024–25[3] National League 3000–0030
Total 10322000501102
Eastbourne Borough 2024–25[3] National League South 32000–3[c]0350
Barnet 2025–26[28] League Two 6000103[a]0100
Career total 178450101601994
  1. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in FA Trophy
  3. ↑ One appearance in National League South play-offs, two appearances in FA Trophy

Honours

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Notification of shirt numbers: Colchester United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 18. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Colchester United". FootballSquads. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "O. Kensdale". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  4. 1 2 Hudson, Matt (1 October 2017). "Kensdale Goes To Maldon". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 Hudson, Matt (10 May 2016). "New Scholars Confirmed". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "List of Players Registered as Scholars in Accordance with Rule C.3 Between 01/07/2016 and 31/07/2016" (PDF). The Football Association. 31 July 2017. p. 8. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  7. ↑ Garwood, Dave (30 September 2017). "Injury hit Jammers respond in style with a good win". Maldon & Tiptree FC. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Oliver Kensdale". Maldon & Tiptree FC. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Gregory, David (24 May 2018). "Young Trio Offered Contracts". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Oliver Kensdale". Maldon & Tiptree FC. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Garwood, Dave (10 November 2018). "Jammers defenders turn goal scorers to secure three points". Maldon & Tiptree FC. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  12. ↑ "Cambridge United v Colchester United". Sky Sports. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  13. ↑ "Colchester United 1–1 Exeter City". BBC Sport. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  14. ↑ "Colchester United: Ollie Kensdale signs first professional deal". BBC Sport. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  15. ↑ Gregory, David (11 October 2019). "Ollie Heads Out On Loan". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  16. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (11 October 2020). "Colchester United's Ollie Kensdale joins Braintree on loan". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Gregory, David (2 February 2021). "Departures For Young U's". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "Ollie Kensdale joins". Concord Rangers FC. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  19. ↑ "Blues Sign Ollie Kensdale". Southend United FC. 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  20. ↑ "Club Statement: Ollie Kensdale". Southend United FC. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  21. ↑ "Ex Southend United defender Ollie Kensdale joins new club". Southend Echo. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
  22. ↑ "DEFENDER OLLIE KENSDALE JOINS THE BEES". barnetfc.com. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  23. ↑ Borehamwood (9 January 2026). "Welcome, Ollie Kensdale!". Boreham Wood Football Club Official Website. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  24. ↑ "Games played by Ollie Kensdale in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  25. ↑ "Games played by Ollie Kensdale in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  26. ↑ "Games played by Ollie Kensdale in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  27. ↑ "Games played by Ollie Kensdale in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  28. ↑ "Games played by Ollie Kensdale in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  29. ↑ Elliott, Sam (23 May 2025). "National League South Team Of The Season Announced". Vanarama National League. Retrieved 23 May 2025.