Q&A with Rochdale AFC's Ethan Brierley

Style caught up with Rochdale midfielder, Ethan Brierley, who made his professional debut for the club on 5 September, aged just 16-years-old, in what was a proud moment for the talented youngster and his family who are lifelong Dale fans.

The Oulder Hill Community School pupil is another one of the club's rising stars, stepping out for the first team, after progressing through the academy ranks.

Where did you first start out playing football?

I was around five or six years old when I started playing for my local team, Roach Dynamos, who are based in Heywood. From there, I went for trials at a couple of teams – Blackburn and Manchester City, and then Rochdale came along. It was a no brainer to come to Rochdale. It was local and it seemed like a better option because I enjoyed it more. I was seven when I joined the Rochdale Academy; I remember going to my first session just after my seventh birthday.

You’ve been a Rochdale fan since the age of three - how did it feel to step out for the first team?

It was an unbelievable feeling. It was like a dream come true because I have supported this team for so long and had been coming week in, week out, following the team both home and away. To be around the lads and to have the opportunity to get out on the pitch with them is great. It’s everything I’ve wished for since I was so young.

How have you found being around more experienced players in the first team squad?

All the lads have been great with me and I’m enjoying learning new things day-by-day, from Brian and all the other coaches. The older players have given me tips on what to do. If I do something wrong, then they’ll tell me how to do it better. They won’t shout, they’ll just tell me what it is I need to do to improve and get better, which is great. They’ve had the experience of being on the same path that I’m on now, so they help out a lot. It can only help my development.

What has been your most memorable moment so far, as a Dale player?

The most memorable one is when I came on for a few minutes to make my professional debut, against Huddersfield Town in Round One of the Carabao Cup at The John Smith’s Stadium, when we won 1-0 earlier this season.

It was quite a tight game so I didn’t think I’d be able to get on. I thought the Manager might bring on a more experienced player to try and see the game out, but when I got my name called to come on, the only way of describing it was like I was in a rush. I was in a rush to come on - I was buzzing!

What has been the most memorable game you've attended, as a Dale fan?

It has got to be when we played Tottenham Hotspur at home in the fifth round of the FA Cup. I’ll never forget when Steven Davies scored that last-minute goal to send us to Wembley. All the fans thought the game was over after Tottenham had scored late on, so when he scored it was unreal - everyone was going mad. I was right behind the net in the Sandy Lane so I had a great view of the goal as it went in.

Who is your footballing idol?

I would have to say Kevin De Bruyne. I watch a lot of football and watch a lot of what of he does. He sees passes that no-one else sees and I think everything he does is very good. It’s a step higher than everyone else he’s playing against.

I watch most games, even if Championship games are on the TV midweek, me and my Dad will watch them. I’m always watching players who are playing in my position to try and get tips off them and to see what they’re doing, to try and help me progress as a player and to make me better.

Many players have progressed through the Academy ranks and into the first team and beyond in recent years. Does the likes of Daniel Adshead, Jamie Allen, Callum Camps, Luke Matheson and Aaron Morley provide great inspiration for you?

It’s great to see them all doing so well. It has been brilliant to see Luke Matheson being called up to the England U19 squad.

I aspire to be like them. They’ve come through on the exact same path as I have. They started out just like me and hopefully one day, if keep on progressing as a footballer, I can be like them and the younger players coming through after me can then include me in that.

What was lockdown like for you?

At first I thought it was ok, but after a couple of weeks I got very bored, so I was glad that I had a fitness schedule to complete to keep me busy. All the players got sent an individual plan by Kevin Gibbins, Dale’s Head of Football Science and Performance, so I ended up out running most days. It was really enjoyable because I was happy at getting out for an hour every day and it gave me something to look forward to.

What has it been like playing without a crowd?

From a fans’ perspective, I don’t know how I would have coped if I had been unable to come to games - I would have been very bored without it. Watching football is what I looked forward to most every week. Every Monday, I always looked forward to the next Saturday and going to watch Rochdale, so it would have been tough without it. I definitely would have paid to watch every single game on iFollow!

From a player’s point of view, it’s a bit weird, especially when you’re warming up and there’s no-one inside the ground. You miss the fans’ support and I know that we all can’t wait for supporters to be able to return to the Crown Oil Arena when it’s safe to do so.

Do you have any advice for young footballers in Rochdale who aspire to reach the first team?

Even if you’re going through a tough patch or not getting picked to play, just keep going and keep on trying your best. Always try your best and do all the non-negotiables and do everything your coaches tell you to do. But most of all, enjoy what you’re doing and you’ll get a lot out of it.