Sunderland academy graduate Ollie Bainbridge has impressed during a season-long loan spell with National League North neighbours South Shields.
Sunderland wing-back Ollie Bainbridge has put aside any thoughts of his future and has placed his complete focus on helping loan club South Shields claim promotion into the National League this season.
The Academy of Light graduate has spent the vast majority of the season on loan with the Mariners and is playing a key role in their bid for the National League North title. Bainbridge produced another eye-catching display as Ian Watson’s men claimed an impressive 4-1 home win against Macclesfield on Tuesday night to move back to the top of the table and they lead title rivals AFC Fylde on goal difference ahead of their penultimate game of the season when Bedford Town visit the 1st Cloud Arena on Saturday.
That is all a far cry from the second half of last season when Bainbridge returned from an underwhelming loan spell with Scottish club Kilmarnock and saw out the campaign within the Black Cats Under-21s side. The same can be said of South Shields, who ended last season in the bottom eight of the National League North table after failing to win any of their last nine games in a campaign that ended with a North East derby defeat against Spennymoor Town and a 4-1 away loss at Marine. Yet for club and player, harmony, progression and promise has been found and personal and team success is now very much on the agenda ahead of the final ten days of a season that can provide a launchpad for an exciting future.
Bainbridge is out of contract this summer and Mariners boss Watson has hinted he would be keen to add the 22-year-old to his squad on a permanent basis - although EFL and Scottish clubs are believed to have been monitoring his progress throughout the season. As it stands, the South Tyneside-born wing-back will see his time with the Black Cats come to a close at the end of the season - but Bainbridge has insisted he is not even considering where the next step in his career will be taken as he looks to put a memorable end of a fine loan spell with South Shields.
He told The Echo: “I’m not too sure what comes next and I haven’t really thought about anything yet to be honest with you. All I’m focused on is getting over the line this season and getting promoted. We will see what happens. We just want it over the line. We are all just focused on Saturday, it’s our last one at home, and that has to be our focus, nothing else.”
Trust
Oliver Bainbridge playing for Sunderland U21s.placeholder image
Oliver Bainbridge playing for Sunderland U21s. | Photo: Chris Fryatt
Sunderland academy staff have been represented at the 1st Cloud Arena on a regular basis throughout the season as they have taken personal checks on Bainbridge’s development during his season-long loan stint with the Mariners. The wing-back revealed the relationship between his temporary employers and his parent club is one based on trust and gave an insight into the feedback he receives from the Black Cats.
“It’s obviously only ten minutes down the road so people have been here watching me,” he explained. “Sunderland get all of my videos too so they get to see everything and I get feedback as and when they feel it’s needed. They are quite happy with me and they really trust South Shields as well.”
Dark arts
Sunderland youngster Oli Bainbridge has enjoyed a promising start to his loan spell at National League North neighbours South Shields (photo Kevin Wilson)placeholder image
Sunderland youngster Oli Bainbridge has enjoyed a promising start to his loan spell at National League North neighbours South Shields (photo Kevin Wilson) | Kevin Wilson
Bainbridge’s development has been fast-tracked during his time with South Shields after being handed a big responsibility within Ian Watson’s side. With a possession-based style of play that relies heavily on wing-backs providing additional attacking threat, Bainbridge and former Hartlepool United star Dan Dodds have become integral to the Mariners progress throughout the season.
The duo have produced a combined nine goals and seven assists in National League North fixtures and have also helped the Mariners showcase the other side of their game as they head into the final two fixtures of the season with comfortably the best defensive record in the division. As it stands, Watson’s men have conceded just 41 goals in 44 league games and although there is a strong emphasis on going forward, both Bainbridge and Dodds have showcased their unquestionable ability as defenders.
Bainbridge has insisted he was right to accept a loan move into the second tier of non-league football when other players ‘might turn their nose up at the league’ and believes he has benefitted from the dark arts and physicality that are regular features of National League North fixtures.
When asked about the importance of wing-backs within the Mariners system, he said: “I enjoy it, it’s slightly different (playing as a wing-back) but I enjoy having the responsibility of getting forward. There is plenty of running but I don’t mind that at all. Sometimes you can get caught between defending and attacking and you have to pick and choose your moments when you do get forwards but I have learnt to do that. I am getting forward and helping out at the top end of the pitch but the priority is always to be solid defensively. I’ve learnt from this loan. Some players might turn their nose up at this league but it’s been unbelievable for me. The dark arts, the physical side of the game, the big lads you’re up against, I needed to come up against that in my game and it’s helped my development.”
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