21-year-old Phillip Olla was scouted by Braintree Town and invited for a trial with the Conference Premier club earlier this month...

Phillip, who plays primarily on the wing but can operate behind the striker, was one of more than 100 players who attended our trial in West London in August, and one of the four who were selected by the Braintree scout on the day.

Talking us through his journey from UK Football Trials to Braintree Town, Phillip said: “I found the company on instagram actually.

“I was sat at home just on my phone and saw this advert about UK Football Trials that said swipe up for more details, so I thought ‘you know what, I’ll give it a try.”

Less than a month later, Phillip was on trial was for a team playing Conference Premier football and a step closer to making it as a professional footballer.

“I went to the UK Football Trials event and about a week later I got an email from the Braintree scout inviting me in for training,” Phillip revealed.

“Four of us went down from UK Football Trials and joined in with the reserves.”

He continued: “We did a few rondos, a couple of laps and some agility to get started and then we moved in to some possession work with three teams working on the same small grid.

“Finally we played a bigger match with a few restrictions in effect, so it was a good training session and a good eye opener for me to see what the standard is like at that level.

“I felt comfortable with it to be honest and the other players made us feel welcome when we arrived.”

Phillip was originally born in the UK but moved to the USA aged 10 where he began playing for the Red Bulls Development Academy in New Jersey.

Last season Phillip’s football career took him to Seltiga FC in the Spanish third division, where he found himself playing in front of crowds of more than 1,000 fans.

“I got some game time on the field but not as much as I would have liked,” revealed Phillip.

“But I learnt a lot in my time there playing with ex-pros. I learned new ways of training and new ways of playing, but I moved back home to England after struggling with the language barrier and lifestyle over there.”

“So when I came home I attended the UK Football Trials and it was very good, very professional. The coaches know what they’re talking about and it gives you an opportunity to show what you can do – they tell you what you need to work on in order to become a professional.”

UK Football Trials Director Harry Price said "Well done to Phillip on gaining a trial opportunity at Braintree Town. At 21 years old it is not easy to get scouted at that level and for the reserves team manager to scout him from our trial event was a reflection of the great attitudue and hard work Phililip showed at our UK Football Trials day. We wish Phillip all the best with his opportunity."