The Bishop's Cleeve and Hartpury forward chasing professional dream

If Ethan Dunbar does not make the grade in professional football, it will not be for a lack of dedication to his craft.

The Bishop’s Cleeve forward admits he is obsessive about the sport and says he will leave no stone unturned as he bids to climb up the divisions. Born in Southampton, Dunbar moved to Gloucestershire as a youngster and started out in football with Hardwicke Rangers and Churchdown Panthers.

He showed early promise during his school days at St Peter’s and joined Slimbridge at the age of 16 after a successful trial, impressing for their Under-18s under boss Adam Coyle while studying at Hartpury College. Dunbar went on from the bench for the Swans first team in a Southern League Cup tie against Yate Town and scored with his first touch about two minutes later, but Covid hit and everything was put on pause.

“We reached a national final at Hartpury and it was due to be played at Southampton, which would have meant a lot to me as a boyhood Saints fan,” Dunbar says. “But it was called off the day before because of a Covid outbreak on our campus. It was one of my lowest points so far.”

Dunbar became a regular first team squad member at Slimbridge at the age of 16, during Lee Driver-Dickerson’s time as manager at Thornhill Park, regularly going on from the bench in the Southern League. After making some appearances in the County League for Frampton United, he then opted to spend the 2021/22 season at Longlevens in the Hellenic Premier Division to further build his senior experience.

“Michael Palmer was great and promised me game time,” he says. “I played about 40 games, which was massive for me at the age of 18.” He played on the right of a front three, with the prolific Brad Martin down the middle and Rudi McKinnon on the left. “We were a lethal front line!” Dunbar says.

“We had a good run in the FA Cup and drew Gloucester City away in the second qualifying round. There was a crowd of about 2,000 so the ground felt pretty full and I’ll never forget the roar when Cam Williams scored for us. I played a part in the goal and although we ended up losing 3-1, it was an incredible experience.”

Dunbar scored 19 times for Longlevens, helping them achieve their highest ever finish, but his campaign was cut short by a ligament injury away to Cribbs FC in March. With the help of the medical team at Hartpury, he had made a quick and full recovery ahead of pre-season 2022, returning to establish himself as a first team regular at Slimbridge under Tom Speers and Tom Deakin’s management.

Dunbar formed an effective partnership up front with Will Hawes and ended up scoring 17 times in his first full season of Southern League football. While it was successful for him personally, Slimbridge suffered the drop after eight years at step four level. “Slimbridge is such a great, family club and I had that emotional connection there, having come up through the Under-18s,” he says. “I remember Lymington away when we were officially relegated and it was an emotional one and tough to take.”

Dunbar’s performances had clubs queuing to sign him last summer, with as many as 10 managers wanting to hold talks, but Paul Collicutt’s Bishop’s Cleeve stood out. “Colly had put in seven days for me halfway through the previous season, but I wanted to stay and try to keep Slimbridge up,” Dunbar says. “He phoned me at 7am on the Sunday after the last game and told me he still wanted to sign me. I liked the vibe of what he said. I also know Ross Langworthy well and I chatted to him. I ended up choosing Cleeve and I am very happy that I did.”

Dunbar enjoyed an impressive first season at Kayte Lane, scoring 17 times and providing 15 assists. He typically operated in a front three alongside Langworthy and Jay Malshanskyj, with attacking midfielder Toby Holland in support. Former Swindon Town professional Holland has left to join Swindon Supermarine this summer and while Dunbar had interest from higher level clubs, he has opted to remain with the Mitres, who play Cheltenham at home on Friday night (7.45pm).

“There is a bit of pressure at Cleeve because of the ambition, but I like that and it’s what attracted me in the first place,” he says. “I did have interest, but I want to stay and try to do even better for Cleeve this season. We just missed out on the play-offs, but it was small margins and play-offs has to be the aim for this season as a minimum, because we deserve that chance to go into the Premier Division.”

Dunbar chalked up more than 100 senior appearances before turning 21, which he believes will help him continue his upward trajectory. “I am only 5ft 4in, but I am used to being kicked up in the air by big defenders and I am constantly working to get stronger and faster,” he says.

Dunbar has a nutritionist, he does not touch alcohol and has been regularly visiting Cleeve’s home ground during the close season to put extra training hours in, either on his own, or with one or two teammates. “I am going to have a real go over the next few years and see how far I can go," he says. "If I don’t make it, at least nobody will be able to say I didn’t give it everything. Both my parents were in the Army and I think it’s why I am so regimented in everything I do. I don’t cut corners and I’ll do anything to give me an edge, or a few extra per cent with my football.”

Dunbar helped Hartpury University win the BUCS National Football Championship with a win over Chichester in the final at Loughborough in March. He has one year of studying for a degree in sports coaching, which means he will effectively be training full-time there under Chris Knowles, along with his Cleeve commitments.

He also represents England at university level, having been called up after a trial at St George’s Park along with Hartpury colleague James Sunley, a midfielder from Jersey who spent an extended period on trial at Cheltenham Town during Michael Duff’s time as manager.

“I have a genuine ambition of making it as a pro, so I will keep working and chipping away, waiting for the opportunity to come and I also have an ambition of playing abroad,” Dunbar says. “I will have my degree behind me as a back-up, but I am aiming for the EFL. Hartpury is such a great environment and there are photos up of all the players who have made it like Scott Wilson, David Accam and Abdul Waris; it just inspires me to do the same.

"With the England Universities squad, we’ve played at Wycombe Wanderers, Gateshead and also trained at Burnley, when we were watched by Vincent Kompany after he’d finished his session with the first team. All these experiences make me even more determined.”