Former Lincoln City Academy Player Makes First Start For League One Side

Former Lincoln City Academy midfielder Denny Oliver made his first senior start for League One Sheffield Wednesday in their 4-0 EFL Trophy defeat to Accrington Stanley at Hillsborough.

The 19-year-old played the full game on Wednesday night, with Dave Challinor changing all 11 starters from the FA Cup defeat at Oldham Athletic for his first home match in charge. Oliver had the Owls’ first sight of goal inside ten minutes, sending a free kick from around 30 yards just over the bar. He went close again in the second half when James Rogerson tipped his long-range effort over.

Accrington took control shortly before the break, with Josh Smith and Charlie Brown scoring three minutes apart. Charlie Warren and Charlie Caton added the late goals that sent the League Two side to the top of the group. The Owls had already qualified, but the defeat means they will travel in the last 32.

Oliver had made his senior debut as a half-time substitute in October’s 2-0 win over Sunderland Under-21s in the same competition. He signed professional terms at Hillsborough in the summer of 2025 after coming through our academy. Wednesday took up the option to extend his contract by a year in May, before he had made a first-team appearance for the club.

The Owls recently announced a month-long loan to Pontefract Collieries following spells at Brighouse Town and Bridlington Town.

There’s still a Lincoln connection for the family, with younger brothers Lewy Oliver and Kenzie Oliver both part of the Imps’ academy set-up. All three joined at the age of eight and were City season ticket holders with their parents. Lewy went on to captain the under-18s at the start of last season, while Kenzie signed a pre-scholarship agreement in January 2025.

The three brothers were in the same matchday squad when City reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup in 2024/25, equalling the club’s best run. Denny and Lewy both started that tie away at Plymouth Argyle, and Denny had already made his mark in the competition with a late winner at Bolton Wanderers.