Felix Lyon: My journey from grassroots football to Brentford Academy

“I was definitely surprised the level was as high as it was and I definitely wasn’t up to the task at that time, but it was a benchmark for me, so I could see where I needed to be and where I wanted to be over the next year.”

“I was definitely surprised the level was as high as it was and I definitely wasn’t up to the task at that time, but it was a benchmark for me, so I could see where I needed to be and where I wanted to be over the next year'

As he returned to the U16s for that season, Lyon had clear messaging from both the U18s coaches and his head coach, Andrew Ottley.

“The message was just to keep working as hard as I can and not taking any of the training for granted,” said Lyon.

“It was a big period for me of just working hard every single session to help secure the scholarship.”

His scholarship offer came at the end of that season, linking up with Gary McDermott’s U18s. It’s a privilege that Lyon doesn’t take lightly.

“It was very important for me to not take it for granted because I think I was in a position where either getting one or not getting one, I wasn’t sure,” he said.

“When I was given it, it kind of showed me that the club saw what I could be, saw the potential, which really made me try to work harder.”

Lyon has kicked on with the young Bees through the 2025/26 campaign, his season highlights the pre-season tour to Porto and starting in the FA Youth Cup third round against Chelsea.

There was an adjustment for Lyon as he tackled full-time football for the first time in his career.

“It’s been good so far, it’s definitely a step up going from part-time football to full-time football, there’s a lot more work involved,” he explained.

“But overall, I’ve enjoyed it a lot, it’s helped me develop as a player being in the building every day.

“I think I’ve made the step up quite well, I think I’ve definitely improved over the end of last season and the start of this season, which has helped me make the step up to the U18s.”

Off the pitch, Lyon is excelling in his education at Jersey Road, while his golf game has steadily improved in his time away from the training ground.

“At the moment in my education I’m doing two A-levels, maths and economics… I think if the opportunity came up to go to university I would take it,” he continued.

“I play a lot of golf, a bit of darts, see my friends on the weekend… I’ve got a golf course a couple of minutes from my house called Aquarius, it’s a small nine-hole course.

“I’d say my irons at the moment are decent, I’ve got my swing down. It’s a thing I can enjoy and take a couple of hours out of my day where I don’t have to think about anything else."

Lyon and the Bees are next in action against Barnsley at Wheatsheaf Park on Saturday (kick-off 11.30am BST).

Tickets are available here.