Swindon Town’s Miles Storey has paid tribute to the club’s youth department after scoring his first senior goal for the club in the 4-0 win at Stevenage on Saturday.
Storey, who was an Apprentice player this time last year, signed professional terms over the summer and headed home Matt Ritchie’s 38th-minute cross to score Town’s third goal at Broadhall Way.
The 18-year old forward was nurtured at the County Ground by Head of Youth Paul Bodin and Centre of Excellence director Jeremy Newton during the last two-years and he was quick to thank the pair for giving him the foundation to make the jump up to first-team football.
“They give you a strong base for going and playing professional football,” he told the Swindon Advertiser.
“When I was in the youth-team last year I was training with the first-team a few times and obviously the tempo is different but the basics that they teach you really do help you out and get you prepared for a first-team squad.”
Storey, who was making his full debut for Town after a string of substitute appearances in the past, revealed that he was shocked to get off the mark for the Robins with a headed goal.
He said: “It’s the best feeling. I’m not the best in the air. You’ve got Collins, Benson, Willo’s good in the air, Rooney’s good in the air and that’s not one of my major strengths.”
“I tried to work on it in the summer and if you told me that, if I was going to score any goal at all, it was going to be a header I’d have wondered what the odds would have been.”
“I wasn’t completely happy with my performance. Obviously I’ve scored a goal but there’s things I need to improve on. I’m only young but the manager and the coaching staff can help me improve.”
Storey, who has played four games for the Robins so far this term, is also hoping that a prolonged run in Paolo Di Canio’s team can turn him into an even better player.
He continued: “He’s (Di Canio) very motivational. He gives you a lot of pointers how to improve your game and if you take on board what he’ saying you can really feel the benefits.”
“Being a striker himself he knows what to do, he’s played in the Prem so he’s really motivational. He gets the team going.”
“Any chance he gets to give you a bit of information to help you out he uses it. It’s the sign of a good manager.”
“I think I’ve improved a lot. My heading wasn’t the best but we worked on that in Italy. My hold-up play in general, I’ve really learnt to hold it up better.”
