Storey hails youth department (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SWINDON TOWN: Storey hails youth department

6:00am Monday 29th October 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Swindon Town youngster Miles Storey celebrates his goal against Stevenage

MILES Storey paid tribute to the work put in behind the scenes by the Swindon Town youth department after he scored his first senior goal for the club in the 4-0 win at Stevenage.

Storey, who progressed through the ranks at the County Ground to sign pro forms for the first time this season, headed home Matt Ritchie’s 38th-minute cross to put Town three goals to the good at Broadhall Way.

The former Coventry City youngster was nurtured by head of youth Paul Bodin and centre of excellence director Jeremy Newton as he developed as a young footballer, and he credited their efforts for giving him the foundation to make the jump into the first team.

He told the Advertiser: “It’s really the base. They give you a strong base for going and playing professional football.

“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 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 with the manager and the coaching staff they can help me improve.”

The 18-year-old has evidently made an impression on Swindon manager Paolo Di Canio this season, and he has started to become a regular feature in the Italian’s matchday squads.

Storey is enjoying working under the former West Ham idol, and he revealed how Di Canio has helped him take huge strides in his development over the course of the past few months.

He said: “He’s 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.”