SWINDON TOWN: Ex-brickie Austin is building his Town career (From This Is Swindon Town FC)

SWINDON TOWN: Ex-brickie Austin is building his Town career

7:10am Thursday 26th November 2009

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AT the start of July, Charlie Austin was working for his dad’s building company, laying bricks on a site in Basingstoke and dreaming of a shot at the professional game.

Fast forward nearly five months and the 20-year-old is already a fans’ favourite at the County Ground following his successful trial and subsequent deal until the end of the season.

A prolific striker for Wessex League outfit Poole Town, Austin kept that form intact for Swindon's reserves before impressive substitute performances for the first team both home and away against Norwich.

And as much as manager Danny Wilson tried to keep to keep the front man under wraps, he couldn't ignore that talent any longer and unleashed him for a full debut against Carlisle on Saturday.

The reward - the only goal of the game after three minutes, giving Town an important League One victory at the Cumbrians’ expense.

Austin's fairytale start to life as a full-time footballer is a far cry from those early mornings as a labourer, where he helped build the Angel Ridge development in which he now resides.

And the local lad admits he still can’t quite take in the rapid rise.

“The last time I worked on a building site was on July 8, when I was in Basingstoke and it was a big development,” he explained.

“My dad is a building contractor and I’ve worked with him since I left school in places like Swindon, Basingstoke and Reading.

“Every day, five days a week, working on a building site, in weather like we’ve had this week.

“It isn’t great getting up at 5.30am every morning to do that.

“It’s unbelievable how my whole life has changed in five months.

“I still have to pinch myself and I think I always will.

“I will always remember that I used to be working on a building site before getting the chance to do this. That will never leave me.

“I was playing six divisions below this and I was just going and playing on a Saturday and a Tuesday in front of about 100 people.

“And then I go and make my professional debut at Norwich in front of 25,000 people.

“I couldn’t believe it and was just taking it all in.”

Austin almost put pen-to-paper with League Two Bournemouth over the summer, until the Cherries’ transfer embargo put paid to any switch.

The youngster thought that was his chance gone, but Town swooped to snap up the hitman and are now reaping the benefits.

“I never knew about Swindon watching me – all I knew was Bournemouth were interested and wanted to sign me,” revealed Austin.

“When it fell through all I could think was that it was another setback and was I going to get into the pro game?

“Maybe I was just going to be one of those who never got the chance.

“But Swindon came through and I’ve had an unbelievable start.

“The supporters have been great with me and it probably helps that I’m a local lad, but don’t get me wrong, I've still got to prove to them and myself that I can become a goalscorer for Swindon Town Football Club.”

And following the opening few months of his fledgling career, you won’t find anyone betting against Austin achieving just that.

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