Cal's thoughts after league debut at Swindon
Callum Burton was delighted to be handed his debut for Shrewsbury Town in Town’s final game of the Sky Bet League 1 campaign at Swindon:“It feels like a long time that I have been waiting. I have been here since I was ten so I was desperate to get on the pitch. This is my ninth year at the club and my second as a professional so I have learned a lot working with Jayson Leutwiler and Mark Halstead. I have taken a lot from seeing them train and play so that has been great. It has been hard because I want to play but I am grateful the gaffer gave me the chance today. There are hundreds of days a year where you have to train and you have to do it right up until the last day of the season to get your chance like I did. I was rewarded for giving everything I can. It is a lot different playing these games to youth and reserve team. I have grown up with this club so I really want to do well but it is fantastic and your debut is one of the biggest games of your career. I got my shirt signed by the lads today and hopefully I will get that framed this summer.”
The goalkeeper was impressed with Swindon but he felt he put in a decent performance in front of his family:
“They were a good side. They beat us at our place too. Nicky Ajose is one of the top scorers in the league. I was happy with my personal performance but we were unlucky to lose 3-0 and we want to win every game we can. I knew I was playing two days ago. Danny Coyne phoned me and said I would be getting my chance so I have been happy since then and waiting excitedly for what was a great experience. I brought a few down with me, my girlfriend, mum and dad, my nan and brother all came down. It was great for them to see my debut. What a day it was too, I am boiling now but it was nice to have them in the stands and see them at the final whistle.”
Burton believes Shrewsbury have a strong youth set up which has helped him to thrive:
“It was great to see Ethan get his debut too. Dom and I have grown up together since we were ten so we have both been on the pitch we have grown up supporting and that is brilliant. I think the club have always brought through players and it shows how good the youth set up here is. We have a good record of goalkeepers at this club. A lot of clubs look at us and see what we are doing so it is great that people notice it. We were watching Connor and Woodsy in the Championship yesterday and it shows that if you play your football here and improve then you can get into the Championship and even Premier.”
The 19-year-old is out of contract in the summer but is hoping to be at the club at the start of next season:
“My contract runs out in June. A lot of the lads are in the same situation so we will just have to see what happens. Of course I want to stay as I have grown up watching the club and now I have played for them so I want to stay and play as much as I can. You can’t look at any speculation unless it is a formal bid. You always want to get to the top of your game and play at the highest level and for your country. I am just focused on getting as much game time as possible now and then see what the future holds. All the goalkeepers’ contracts are up in the summer so it is up to the gaffer and what he wants to do. I really want to stay and play games at this club. It was a happy day for me but you never want to lose. It was a good experience but we should have done better but I will take the positives from the game.”
James Eley