Swindon fan Nick Judd on why the Robins' young striker Charlie Austin is more than deserving of his current success
At a time when many footballersâ reputations are in the gutter, itâÂÂs refreshing to meet a player mindful of his roots and supported by a family who appreciate what it means for him to succeed.
It would be easy for Swindon striker Charlie Austin to get carried away with his new-found status as terrace favourite.
His rise to stardom has been well documented after he scored 13 goals in his first 16 starts as a professional. Yet he continues to keep a level head.
This, in part, is down to his background. Dad Fred and mum Karen go to every game as they always have, home and away, and theyâÂÂre accompanied by an assortment of relatives and friends who have seen him swap non-league football for League One. Not least granddad Ozzie, a County Ground stalwart who still gets overcome with emotion every time CharlieâÂÂs name is read out on the tannoy.
I had the pleasure of meeting the Austins at the County Ground a couple of weeks ago. Not surprisingly, theyâÂÂre delighted with their sonâÂÂs progress. More than that, you can see why his feet are seemingly still on the ground.
There is a Facebook site with more than 1,000 members and Austin has been the focus of numerous interviews in the national media. Yet he still seems grateful just to have been given his shot.
âÂÂHe doesnâÂÂt say a lot about all that to be honest,â admits Fred. âÂÂI think everything was a bit strange to start with. Training with professional players, talking to the media... ItâÂÂs funny; when he started at Swindon he would clean his own boots after training because thatâÂÂs what he was used to.
âÂÂThen one of the young players told him he didnâÂÂt have to do that anymore. I think the youth team goalkeeper cleans them now, but at first he was happy just doing it himself. Having his kit laid out for himâ¦âÂÂ
Austin thought his chance at professional level had gone. An academy player with Reading in his teens, his Mum would drive him all over the place to training and matches. He became injured and was later released. Even Swindon missed the boat, initially.
âÂÂHe was at Swindon when he was seven. He was at the School of Excellence and came back here when he was 15 when Iffy Onoura was manager. Unfortunately Charlie had problems with his knees â he had a cartilage operation on one of them. Iffy said to give him a ring as soon as he was fit to play again, but Iffy then left the club.âÂÂ
Still, Austin never stopped believing. From an early age he had kicked a ball about and even despite his setbacks, his family knew he had an ability in front of goal.
âÂÂHe had a sponge ball heâÂÂd kick about,â continues his mum. âÂÂHe was always hyper as well,â adds granddad Ozzie. râÂÂHe loved his football.âÂÂ
âÂÂWhen he was younger he was very good,â says dad Fred. âÂÂThen he got to about 10 or 11 and he didnâÂÂt grow. All the other lads shot up and he stayed where he was.âÂÂ
âÂÂIt wasnâÂÂt until he was 16 that he started to catch up,â adds Ozzie. âÂÂMore recently, I think the labouring work done him good. He started building himself up and getting stronger. HeâÂÂs probably still growing now.âÂÂ
Six months ago Austin was a bricklayer for his dad, and it could be his hard work ethic on the building site that makes him a grafter on and off the pitch. Recently, when he experienced his first âÂÂdry-spellâ in front of goal â with no goals in four â he went back to the training ground.
âÂÂI did a bit more in training - more shooting practice,â he admitted after his first strike in five ensured a crucial victory for his team at Brighton.
âÂÂHe was a hard worker,â says his dad of his sonâÂÂs work ethic. âÂÂHe was up every morning at half five. HeâÂÂd do a hard dayâÂÂs work and then go for a pint with his mates. He was a bricklayer mainly, but he enjoyed it. It was a different way of life.
Now he says every day feels like a new day to him and he loves it. We try and keep on at him as well. We keep telling him that heâÂÂs got to keep working hard every day.âÂÂ
If the hard work continues, who knows where he could go. The play-offs are a very real possibility for Austin, even automatic promotion as Swindon sit fourth in League One, thanks in part to his goals. Meanwhile, England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce is known to be an admirer.
Whatever he achieves, it couldnâÂÂt happen to a more deserving family.
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