Jamie Sendles-White settling nicely into life at the County Ground

Defender Jamie Sendles-White experienced a fast paced start to his return to Wiltshire, being thrust straight into the starting line up as part of a back three to face Blackpool. Town won that game, and Sendles-White hasn't looked back since.

Speaking recently to Swindon Town media prior to the victory over Doncaster at the beginning of the month, the 21-year-old admitted he is settling well into Swindon life, and is buzzing off the opportunity to be back at the club and working under Luke Williams.

The defender set the scene by talking about his earliest football memory, a clash between his beloved Sheffield United and Wolves at Cardiff's iconic Millennium stadium.

"My earliest memory is probably going to Sheffield United v Wolves at the Milennium Stadium in Cardiff with my dad. I think they lost 3-0. I support Sheffield United because my dad is from up there and he’s drilled that into me since I was young. They’re not doing too well this season so not too happy, but it’s someone to follow," said Sendles-White.

Getting involved in the beautiful game at a young age, the defender's playing days began five minutes away from his childhood home.

"I was really young, there was a field near me that had a Saturday morning thing and I used to go down there. I don’t know how old I was but it was with my first pair of boots – black boots, I can’t remember what make. My dad used to take me every Saturday morning.

"I used to play centre midfield when I was younger – that’s when I had the legs to get up and down. Then I played right-back, left-back – I’ve played everywhere apart from up front and in goal," he said.

When it came to role models, Swindon Town's new number 21 admitted he looked to emulate a former Sheffield United fans' favourite.

"I looked up to Phil Jagielka because he came through at Sheffield United. Now he’s playing for England and playing in the Premier League, so he’s one player I looked up to. It helped that my dad was taking me most weeks to see them play so I could watch him. Then you’ve got the likes of John Terry and Rio Ferdinand that any young centre-back would look up to."

Starting off in the football world, Sendles-White's first steps saw him first sample the industry at Premier League powerhouse Chelsea.

"I was on trial at Chelsea for a while. That didn’t quite work out then straight from there I went to QPR. I had a few options but I chose QPR and luckily I spent six years there. The majority of my time there was happy. Obviously you’d like more of a chance but you can understand they’re a big club and opportunities are going to be limited, so it wasn’t to be – but I look back on it fondly," he said.

The defender's time spent at Park Rangers meant a familiarity and a bond formed with now Swindon Town team-mate Michael Doughty.

"I played with ‘Doughts’ for years. He’s the year above me so he was always a year ahead but I spent a lot of time with him," Sendles-White explained.

As is the case with many players in the Football League, Sendles-White had to earn his stripes by undertaking a variety of experience boosting loan moves.

"Colchester was the first one," said Sendles-White.

"I went there for a month but didn’t play. That was more for experience, then I spent three months at Mansfield in League 2. It was good to be playing first team football and getting the taste for it.

You learn that on a Saturday the three points is the most important thing. Obviously at Swindon you have to play well as well, which I like. I don’t like the fact you have to go out there just to get three points. I like the fact there’s pressure to play well as well as win," he added.

The search for first team football saw the young defender travel as far Scotland, plying his trade with SPL club Hamilton Academicals.

"It was a learning curve for me. I found it hard adapting to a different culture, the way things are run in Scotland. I found it hard to adapt to that because I had spent so long in England. I feel it was more of a culture shock than anything else and for whatever reason, things didn’t work out for me," he explained.

Though a return to Wiltshire went through at the eleventh hour during the January window, Sendles-White admitted he was pumped to have secured a return to the County Ground.

"I was buzzing to be able to come back because I enjoyed the brief times I was here before. I enjoyed the training – Luke (Williams) is absolutely first class. I was buzzing to be able to come back and play here."

Receiving an impromptu mere days after putting pen to paper on a deal, due to a late injury to Raphael Rossi-Branco, Sendles-White came straight into the starting XI as part of a back three defensive ensemble to face Blackpool at the County Ground.

"It was a great feeling to be back out there in front of the crowd, I enjoyed every minute. I was struggling with cramp towards the end a little bit, but it was absolutely fantastic to be out there, and to get the win topped it off," said Sendles-White.

Now back in Swindon, one of the stand out factors for Sendles-White is the club's self confessed ethos of getting the ball down and playing attractive football.

"I love it, it’s the best way to play football. It’s the best way for any young player to be out there and be told you have the freedom to pass and play. Any young player wants to play that way so I’m more than comfortable here," the defender admitted.

Along with added game time, Sendles-White also returns to the County Ground with international experience under his belt, having represented Northern Ireland following a call up via his mother's parentage.

"I played for Northern Ireland under 19’s and under 21’s," he explained.

"Obviously that’s good because you can go away and test yourself against some of the best players in your age group in the world, so that’s another thing I look back on fondly. Hopefully there are more call ups to come.

"You get breaks when you’re working hard. I find that the harder you work, the more you get out of it. That’s what I’m going to be doing until the end of the season and can hopefully reap the rewards from it," Sendles-White added.