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Vic Morgan: Will Henry and fellow STFC dazzling debutants

Lifelong Swindon Town fan Vic Morgan gives his authoritative say on the club, every week on Total Sport. This week Morgan reflects upon Will Henry's remarkable, penalty-saving Town debut, comparing it to similar dazzling debutants of yesteryear.

Some debut wasn't it? A 17 year old goalkeeper gets his first team chance and more than grabs it, literally, with both hands.

Will Henry's performance at Rochdale may not have caught the attention of the national media, but for the Swindon fans present it was one of the highlights of the season.

Most of us milling around Spotland before the game would have been a little concerned how the youngster may, excuse the pun, handle the situation. Well, we needn't have worried, he did superbly.

To save a penalty and to perform how he did must give him huge confidence for the future. Presumably he'll take his place between the sticks at the County Ground in Sunday's season finale and that's bound to be a special moment.

Of course it's not the first time a Swindon debutant goalkeeper has hit the headlines for penalty heroics. If you were at Hartlepool a few seasons back, you would have seen a tall Slovakian in the shape of Peter Brezovan perform superbly denying the home side not once but twice from the spot.

Arriving initially on loan, Brezovan became a bit of a folk hero with a string of great saves. The 1-0 win on his debut on a sunny August day was no flash in the pan. This was a keeper of great promise in a Town side that would go on to win promotion.

Again, for those there to see it one save at Chester sticks in the mind. On a balmy Friday night, Swindon made it six wins out of six, but wouldn't had it not been for this particular Brezovan effort. A shot was destined to find the net until somehow an outstretched left arm turned the ball around the post for a corner.

An extraordinary save and I can still visualise it now. Sadly for the Slovakian injury prevented him from taking part in most of the Town's season. In a home game against Grimsby which Swindon won 3-0, Brezovan fell awkwardly and suffered a broken arm.

It meant a spell on the sidelines and he was never able to reclaim his place in the team. It really was a case of what might have been. His form at the beginning of that season was superb, such a shame we never saw him reach his full potential at the County Ground.

I suppose if we're talking remarkable debuts, we ought to remember one Samuel Parkin. Another sunny August day brought another sensational start.

Signed from Chelsea, "Super Sammy" hit a hat trick against Barnsley. What a start and what a player. Hitting twenty goals in three successive seasons is no mean feat and gained him a big money move to Ipswich.

Town fans will remember his partnership with Tommy Mooney which was as lethal as the Mayes-Rowland combination in the seventies.

Talking of Alan Mayes, the striker was brought to the County Ground by Bobby Smith and he also hit a hat trick on his debut. It took just 21 minutes for Mayes to fire the goals at Millmoor. Alan was part of the Town team which reached the League Cup semi final against Wolves.

Remember the Paul Bradshaw challenge which went unpunished? The game ended in heartbreak for Swindon and the season rapidly went down hill.

So many players so many memorable moments. May Will Henry have many more.

Absolutely buzzing to have made my professional debut today and to have saved a pen! Good point aswell! ????
— Will Henry (@WillHenry98) April 30, 2016