Teenager Joe Bunney admits it is a "fantastic feeling" to have signed his first professional contract.
The 19-year-old penned a permanent two year with Rochdale on Wednesday afternoon.
The forward, who had been playing non-league football with Northwich Victoria and joined Dale on non-contract terms in March, can’t believe he has come so far in such a short space of time: “It is a fantastic feeling to come from non-league into the pro game and especially to a club like this because this is a great club.
“I was saying to my mates the other day that it was just six/seven months ago that I was playing college football and now it has come to this, so it is unbelievable really.”
Bunney made his Dale first team debut in the win over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday and netted the only goal of the game within minutes of making his substitute appearance. He says it is a goal that will live long in his memory: “When the ball came in I just didn’t want to miss it, but you couldn’t write scoring with my first touch. I’ve come off the bench to score to make it 1-0 and because it has won the game it is one to remember for me.
“But this is just the start. Scoring on the last day of the season leaves a good taste in the supporters’ mouth and the Manager’s mouth for next season and it makes me realise that I’ve got to build on that next season. I can’t just score then do nothing else.”
The full interview with Joe is online Dale Player now.