Moore-Billam: It's been a massive step

Making his first league start for the club, midfielder Jack Moore-Billam reacted to a 1-1 draw at home to Stevenage on Easter Monday.

Speaking to iFollow Iron, the 18-year-old reflected on his selection in Keith Hill’s side over the previous few months and ultimately gave his thoughts after making his first full appearance for the club in the EFL.

He said: “It’s been difficult for me. In training the standards have to be high. Going from the level at the Under-18s to the first team is a massive step, but I’m enjoying it.

“We have plenty of young lads on the pitch, but it’s good to see, especially when I’ve played with them for the Under-18s and then gone into the first team with them. We know how each other plays and what we are capable of.”

Seeing young players picked from the youth team to train with the first team and then be selected in manager Keith Hill’s matchday squad, thus handed minutes on the pitch, has driven Moore-Billam on to get a slice of the action himself.

Having had a couple of tastes from the bench throughout the season from the bench, the opportunity to start a game has left the youngster wanting more.

“It’s definitely served as motivation for me,” he stated.

“I just want to do my best always. I don’t want to let people down. I’d like to get on the ball more, but I will build up my confidence and get used to what it’s like to be in these games.

“It was a brilliant experience. My family were watching, and they love it as much as I do. It’s brilliant and I can’t express the feeling - it’s amazing.

“He (Keith Hill) has been brilliant. He’s given us all a chance. It’s tough working under him, but you get what you give and I think I’ve deserved my chance, and so have the rest of the lads. 

“We’ve got to finish off the next couple of games, hopefully I will start again next week or the week after.”

Jordan Hallam and Harry Bunn both came of the bench in the second half, with the former providing for the latter for the equalising goal, with the former Sheffield Wednesday trainee assessing the game as a whole.

“I think the lads were good,” he continued. 

“We went 1-0 down, but we brought it back. We just kept at it, we didn’t give up and we got a result in the end. As a team, we carried on. We’ve obviously had a tough season, but that didn’t stop us today from getting a point.

“It was tough, very tough. I used to watch Chris Lines when I was younger when he was at Sheffield Wednesday and today I was in the middle marking him. It’s a small world.

“Gally (Dan Gallimore) alongside me was brilliant today, he always is. He’s just consistent. We push on, go onto next week and hopefully get another result.”

See much more from Jack Moore-Billam and Keith Hill on iFollow Iron.