‘This Is Just the Beginning’ – Jobe Bellingham Sparks Sunderland Charge After EFL Award Triumph

Jobe Bellingham’s impressive season with Sunderland received national recognition at the EFL Awards on Sunday night, where he was named the Championship’s Young Player of the Year. The 19-year-old midfielder, who also earned a spot in the Championship Team of the Year, expressed his gratitude for the honour but remained focused on the club’s bigger mission—securing promotion to the Premier League. Speaking after receiving his award, Bellingham described the moment as surreal, noting that it was his first individual accolade. He credited Sunderland’s coaching staff, teammates, and fans for their support throughout the season, emphasizing that the team’s success remained the ultimate goal.

Reflecting on the remainder of the campaign, Bellingham called on everyone at the club to seize what he described as an “amazing opportunity” to climb into the Premier League, warning that such chances don’t come often. He acknowledged the vital role of the fans, praising their loyalty and commitment, especially their willingness to travel long distances to support the team. “We’ve got to do it for everyone,” he said, underscoring the importance of unity and collective effort in the push for promotion.

https://x.com/SunderlandAFC/status/1916815910226338298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1916815910226338298%7Ctwgr%5E847fd69e0732d0b8e7204e480e8269dbc7f37838%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sunderlandecho.com%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fsunderland-afc%2Fsunderland-jobe-bellingham-efl-championship-5103611

Sunderland’s night at the EFL Awards was further sweetened by the success of rising star Chris Rigg, who was named the Championship Apprentice of the Year. Bellingham spoke highly of the young talent, calling him “some boy” and expressing how much he enjoys playing and sharing the dressing room with him.

Rigg, like Bellingham, said he was thrilled by the recognition but kept his eyes firmly on the team’s primary objective. “I’m buzzing,” he said, acknowledging the tough run of form in recent weeks but expressing hope that the team can turn things around, starting with their upcoming match against QPR. He remained optimistic about the possibility of finishing the season on a high, stating his desire to help Sunderland collect “one more award”—promotion.