‘This Is Just the Beginning’ – Jobe Bellingham Sparks Sunderland Charge After EFL Award Triumph
“It’s a strange feeling because it’s my first individual award,” said Jobe Bellingham after being named EFL Championship Young Player of the Year. “But this is just a bonus—our main goal is promotion.” The 19-year-old midfielder, also named in the Team of the Year, praised Sunderland’s staff, fans, and teammates for their role in his success and issued a rallying cry to make the most of what he called an “amazing opportunity” to reach the Premier League. His teammate Chris Rigg, who was honoured as Championship Apprentice of the Year, echoed that focus, saying, “It’s not over yet—we’ll knuckle down and push for the play-offs.”