Wimbledon youngster left speechless after winning major award

AFC Wimbledon midfielder Anthony Hartigan won the League One Apprentice of the Year award at the weekend.

The 18-year-old was presented with his trophy at the EFL awards ceremony on Sunday night.

Hartigan told the club’s official website: “It’s great, I can’t really put into words how I feel right now. I’ve worked really hard this year both on and off the pitch and it is nice to get rewarded for all the hard work I’ve put in.

“There are so many people to thank. Obviously, the manager sticks out, but all of the first-team staff and the players have all helped me settle and feel really welcome.”

Hartigan had played 16 games this season for the Dons before a knee injury prematurely ended his campaign.

Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley added: “Young players today are different to young players when I came through the ranks. 

“Society and football have changed. They get a lot more a lot earlier and they expect a lot more. Sometimes players don’t want to earn it and they have an opinion of where they are in the grand scheme of things that isn’t always the case, but with Anthony Hartigan the most refreshing thing about him is that he is not like that. He goes back to my era where he appreciates that he has to work. He appreciates that he has to prove to be better than people already around the squad.

“Anthony’s ability to want to learn is phenomenal. He is always asking questions, always looking at himself and being critical, so he doesn’t want to point the finger, he doesn’t want to hide and say, ‘that wasn’t me, that was someone else’. He is always saying, ‘I should have done better there’. Anthony knows what he has to work on.

“In terms of mentality and desire, he has got it. Even people at other clubs say those players are rare these days. Anthony is one of those players and he thoroughly deserves the award.”