Leeds have won something. Yes, Leeds have won something.
Well, a player from Leeds has.
Tonight, Lewis Cook, an almost ever-present in an underwhelmingly performing Leeds United team has been crowned the Football League’s LFE Apprentice of the Year at the Football League Awards ceremony amidst the shining lights of London. Cook was there personally to collect the award from presenter Simon Thomas who joked with the Leeds youngster about the fact that he was glad he was there to collect it in person, an allusion to the ‘Suspect Six’ who didn’t travel to London for the Charlton game. The youngster gave praise to the club and also Neil Redfearn who has overseen the teenager’s rise from the club’s academy to the first team.
Quoted in the Yorkshire Evening Post, Cook says,
“I didn’t expect this season to be as good as it has been. I’d like to thank my family and the club for their support. Neil Redfearn has always been behind me. He’s given me my chance and I’m really grateful for what he’s done for me. There’s a lot of good young talent coming through at Leeds. It’s great – really good to play in that environment.”
Redfearn was full of praise for Cook and in a prerecorded message paid tribute to the massive effect and influence the youngster has had on the first team in his breakthrough season. In this prerecorded message Redfearn gave praise with such terms as “he was a real feature”, “one that’s made the most progress in a short space of time” and “he’s had a fantastic season and he deserves all the plaudits he gets.”
Many would agree that the award was wholly deserved in a season that has taken Lewis Cook from the Leeds United Development U21 squad to the fringes of greatness with alleged interest being seen in him by a number of Premier League clubs.
