Last week Junior Stanislas was awarded the Bobby Moore
Young Player of the Year after an exceptional first term at Upton
Park which saw him fire in nine goals for the youth team and a
couple for the reserves, where he become a regular alongside more
senior players.
We caught up with the young Hammer to get his thoughts on his first
year at the Club and his aims and ambitions for next
season………………..
Junior is a young man with a mission, a lot of determination and,
as it has proved this season, an abundance of talent.
The youngster was voted the Bobby Moore Young Player of the Year
Award, an accolade steeped in history thanks to the legend it's
named after. It is also an award that is a personal triumph, as it
is voted for by Junior's own team-mates.
And for a modest Junior, while it was not expected, it was happily
received all the same.
"I am very pleased to be this season's Bobby Moore Young
Player of the Year," he said. "I was surprised to get it
though. I feel I have had a good season, but didn't think it
would mean getting an award like this, so it has really finished
off what has been a great season for me and the team.
"Tony (Carr) told me a couple of days before it was presented
to me that I had won it, and I was delighted. It's an award
that is given by my team-mates and the fact they chose me, is very
nice and I appreciate it."
Junior was a regular in a successful youth team side that finished
up runners-up to Arsenal in the league, no mean feat for any
side.
"It has been a great season," he added. "I think
maybe we were just a bit tired in the last few games to go that bit
more. Most of us were playing two games a week with the reserves
and, while that is what we want to do, it can take its toll and it
probably showed in the last couple of results.
"But overall, we kept working hard all season to get where we
did and it's been really enjoyable. I think one of our
strengths was the spirit in the dressing room and on a few
occasions that helped us to come from behind to win games."
For Junior, in his first year there was a lot to learn, but he took
it all in his stride. Was it what he expected?
He said: "It has been tough, I think playing the amount of
football we did, but I have enjoyed every match and goal. Scoring
for the youth team has been a highlight for me.
"I didn't have any targets, only that I hoped to get to
double figures. I grabbed nine league goals, just one behind
Freddie (Sears), so that's not bad! And if you count the couple
of goals I got in the reserves it means I finished with 11, so I
did hit my target!
"My best goal? The one I got against Crystal Palace. It was a
solo effort. I went from box to box and finished it off, all on my
own!"
While he can look forward to a rest in the summer, Junior is
already setting his sights on next season.
"I know that I have to push on now if I am to get
better," he said. "I want to be in there training with
the first team on a regular basis and then maybe just get into the
squad.
"We have trained with the first team a few times and it has
been great. Carlos Tevez has been one player I have loved to watch,
so I would love a few one-on-one training sessions with him!
"I still have a lot to learn, but I want to be stronger and
faster. While it will be harder next year, I have learnt a lot this
season, which I hope will help me go to the next level."
Youth Academy Director Tony Carr has been delighted with
Junior's progress. He said: "The award that Junior has
received is a fantastic accolade for any young player.
"But he deserves it. Junior has weighed in with some goals,
important ones when needed and some really good performances. He
can be very pleased with his first year.
"Junior has set himself some high standards and what he has to
do now is go on from this, for next year and the future. He has
done very well and has the ability and the attitude to take this
forward."
by Laura Burkin