AFC Bournemouth
Jack Seddon has been named the Cherries’ Premier League Scholar of the Year after showing himself to be a model performer throughout his two-year scholarship with his actions and performances both on and off the pitch.
The award is a Premier League initiative which sees a player selected by club staff who has excelled at all aspects of their scholarship, including development on the pitch, attitude to education, professionalism and personal development.
The 18-year-old defender has had a number of obstacles to contend with across his burgeoning career, most recently missing most of last season with a serious injury – in the lead up to the all-important selections for players being offered profession.
“I’ve worked really hard even when it’s been a tough year.” He said in conversation with afcb.co.uk. “I had a bad injury that put me out for six months and during that time I did as much as I could to keep myself occupied before I managed to get some minutes in the last couple of games of the season.
“In the last couple of weeks of the season and the squad got together to announce the player of the season and then the Scholar of the Year, which was me.
“I told my parents and they were really proud of how I conduct myself and the kind of person I am, knowing that I’ve been through quite a hard journey and that I’m still here.”
The injury setback in the last 12 months was not the first hurdle Seddon has had to clear to make it as a professional, who was close to being released aged 15 and tasked with supercharging his development to prove his worth.
He explained: “At the end-of-season review they told me that based on what they’d seen so far if I didn’t make improvements I’d be released. That was hard to take at first, it was going through my head that I’m not good enough. I had to get over that quickly.
“Coaches are looking for different things so I knew I just had to focus on the areas I needed to work on.
“I was turning up to training early, putting in that extra work, and that was the only way for me to improve. It actually allowed me to play with more freedom because I had nothing to lose, from there it was only going to get better for me.
“We went on a tour of Italy and it was the last chance for me before the final decision was made on me. We won the tournament and it was probably the best I’ve ever played, I knew the improvements I’d made so if I didn’t get it I knew I’d put all my efforts into it and could be satisfied with that.”
Alongside pushing forwards as a player, Seddon has ensured his eyes have stayed on the ball with his education, achieving a BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport, level three, gaining distinction grades in all his work as well as completing an extended diploma.
Showing an impressive focus on his studies with plenty else going on, including working in sessions with the Community Sorts Trust, he talked about his motivations to excel in his non-footballing development.
“Footballer’s careers don’t last as long as most jobs so it’s good to have qualifications under your belt,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in sports science and how different things affect your body during performance. It didn’t come as a chore for me, I enjoyed the work.
“I don’t focus on what other people are doing, I focus on myself. It’s my life and I’m going to put 100% into everything I do, be it on the pitch, off it, in the gym or with this work.
“I have to thank Dawn Roach and my teacher Laura as well for pushing me on with my work, there were times when there was a fair amount to do but they made sure I kept up with it and I’m thankful for that.”
Looking ahead to the new season and now elevated to the under-21s, the young defender has been boosted further by seeing the progress of the younger players during the Cherries’ pre-season.
Standing out for Seddon is fellow centre-back Zeno Ibsen Rossi, who made his competitive debut for the club in starting Saturday’s Carabao Cup match with MK Dons.
“It’s been so nice to see,” said Seddon. “I remember watching him play in the FA Youth Cup and seeing him progress to the under-21s, going on loan in Scotland which obviously helped him.
“It shows what is possible, it may take a few years but you’ve got to be consistent with what you’re doing, work really hard and then it’s great for us to see younger lads coming on, starting, getting first team minutes.
“It show that what you do off the pitch and with your attitude is always going to help you when you play. People will know you’re not going to slack off and instead approach situations in a good manner, put 100% into everything.
“Taking pride in what you do has definitely helped me anyway."
