Hugo Logan has spoken of his pride at being named in League Football Education’s ‘The 11’ list.
‘The 11’ acknowledges the football and academic progress of Under-18 players on apprenticeships at current or former EFL clubs.
Judged by LFE’s team of regional officers, this accolade celebrates the holistic development of young players.
“I’m thankful for the recognition,” Logan told mkdons.com. “I put in a lot of hard work trying to achieve something academically so I’m proud to be included.
“Staying in digs, you have the opportunity to do extra-curricular activities and I wanted to use that time to do something that will help me in the future.”
MK Dons’ Education Officer Simon Dwight told mkdons.com: “It’s brilliant for Hugo. It’s the perfect end to a phenomenal two-year journey for him as an apprentice. He wasn’t involved too much as an Under-16 as he could have possibly moved to another club so he was humbled to come back and was ready to work, both on and off the pitch.
“He gathered momentum in the first year – he got good grades at college and found his feet in the Under-18s. As his second year progressed, he was getting distinctions and, by the end of it, he was excelling at college, became the U18s captain and was head apprentice.
“The award is fully deserved and I’m so proud of him, as I’m sure his mum is, Robbie is and Hugo is himself.”
He added: “Players are tired after games so academic work can be tough and easily resisted but he didn’t which is great because their future in football, if it’s not as a player, depends on it. Hugo naturally is able to get on with the work but the biggest thing he got out of it was getting stuck in.
“A pro needs to work hard when it’s tough – there are probably many other things he would have rather been doing than be sat at a computer so he deserves a lot of credit.
“Confidence comes from knowledge and knowledge grows from experience. The things he has done will give him the knowledge that he can do it, that he can achieve and when he puts his mind to it, he can make it happen. That builds resilience and gives him that belief that he can do it again in the future. Everything they do as apprentices are experiences that they go through enable them to become pros, which develop them for that first step into the first-team environment.”
LFE wrote: “Hugo has been a leader this year as a senior figure in a young Under-18s team, acting as an excellent role model for the younger players.
“And his efforts have been recognised as the Dons handed the creative midfielder a professional deal, while also giving him a spot on the first-team bench for the final game of the season at Walsall.
“Off the pitch, Hugo has been a dedicated student at MK College, achieving the BTEC Extended Diploma and had made applications to University, although those plans to pursue Higher Education will now be put on hold.”
Logan, who signed his first professional deal with the Dons in the summer, is alongside 10 other promising young players at EFL clubs up and down the country.
LFE’s ‘The 11’ list for June: Tom Scott (AFC Wimbledon), Oliver Mulders (Birmingham City), Lewis Thompson (Blackburn Rovers), Tommy Wood (Burnley), Billy Crellin (Fleetwood Town), Sam Dalby (Leyton Orient), Luke Andersen (Lincoln City), Hugo Logan (Milton Keynes Dons), Rhys Kavanagh (Newport County), Tyler Smith (Sheffield United), Matthew Taylor (Wigan Athletic).
