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February 17, 2024
The EFL has named Ronnie Edwards of Peterborough United the January Young Player of the Month.
The 20-year-old was present for every minute of the Posh’s league play as the Sky Bet League One team went undefeated in the month, winning two of their three games to move up the standings.
“I’m delighted,” Edwards says. “It came as a surprise, but I’m really happy. Usually, you see a lot of midfielders and goal scorers at the top end of the pitch get these awards, so it’s nice as a defender to be recognised!”
Having lost out on promotion in the Play-Off Semi-Final of the previous year,
Under the guidance of manager Darren Ferguson, Peterborough has picked itself up. The Posh manager has experience winning, having received five promotions, four of which came with his current Club.
Edwards’ progress, along with that of some of the Club’s other young talent, has been aided by his relationship with Ferguson.
He continues: “The gaffer is amazing. He’s proven himself in League One massively with the amount of promotions he’s had. I was here when we got promoted but I only played two games, but I was fortunate enough to be under him.”
“He’s really good to work with and it’s not just about the way he plays, but once he sees something in a young player, he puts full trust in them and helps them develop. I’ve got to thank myself, but I’ve also got to thank him for the player I am at the minute.”
“The relationship that me and that gaffer have got is quite open. Because he’s got such high expectations of me, he’s not scared of pulling me and telling me if I’m not playing well. Also, him keeping me on my toes allows me to go on the pitch and not have that pressure but know that I’ve got to perform and be as good as I can be.”
In January, Edwards made his 100th league start for the team against Shrewsbury Town at home. The score was 2-1. At his age, this is a remarkable accomplishment for the highly regarded center-back, who forms the core of the back line with Josh Knight.
“That’s the main thing that Posh has helped me achieve,” Edwards adds. “I’m getting more experience with every game and it’s a good thing to have, especially as a young defender.
When I was near the 100th mark, I was asking people here and there where I was at. Now, after that, it’s just about playing as many games as I can and getting as much experience as I can.
“Especially playing in the Championship and League One, it’s a lot tougher on the physicality side of this league but that’s the experience that you need. It’s learning your own ways and experience of how to deal with different opposition.”
Most famously, the Three Lions international played for the England Under-19s squad that defeated Israel 3-1 in the final to win the European championship in the summer of 2022.
His time competing for his nation has also aided in his club career development, as he has lined up on the big stage with players such as Aaron Ramsey, Alex Scott, and Jarell Quansah.
He says: “We had a good team, but we all bonded together. We were quite a close group, you could say, but that closeness off the pitch bonded off the pitch. It was just a mentality that we were so good as a team and so good together, no matter who we played. When you are so tight, you have that belief and trust in each other that somebody is going to go and win you the game.”
“You’re playing with players who are at Clubs that you want to be at in the future but the amount of games that I’ve played at this level, I bring that experience with me. It’s good seeing different talent and dynamics and it’s a good mix.”
His focus now shifts to Peterborough, who is aiming for a top-two finish this season, and their promotion campaign. And even though Ferguson’s team has struggled lately, Edwards believes they can turn things around.
“At the start of the season, that’s always the goal that we set ourselves, to get promoted and I think we’ve got a great shot at it,” he explains. “We’ve definitely got the team and staff for it. We know what we’re capable of doing.”
“We had a sit-down and a talk about our recent form. It’s just about clicking that reset button now. It’s about going again, and I’m sure we will.”
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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