VIDEO: Evan Ferguson honoured to be named Meath Sportsperson of the Year

It's clear from the moment Evan Ferguson walked into the reception area at Brighton & Hove Albion's Elite Performance Centre the regard in which he is held.

The room lights up. The receptionist at the front desk is greeted with a smile and friendly hello, the security guards all wear broad grins when the Bettystown man walked in.

Accompanied by the head of the media team in Brighton, Bruce Talbot, Evan cuts an unassuming figure and when it is revealed to him that he is the Meath Chronicle Sportsperson of the Year for 2023, his cheeks become flushed with a tinge of embarrassment.

Evan Ferguson is so far removed from the image perceived by many of a Premier League footballer.

Fresh off the training ground as the Brighton first team prepared for what is considered their local derby against south London rivals Crystal Palace, Ferguson was still in his snood.

Several staff in the Lancing Performance Centre inquire as to his well-being, the response in the Bettystown accent 'grand' sums up the Meath man who has the footballing world at his feet.

Praise doesn't sit easy with him. He prefers to let his feet do the talking and that is why he is eager to get back among the goals.

He puts pressure on himself to perform in front of the posts and he wants the best for his team.

The name Evan Ferguson sprung to most football fans attention in July 2019 when he came on for Bohemians in a pre-season friendly against Frank Lampard's Chelsea in Dalymount Park.

Introduced by manager Keith Long with 23 minutes to go Ferguson's clever stepover created the opening for Eric Molloy's 89th minute equaliser as the game finished 1-1 - but there and then a star was born.

The Chelsea team featured players like Danny Drinkwater, Matsui Batshuayi, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Kurt Zouma, Conor Gallagher, Cezar Azpilicueta, Ethan Ampadu and Billy Gilmour - now Ferguson's team mate at Brighton.

Ferguson progressed to Bohemians after coming through the mini-leagues ranks with St Kevin's Boys since he was five years old and he went on to play u-15s, u-17s and senior with Bohs before switching to Brighton in January 2021.

Since his switch to the Premier League Ferguson has become one of the hottest properties in football. In 2023 he became the first teenager since Wayne Rooney to bag 10 or more Premier League goals in a calendar year and his hat-trick against Newcastle last September propelled him even higher into the headlines.

On top of all that Ferguson made an immediate impact with the Republic of Ireland and now has three goals in his 10 appearances and to cap it all off he has now been crowned the Meath Chronicle Sportsperson of the Year and he is very proud of that accolade.

"Making my debut for Ireland and scoring goals for Ireland are definitely emotional experiences, it was very good and something I'm very proud of," Ferguson told the Meath Chronicle.

"Last year was some year for me. To get into the Republic of Ireland squad and to receive an award like this (Meath Sportsperson of the Year), especially when it comes from where you're from, it means a lot.

"I do see some of the reaction I'm getting back home online, but I think it's different when you go home and you actually see it for real, it is really nice to see.

"There's people that are really nice and they come up to you and try to give you support. So, it's a nice feeling, definitely.

"I don't get home too much, but when I do I like to just chill out. I don't really like to go out too much when I go home.

"So, I would just like to chill out and see my mates and and catch up with family and stuff, that would be pretty much it."

Some of those friends include old school mates from Colaiste na hInse and from around his estate. In late 2021 Ferguson went to support one of his friends, Sean Emmanuel when he went to collect his All-Ireland MFC winners medal and it those type of meet ups that the precocious young talent enjoys.

"I don't know why I was home that time. There was a few days off, so I came home and that function was for one of my mates (Sean Emmanuel). It was his award, his Gaelic award, so he asked me did I want to go so I had nothing else to do so I just went out with them for the night."

Ferguson has always had an old head on young shoulders. From making his senior debut with Bohs at just 14-years-old to making a massive move on his own to England as a 16-year-old year old never fazed him.

He always had his mind set on making it as a footballer, so he has taken moving to the Premier League in his stride.

"I think for me, I always sort of wanted to go away. I always had it in my mind that I was prepared to come away and the club here was very good," said Ferguson.

"There is obviously lots of Irish over here at Brighton at the minute, so it was easy enough to settle in.

"I came over by myself. It was during Covid in January 2021. Because it was during Covid it was just straight into digs and just going from training to digs every day because you weren't able to do much. That sort of helped in a way, I was alright with it."

Obviously Ferguson is a lot more settled in now and he has his 'own space' now, so no more relying on digs for a place to rest his head - not that his head gets much rest as he is very much a man in demand.

Not since the days of Robbie Keane has there been so much excitement about an Ireland striker, but Ferguson doesn't let that pressure get to him and he takes it all in his stride.

"I don't think of it in terms of pressure. I think you have to try and take it in your stride because if you think it as pressure, it'll mount up on you. I think you just have to look at it in a positive way."

There is also pressure on the young Irishman to score goals for Brighton. When speaking to locals around Brighton, Lancing and Worthing they all wanted to send Evan the same message, to score goals, because they see him as the future of their football club.

Ferguson himself is frustrated that he hasn't been scoring goals at the rate he would wish, but his overall game is excellent and while the goals (six Premier League goals) have trickled of late his work rate continues to draw huge praise.

"Hopefully I can get back among the goals. As a striker you want to score goals, but at the minute I've not scored as much as I've wanted to, but I just have to try to keep playing as best as I can and I'm sure they'll come back around," he said.

"You have to bring as much as you can to every game, so if I'm not scoring I want to be assisting and helping the team. For the team it's probably better to do the other bits that you're doing, but as a striker I think the main thing is you just want to get back in and score the goals.

"I didn't really have any expectations of the Premier League when I came over. I just wanted to get in there, see how it is, see how I go. It has gone how it has, so it's definitely been a good experience."

Evan's level-headedness is no great surprised. His father, Barry, is well regarded in Irish football circles having played with Coventry before forging a decent career in the League of Ireland.

Evan speaks glowingly of his father and his family, including his sister Ellie who is also playing college football in another country - with Ohio University Bobcats in the US. So was Ellie's experience of moving overseas a help to Evan when it came to his time to move?

"He (Evan's father Barry) knows what he's talking about, but he wouldn't be one of them parents that puts too much pressure on. He just lets you play football and get on with it," said Evan.

"Ellie went away first to be fair. She went over to America first, she led that pathway of going away. She found it alright so I said, why won't I be alright as well.

"I think it's similar moving away young and stuff but I think once you're away it's completely different, her in America and me in England. I think once you get out you just have to try and create your own path," concluded the teenage sensation - and what a path it is, so far, so good.

MEATH SPORTS AWARDS WINNERS

Young Sportsperson

Club of the Year

Team of the Year

Outstanding Achievement

Unsung Hero

Hall of Fame