Steve Wigley hailed the ‘real talent’ within Fulham’s academy set up after the under 23s claimed the Premier League 2 Second Division title with five games to spare.

The under 23s head coach was delighted with the character of his side after the young Whites came from behind to clinch both promotion back to the top flight and the championship with a 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Motspur Park last night courtesy of second half goals from Luke Harris and Sonny Hilton. Wigley told FFCTV after the final whistle:

“To have done it the way have and as early as they have – if I’m honest, I thought we’d won it three weeks ago, but I’d never say that! The attitude probably since the West Brom game at the turn, when you play the second half of the season, we always went out with a mantra that anybody we beat between now and the end of the season, is finished. That’s how we have approached it and when we finished the game, I’ve said, that’s a line through them. Tonight was the first time we were a little bit nervy because of the consequences. Believe me, it’s not easy to win games of football.

“There’s some real talent out there in your different ages. From the youngest in Luke Harris to the oldest in Sonny, the season he’s had is unbelievable – if you look at his stats, goals and assists. It has been really well supported from Marco, the manager, because he’s set out a culture at the start of the year where young players will train with him every day and if they are not in the squad, they will play. There’s a good culture throughout the football club and hopefully the first team go and finish the season in fine form for us.”

Wigley, who adds the under 23 success to back-to-back southern under 18 league titles after stepping up from leading the younger age group, was typically modest about his personal success preferring to praise both the quality at his disposal and the way the squad bought entirely in his coaching methods.

“I’ve been lucky – got good players! Good players and everybody who’s out there has played for me at some time. We’re all fully aware of what the expectations are. Seasons like this are won Monday to Friday really because of the hard work and I haven’t had to raise my voice all season really. You work hard on the training ground and they transfer that into the games.”