Jutorre Burgess has been named Harborough Town’s Young Player of the Year during the club’s annual awards ceremony.

The Bermudian winger has impressed in his debut season with the Southern League Premier Division Central side’s first team since being promoted from their emerging talent programme last September.

The former Bermuda under-20, Hamilton Parish and Brooke House College academy player was surprised and delighted to receive the award.

“It’s a great feeling being chosen and just shows that all the hard work I’ve been doing outside of training has paid off,” an elated Burgess told The Royal Gazette.

“The award took me by surprise because I didn’t know that we would be doing a young player of the season and I was only informed of two other awards. But when the announcer started to say this player has been the first to be promoted to the first team from the 23s, I kind of knew that it was more than likely going to be me, and I am just thankful and grateful towards the club and the staff.”

Despite producing the goods on the pitch, Burgess refuses to take all of the credit for his success.

“The key to my success this season is my faith in God and trusting Him to lead my pathway no matter how difficult the task may be,” he said.

“My team-mates have also played a huge part in my success by the encouragement they’ve shown me during both the good and difficult times.”

The award has now reinforced the 18-year-old’s confidence and belief in his abilities as he continues his pursuit of a professional career.

“This award has given me belief that I am more than capable of playing men's football at even a higher level and created a new fire in my belly to just keep pushing on to continue to try and make an impact in games,” he said.

Harborough Town remain in contention for promotion as they occupy the fourth and final play-off spot heading into the league-season finale away to lowly AFC Sudbury.

While happy to have earned personal accolades for his efforts on the pitch in his breakout season at senior level, promotion remains top priority for the promising player, who has netted five goals in this campaign.

“The end goal is to reach promotion with these amazing group of players,” Burgess said. “That’s when we can kick on and people can start acknowledging Harborough Town as a club with weight on its name.”

Burgess is the first player from the club’s under-23 squad to sign with the senior team.

He made his senior debut in the Bee’s 2-1 home win against league leaders Bedford Town last August and opened his goal tally after coming off the bench to snatch a late winner in a 3-2 triumph away to Biggleswade Town 3-2 four months later.

Burgess also played an integral role in helping Mitch Austin’s team make club history by reaching the second round of the Emirates FA Cup, the farthest they have ever reached in the oldest football competition in the world, where they lost 5-3 away to Sky Bet League One outfit Reading.