Defender benefits from Maldon experience.
With his move to Colchester United now confirmed, defender Ben Wyatt can't wait to get started next season – and to follow in the footsteps of former team mate Femi Akinwande.
Ben penned a year's contract after impressing with Maldon & Tiptree in 2015/16, and will now look to make a similarly positive impression with the U's.
Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "I've had a good season with Maldon and the fact that Femi and I have been offered contracts proves the programme with Maldon and Colchester is working.
"I sat down last summer and looked at what I needed to do to get back into professional football and worked hard through the season to get there."
Ben had had eight years with Norwich City and a year with Ipswich Town before his switch to Maldon, and feels a season at Ryman League level has taught him a great deal.
He added: "Like many other lads of my age, I maybe wasn't quite ready before and needed some proper first team football to work my way back into the professional game.
"With the move to Maldon, you're going out every week to win games and I maybe hadn't had that when I was playing U21s football before.
"You learn how to manage a game and how to cope with playing on difficult surfaces, as well as playing up against men who have a bit more experience than you.
"Getting back into professional football with Colchester appealed massively to me, as they have a real desire to bring through young players. A lot of players drop out of the professional game and find it hard to get back in, so I am really looking forward to this opportunity."