Colchester United

Recently, development contracts to join the U21s have been given out to Marley Andrews, Tyler Brampton and Callum Harrison and, as they graduate up to the next level, they will be followed into the U18s by the latest crop of talented footballers.

Homegrown Academy players have provided 96 first team appearances so far this season, with the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Alex Gilbey regular names on the first team teamsheet.

Colchester United's Academy have confirmed the players that will be joining the U18s next season, as the club continues to build for the future.

Ryan is from Stanway, has been with the club since he was an Under 9 and has made a name for himself over the years as a flying left-winger with a knack for scoring goals.Ryan Clampin


Those coming into the club full time as of pre-season this year are:-

Aaron Cosgrave
Aaron is from Shenfield and joined Colchester United during his Under 14 season, having previously played in West Ham's academy. Aaron can play either as a winger or a centre forward and featured in this season's FA Youth Cup run.

Ross Debrick
Ross is from Witham and has been with the club from the age of 9. He is a left-back who loves to get forward and is someone who has worked well with Ryan Clampin over the years to form a strong left side.

Louis Dunne
Louis is another of the new intake who has been with the club since 9 years old and has spent the last few seasons playing in older age groups. Louis is already an Under 18 regular, scored in the FA Youth Cup win over Cheltenham and has represented the Republic of Ireland.

Eoin McKeown
Eoin only trialled for the club recently, having been spotted in local football, playing for Hoddesdon. He impressed so much as a rampaging centre forward in his first three Under 16 fixtures, that he was called into the U18s squad at Cardiff where he scored the opening goal in a 3-2 win and was subsequently offered a contract. 

Joshua Moore
Josh comes from Ipswich and joined Colchester as an Under 12, quickly establishing himself as an all-action midfielder with an outstanding attitude. Sadly for Josh, the last 18 months have seen him suffer with injuries, although he did score the winning goal as an Under 15 when the Under 16s beat Norwich at the stadium last April. 

Joshua Pollard
Josh actually lives just around the corner from the training ground in Tiptree, but spent his early academy years at Ipswich before joining Colchester as an Under 15. His performances at centre back quickly earned him Under 16 recognition and then a call-up to the Under 18s, where he played in the Youth Alliance Southern Final victory over Portsmouth.

Josce Syrett
Josce is from Coggeshall and joined the club as an Under 10. He is an attacking midfielder with the capability of dominating games and has scored a number of memorable goals in recent seasons. 

Added to these 8 scholars are Jake Mulryne and Jacob Partridge, who signed for Colchester last week having both previously been at Ipswich. Jake is a right-back, who impressed in recent Under 17/18 fixtures, as did Jacob, who is able to play in defence and as a holding midfielder.

All 10 boys will be starting full-time with the football club from July on an initial two year scholarship programme and they will look to emulate the trio of Marley, Tyler and Callum, who have progressed through the schoolboy age groups, into the youth team and have just been offered professional development contracts.

Looking further ahead, it wasn't too long ago that the likes of Frankie Kent, Sammie Szmodics, Macauley Bonne, Michael O'Donoghue and Tom Lapslie were being introduced as scholars, so the incentives and rewards are very clear for these boys.