Two academy products earn international bow.
The work of Colchester United's Academy continues to bear fruit, with two of its young talents making their international debuts in the past two weeks.15-year-old Milo Downey and 14-year-old Louis Dunne have represented Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland respectively, as the U's efforts to develop the best in young talent step up another level.
Primarily a deep-lying central midfielder, Milo has been a regular within the U16s squad this season and attends Philip Morant School in Colchester.
Milo has been with the club since the age of 8, progressing through each of the schoolboy squads and was offered an academy scholarship at the start of this season, guaranteeing his future at Colchester United at least until he is 18.
Milo earned three caps with Northern Ireland during an international training week, following up substitute appearances against Wales and Iceland with a first start against Faroe Islands.
Milo has been with the club since the age of 8, progressing through each of the schoolboy squads and was offered an academy scholarship at the start of this season, guaranteeing his future at Colchester United at least until he is 18.
Milo earned three caps with Northern Ireland during an international training week, following up substitute appearances against Wales and Iceland with a first start against Faroe Islands.
His progress saw him become one of the youngest players ever to be offered a youth scholarship at Colchester United in September and earned him a call-up to a Republic of Ireland training camp earlier in the season, from where he was promoted to the U15s squad, making his debut in the recent fixture versus Finland.
Louis Dunne - son of first team manager Joe - has played up in age groups this season, featuring regularly in U15s games this season as well as tasting U16s football.
Louis Dunne - son of first team manager Joe - has played up in age groups this season, featuring regularly in U15s games this season as well as tasting U16s football.
Like Milo, Louis has been coached at the club since the age of 8 and in 2011 joined the club’s Elite Football Programme at Thurstable School in Tiptree.
Academy Head of Youth Tony Humes was delighted with their progress, saying: "
"I hope that this is only a small part of a long and successful career in football with both Colchester United and the countries they have represented.
"They both deserve huge credit for the attitude and application they have shown and fully deserve the international recognition they have received.
Both Louis and Milo have been in our Academy programme for a number of years and have shown a real determination and desire to develop their natural ability and to improve their game knowledge and understanding.
"They both deserve huge credit for the attitude and application they have shown and fully deserve the international recognition they have received.
Both Louis and Milo have been in our Academy programme for a number of years and have shown a real determination and desire to develop their natural ability and to improve their game knowledge and understanding.
"Everyone at the Club is extremely proud and this demonstrates that we have players within our Academy capable of playing at a high level and is testimony to the hard work being done by all staff and coaches involved in the Club and Academy."