U16s play a friendly v Norwich on Thursday at WHCS.
If you were impressed by the recent U18s performance against Portsmouth in the Youth Alliance Cup, there will be another chance for you to see the U's stars of the future at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this Thursday (April 10th).The U16s will be taking on Norwich City in a friendly at the home of Colchester United, with a 7pm kick-off.
The side will be a mix of the current U16s who are due to step into the U18s next season, along with the U15s who will become the U16s for the 2014/15 season.
Below, Head of the U's Academy Tony Humes tells us more about the incoming scholars for next season.
Milo Downey
Milo has been with us since he was an U9s player and has already been capped at International level with Northern Ireland. A ball playing midfielder who sits and gets on the ball, starting off most of the attacking moves. Has had a massive growth spurt in the past eighteen months so has had to change his style a little bit.
Cameron James
A player who has been with us from the U10s and has performed in a number of positions in his time with us. An athletic player, he can play centre back, full back and in the midfield and is very good technically.
Jamie Stevens
Unusually in this day and age, a young player that is really happy defending and takes great pride in his team keeping a clean sheet. Jamie has been with us for over four years now and is a no nonsense defender who will defend as if his life depends on it. Does need to work on the technical side of his game but has all the attributes and attitude needed to make it happen.
Tariq Issa
Tariq is the first product of the excellent Thurstable system, and we have high hopes of a lot of boys following in his footsteps in the coming years. A talented forward who has the natural ability to find himself space between opposing players and brings others into the game well. He has had lots of involvement in the U18s this season so we expect him to hit the ground running next season.
Diaz Wright
Diaz has been with us since he was an U13s and is another who has been very much a part of the U18s squad this season. Brother of Drey, Diaz has a more languid style. A real talent on the ball when he applies himself and one who should settle into things next season.
Wayne Blackman
Came out of local football at the end of his U14s season and in the past two years, has progressed really well. Can play as the main striker or just off the front and is a good goal scorer with plenty of energy. He also likes to make his runs off the shoulders of the defenders so fits in nicely with what we want from our forward players.
JJ Wilson
A left sided player who has played most of his football at centre half or left back but has the technical ability to play further up the pitch. Was released by Watford so we still need to learn about his game but he will give a good balance to our squad. Everything we have seen from him so far is positive so we are expecting him to fit in well.
Callum Robinson
Callum will be our first year keeper next season and we will be expecting him to push our second year keeper Ronnie Carroll. Spent time at Arsenal until he was an U15s and then went to Stevenage. Came onto our radar this season and we have been keeping tabs on him. We took him on when Stevenage said they wouldn’t be offering him a contract, based on his good technical ability and his stature.
George Brown
£2U16s:
£2 Seniors:
£5 Adults:
FREE All Season Ticket Holders:
Ticket prices for the friendly v Norwich are as follows:-
George was released by Tottenham not long ago and has impressed us enough in his time on trial to offer him an apprenticeship. He is an exciting wide player, who loves to get on the ball and run at defenders. He has pace and power as well so should suit our 4-3-3 system perfectly. He has already been exposed to our U18s in his short time with us so we have no real worries about how he will settle in.
£2 Seniors:
£5 Adults:
FREE All Season Ticket Holders:
Ticket prices for the friendly v Norwich are as follows:-
George was released by Tottenham not long ago and has impressed us enough in his time on trial to offer him an apprenticeship. He is an exciting wide player, who loves to get on the ball and run at defenders. He has pace and power as well so should suit our 4-3-3 system perfectly. He has already been exposed to our U18s in his short time with us so we have no real worries about how he will settle in.