Steve Ball's football journey from being a young player at Arsenal to becoming Head Coach at the U's.
Colchester born Ball grew up a stone's throw from the JobServe Community Stadium, before starting his football journey at the North London giants.
We start that journey when he was only ten years old and signed for Arsenal, having impressed in Sunday League football for Severalls Athletic.
His schoolboy days included a home visit from then England Manager Bobby Robson to try and persuade the yonug protege to attend Lilleshall for his final two school years.
After leaving St Helena's School in 1986, the gifted midfielder signed as an apprentice at the Gunners and went on to sign as a professional at Highbury.
He spent a short spell at Colchester United in 1990, before heading to Norfolk having secured a deal with Norwich City.
After two seasons with the Canaries, he returned to the U's in 1992 and stayed for four years.
After spending time playing, coaching and managing in non-league football, he returned to the U's as a coach in 2012.
His initial role saw him look after the young academy players who had enrolled into Thurstable School and the U's U13s.
Ball progressed quickly through the Academy age groups, before assisting John McGreal in the U23s in 2015.
He followed McGreal into the fisrt team environment in 2016, and is now in charge of first team affairs in his new Head Coach role.