The Boys Development Centre take on Norwich City on an overnight stay trip to The Nest.
During the Easter Holidays, the Colchester United Football in the Community (CUFITC) Boys Development Centre represented the club at Norwich City’s Community Hub, the Nest on a weekend away trip. Both our Under 11’s and Under 15/16 groups took part in fixtures verses the Premier League Club’s Development Centre squads.
Our Under 11’s squad kicked off the weekend with a last minute winner, followed by our under 15/16 group putting in a great performance but coming up just short in their game against the Canaries. The games were only part of the players learning over the weekend, with life skills at the centre of the outcomes of the trip. Once the fixtures had been completed both groups took part in recovery sessions before completing tasks in their onsite player accommodation, including making their beds and setting up their rooms. Players and staff then completed a set of challenges in the ‘Challenge Woods’ which holds zip wires, climbing frames and other aerial team building challenges for players to work on team building skills.
All players and staff would eat together in the onsite restaurant before completing a recovery walks as a group around the whole complex at the Nest to allow the boys some time to chat and bond. The boys then returned to our accommodation to have some ‘Free Time’ to play table tennis, pool, Play Station and watch the day’s football highlights.
The following day both groups headed to Carrow Road and watched a Premier League game between Norwich City vs West Ham before completing the weekend trip and returning to North Essex.
Joe Hart, CUFITC Sports Participation Lead shared; “Firstly we’d like to thank everyone at Norwich City Football Club and the Nest. Secondly to all our players who conducted themselves to a very high standard both on and off the pitch representing Colchester United brilliantly.
Our overnight stay at the Nest provided us coaches with an opportunity to work with players off the pitch, as well as on it. It was nice to have both U11’s and U15/16’s working closely together within social activities during our free time, followed by Sundays visit to Carrow Road for the match.
From a football development side, we participated within one very competitive fixture vs Norwich City per age group. All Colchester United players conducted themselves to an exceptional standard on and off the pitch which they should be proud off. We look forward to organising future trips to the Nest throughout the 2022/2023 season”.
A Parent of one of our Under 11’s players commented; “From a Parent’s perspective you are running a brilliant program which has given my son loads of fantastic experiences to help him grow as a person and a footballer. He has learned so much from the Norwich trip, including teamwork, working hard to improve and competing in the right way through his football with Col U, and these are great life lessons”.
Archie, one of our Under 11 players who took part in the trip said; “I wanted to say a big thank you for an amazing weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can’t wait to go on this trip again next season. The facilities we're fantastic and I really enjoyed watching a Premier League game with my team mates!”.
Everyone at CUFITC would like to thank all the staff at The Nest for their hospitality and kindness on our trip. We can’t wait to come again next year!
For more information on our Boys Development Centre, please email Fitc@colchesterunited.net or visit https://www.cu-fc.com/fitc/our-programmes/sports-participation/development-centre/