Youngsters offer U's hope for the future (From Gazette)

Youngsters offer U's hope for the future

9:12am Wednesday 19th December 2012 in Sport By Jonathan Waldron

Richard Hall believes the inclusion of several home-grown youngsters in Colchester United’s first team squad is a sign that their youth policy is working.

A number of the U’s young up-and-coming stars made the trip down to the south coast with Joe Dunne’s senior side, for their League One match with Bournemouth.

Eighteen-year-old winger Drey Wright impressed as a second-half substitute in Colchester’s 1-0 defeat, at Dean Court.

Tosin Olufemi was an unused substitute, while rookies Tom Lapslie and Macauley Bonne also travelled with the U’s squad.

Colchester are keen to see their young players flourish for the first team in the seasons to come and have invested heavily in their youth programme.

U’s development coach Hall said: “It shows that the conveyor belt is working.

“It’s good for them to get experience with the first team.

“This is what we’re all about and it shows that the manager is looking at them."

See Wednesday's Gazette for more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news.