Youth team captain Ross Crouch was celebrating a proud family tradition today with the award of a full professional contract to play for Colchester United.

Crouch follows in the footsteps of his father, Nigel, a U's defender in 1980-81, and his uncle, Steve Foley, a huge Layer Road favourite as a player, youth-team coach and four times caretaker manager between 1969-91.

Nearing the end of the third and final year of his Layer Road scholarship scheme, Crouch, a talented 19-year-old central defender or full-back, has been handed a one-year deal by U's boss Phil Parkinson.

Parkinson said of his latest young recruit: "Ross is a great character with a tremendous attitude."

Published Wednesday April 14, 2004

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