Micky Cook has claimed the Colchester United under-19s will be even better next year following one of their best ever campaigns.
Clattered - The U's Dean Morgan feels the full force of this challenge in last night's U19 defeat. Picture:TERRY WEEDEN (20660-6)
The U's youth team boss was proud of his youngsters after their season ended with last night's 2-0 defeat to Walsall in the Youth Alliance Cup semi-final at Layer Road.
The under-19s have been unbeaten in 16 league games and also claimed the Youth Alliance title.
Cook said: "I've just witnessed a very disappointed dressing room. We came up against a strong professional outfit and credit must go to them.
"We didn't play as we know we can. Some of the younger lads were slightly in awe of the situation. It was a large crowd more than 600 people to play in front of. They'll learn though.
"We've always said at the club that we'll look to progress every year. We've done that now for the last four years. I don't see why we can't go one better next year and win this prestigious tournament.
"We'll still have seven of this year's crop to take us through next term, so anything is possible."
Cook also paid tribute to Marc Canham and Triston Chambers who both left the youth set-up to make their first-team debuts against Cardiff City at the weekend.
Cook continued: "We'll miss Marc especially. He has the potential to go a very long way in this profession. I just hope that it will be with Colchester United.
"Triston wants a contract with the club. I hope that he keeps plugging away as he's another that we all rate highly at Layer Road."
The U's youngsters ran away with their league this season and qualified for the Merit league, which pits the best teams from around the country up against each other.
The Merit league results weren't as Cook would have hoped but he learned more about his team.
Cook said: "In the Merit league teams are a lot more professional and we had to be just the same. I know we lost games but it wasn't because we played badly.
"We've learnt every step of the way this year. That's the way to take the youth at this club forward."
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Published Tuesday, April 9, 2002
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