Ok first things first, we need to spend a while here to appreciate what the academy achieved last week. The U18's that are currently plying their trade in the F.A Youth Cup have had a stinking bad deal of things. They have missed out on opportunities their predecessors were given, they have missed out on so much football, they have missed out on US Tours, they have been stiffed at every conceivable opportunity by the world BUT dear me they are a resilient group and as a collective they are growing stronger and stronger. They have had some real banana skin fixtures so far with Needham Market and Dereham Town away from home and they have come through both of those tests with flying colours. Their 3-1 win at Dereham on Tuesday night was gritty and classy in equal measure and to have reached the 1st round proper once more is a fantastic achievement. They now will face Chelmsford City in the 1st Round Proper during the first week of November.

Now on to the weekend, what more can I say, the fact that the video reaction to our draw live has now been seen more than 68 thousand times, that is a lot of views, but there is a lot going on in those 32 seconds, there is the hope, expectation, confusion, elation and then a whole load of ... 'oh my god we've got a lot to do'
As for the game itself... wow. These guys go through walls for us all and the quality of every single goal scored was top top top draw. What heart, what game management and what a crowd.

Ok so down to business... what's coming up this week.

Tuesday 19th
The 1st team take on Great Wakering Rovers in the Isthmian League North with a 7:45pm KO

Thursday 21st
The U18's take on Witham Town down at the MEL Group Stadium with an 8pm KO

Friday 22nd
We are hosting Sudbury Sports vs Tavern in the Cup with an 8pm KO

Saturday 23rd
The 1st Team are at home again as they take on Felixstowe and Walton in the league with a 3:00pm KO

Sunday 24th
The Women's reserves play Woodbridge at home with a 2:00pm KO

Ok so the Colchester tickets, when we know the date of the game for sure then we will be able to finalise the ticketing details but just like the F. A Cup programmes that sold out last weekend, these are going to get snapped up sharpish too so.... all I will say is that if you were to attend the Great Wakering and Felixstowe games then your chances of getting ticket might well improve greatly .. nudge nudge wink wink

There is more I could say but too much has probably already been said about the events of last week. So I will add the usual ...' if I have missed something out then please let me know and I will rectify it' line.

COME ON YOU YELLOW!