Colchester United academy graduates are shining in League Two

In the second part of our in-depth interview with Dmitri Halajko, the U's sporting director reveals his pride at the contribution of the club's rising academy stars.

FOR many years now, Colchester United have established a reputation for providing a clear pathway for their academy players to prosper.

The likes of Sammie Szmodics, Frankie Kent, Kane Vincent-Young and Alex Gilbey are all examples of U's academy graduates who have risen to prominence in recent times, before plying their trade at a higher level.

That trend is continuing, with Colchester's current first-team squad featuring a number of home-grown youngsters who are shining in the EFL - and the stats prove it.

Junior Tchamadeu, Noah Chilvers and Samson Tovide have all established themselves as regular starters under head coach, Matt Bloomfield.

U's sporting director Dmitri Halajko says the club's youngsters have made a 'massive contribution' so far, this season.

Halajko said: “We’re really pleased with the academy boys and the contribution they’ve made has been phenomenal really.

“I don’t think there’s many other clubs in the country that have got the kind of stats that we’ve got at the moment.

“Around a third of the minutes played have been played by academy graduates that are all under the age of 22.

“And 50 per cent of the goals that we’ve scored this season have either been scored or assisted by an academy product, which is a massive return.

“It’s something that’s so unique at the moment and you don’t see many clubs doing that.

“It’s one of the things that makes our club special and is always at the heart of our club.

“I’m really proud of everyone really.

“It’s a massive contribution and our two top scorers this season are probably Noah and Junior, I think.

“At some clubs, the young lads are around the edges whereas ours at the moment, are taking centre stage at times which is really impressive.

“That doesn’t happen with six weeks or six months of hard work – it’s done over a long period.

“It’s a long process to get some of those players through and Junior, Noah and Samson are long-term projects of development.

“We’re seeing the fruits from the young lads now but it’s easy to forget the years and years of hard work that the academy staff have put into get them there, along with the players’ hard work and the sacrifices they’ve made.

“It’s a long process and it’s really nice to see some of the end product.”

Chilvers has been at Colchester since under-nine level, progressing all the way through the club's academy prior to establishing himself in their first team.

The likes of Tchamadeu and Chay Cooper have followed a different path, having linked up with the U's youth set-up after departing other clubs.

“The big thing that we can talk about and sell is the pathway," added Halajko.

“It’s proven that if you’re good enough, you will get the opportunity.

“We’ll give you more of a chance than most clubs to fulfill your dream as a professional footballer.

“Obviously we want to grow our own players who have been in the building since they were nine or ten like Noah, who I remember when I was at the club in my first spell, as an under-nine or ten player.

“I remember coaching him and signing him then.

“That’s one pathway and the other pathway has to be the ones that have been released from a club.

“For whatever reason, their pathway was blocked at that club but we can provide that pathway and give them the opportunity that progresses them from being a youth player into being a first-team player.”