TOMMY Smith was driven to come and sign for Colchester United.

That's the view of U's head coach Steve Ball, who says the experienced defender was keen to embrace the club's project of giving their youngsters an opportunity to shine.

Smith, 30, snubbed other offers to sign a two-year deal with Colchester last week, having impressed for them during pre-season as a free agent.

The New Zealand international had been looking for a new club after leaving League One side Sunderland, last season.

And the experienced centre-back - who made more than 200 appearances for Colchester's neighbours, Ipswich Town - was enthusiastic to be a part of life at the JobServe Community Stadium, according to boss Ball.

Ball said: “In the modern game, it’s a short career for footballers as we all know.

“Quite often, you’ll find with players that a huge slant to that is a financial element.

“That’s obviously very important to Tommy and his family but Tommy's drive was to come and sign for the football club.

“He understands the project that we’re working towards and it was so refreshing to have dialogue with a senior pro like Tommy who’s obviously played in World Cups and captained his country to have that mindset, for a guy who’s still got a really good amount of time left in his career and really experienced.

“He’s really, really putting football first so to speak and that’s so refreshing.

“Every day in training, I can honestly say that he’s pulling the young ones to the side and talking through pitch situations.

"It’s invaluable to have somebody like that as well as us coaches and head coaches, to have experienced, quality players guiding our young ones.

“As I’ve always said, it’s really important to this football club to have senior boys who are of the right character to understand how we go about things which is a little bit different, which is obviously great.

“It’s so important that our senior pros have got the right make up and he absolutely ticks that box."

Colchester are preparing for their first competitive game of the season, this weekend.

The U's travel to play Championship club Reading at the Madejski Stadium in the Carabao Cup first round, kick-off 3pm.

Colchester's first League Two game is at Bradford City, on September 12.