Town have offered 17-year-old Brightlingsea Regent midfielder Rob Harvey a three-week trial at Playford Road.
Harvey (pictured above, left) and fellow Regent youngsters Mekhi McKenzie (right) and Harry McDonald (centre) were among a number of local trialists to play for a Blues U21s team in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Chinese side Beijing Guoan on the 3G at Playford Road in December.
Harvey, who has already made 16 appearances for the third-placed Ryman League North Division club’s first team, and McKenzie were both among the scorers as Town won 5-2.
The trio are students with the Colne Football Academy, which works in partnership with Regent.
@twtduk the whole club is behind you Rob ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘👠go for it !
— Terry Doherty (@RegentTerry) January 25, 2017
"We’re delighted all three boys have been given this experience and it’s great that Rob now has an extended opportunity to prove what he can do,” Colne director of sport Jon Taylor told the Colchester Gazette.
"Rob joined us in September [from West Bergholt U16s] and has progressed really well, which is a great testament to the development programme here at the Colne working in partnership with Brightlingsea Regent.
"All three boys have featured in the first team this year, playing in the Ryman League — step four of the football pyramid.”