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Lawrence Signs For Colchester
Tuesday, 2nd Sep 2014 19:10

Midfielder Byron Lawrence has joined Colchester United on a one-year deal. The 18-year-old has been on trial with the League One side, Town having made him available on a free transfer.

After featuring for Colchester's U21s yesterday evening, the former Histon schoolboy signed forms ending his time with Town and has become new U's manager Tony Humes's first signing since taking over following Joe Dunne's sacking yesterday.

The former Blues central defender said: "I think this is further evidence of how we're trying to bring exciting young talent into the club.

"We want to generate footballers for the first team via our own academy, but we also have to be aware of other good young players that may be around, especially if we feel that they're of a calibre that will make the first team.

"Byron has shown in his two performances for the U21s that there is a good player there and we're pleased to have him on board."

Lawrence broke through into Town the first-team squad as a 15-year-old when he was an unused sub in the 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to Northampton in August 2011.

He became the club’s second-youngest first-team player behind Connor Wickham when he came on as a sub aged 16 years and 47 days on the final day of the 2011/12 season in the 3-2 victory at Doncaster, but did not add to that appearance.

The midfielder, who was contracted until the end of the season, was some way from the Blues first team with younger players such as Teddy Bishop having moved ahead of him in the pecking order.


Photo: Action Images



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BotesdaleBlue added 19:37 - Sep 2
The latest in a long line of promising youngsters not to make it at town (for various reasons). Oh well, we move on.

Best of luck Byron.
4

cooper4england added 20:18 - Sep 2
Good luck really hope he has a future in the game.

Can we have a sell on clause even if he went on a free? We didn't actually terminate his contract.
2

rambohambo added 20:19 - Sep 2
Give it two years he will be in the premier league laughing at us
-1

hancockingoal added 20:53 - Sep 2
An early developer who like many others do not fulfil their potential. I wish him well but very much doubt he will come back and haunt us?
4

kerryblue added 22:46 - Sep 2
Yet another youngster that for some reason or another hasn't made the impact we all thought he would at this club,if all our coaches and scouting staff are so sharp why is this happening with the majority of them?I know they all cant make it to the big time but it would by nice to see all those salaries justified every few years
1

BrettenhamBlue added 00:28 - Sep 3
Bishop, Clarke, Mings, Henshall and Marriott have more potential at the moment.

Best of luck to him at Colchester.
3

Kirbmeister added 08:14 - Sep 3
Kerryblue - he's just not good enough I've seen him play. He is okay but that's all. Can't think of a player we released recently that has succeeded? JET, Carson, Drury. Hourihane is scoring but at a much lower level.
2

blueblood66 added 08:59 - Sep 3
How else has actually 'come back to haunt us'? I can't think of one from the Academy who has been released. , MM is not a fool he knows a player when he see's one and he clearly thinks Byron isn't quite up to playing at this level.
1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:40 - Sep 3
blueblood66: More to the point, Bryan Klug is not a fool. Pity it didn't work out, but I trust our Academy manager's judgement.
1

BrettenhamBlue added 11:11 - Sep 3
Caolan Lavery has done well at Sheffield Wednesday. Only scored 4 times there but firm fan favourite.

Correct about JET, Carson, Drury etc
0

Blue041273 added 13:18 - Sep 3
Thing is, we can't keep them all. Every year a new tranche of players come out of the academy. A few might be worth a professional contract in the hope that they might progress to the first team squad; the others inevitably fall by the wayside. However the step up from academy ranks to possibly the fringes of the first team squad is enormous. From playing with or against players of their peers, they have to compete with worldly wise professional players with massively different lifestyles and experiences. Some cope; others despite the raw potential don't. The diamonds that break through are few and far between. The role of the academy is to identify talent, nurture it, and develop it so it has a chance to thrive in the professional game. We can't expect a constant flow of kids graduating from the academy to the first team squad as a matter of routine.
1

bluemikey100 added 14:59 - Sep 3
will we be signin collinson or ambrose as inactive in transfer window or is it gonna be all onloan youngsters from premiership now
0


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