Sponsorship is sweet for the U's

PLAYERS from Colchester United Football Club called into their local Co-op Fiveway's supermarket at Stanway to pick up an unusual contribution to the team's fitness regime.

PLAYERS from Colchester United Football Club called into their local Co-op Fiveway's supermarket at Stanway to pick up an unusual contribution to the team's fitness regime.

The East of England Co-op is donating a season's worth of Jelly Babies and Jaffa Cakes to the team to help them with their match day preparations.

The U's and undefeated in their last four games and are heading into three months of matches containing local derbies against Ipswich, Norwich and Southend.

Tony Flynn, team physio, and Donough Holohan, fitness coach, were joined by U's players John White and George Elokobi at the Fiveways store to sample their “sweet” deal.

Mr Flynn said: “We are hugely appreciative of the Co-op's contribution to the cause and the players and management are looking forward to making the most of the opportunity.

“The energy produced by the sweets plays an important part in the match day experience and, hopefully, when the lads pick up crucial results during the rest of their first season in the Championship, the East of England Co-op will feel they have done their bit.”

Miriam Harrup, communications and community manager, for the East of England Co-op, said: “We support hundreds of local charities, but this is a bit out of the ordinary.

“There's plenty of opportunity for friendly football rivalry among our staff as our trading area covers the three major regional centres of Ipswich, Norwich and Colchester, as all have football teams in the Championship the next few months will be interesting!”