BEN Wyatt has thanked Maldon and Tiptree after completing a move to Colchester United.

The talented left-back has signed a one-year deal with the U’s, following an impressive season for the Jammers in Ryman League division north.

Wyatt walked off with the Supporters’ Player of the Year, Manager’s Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year awards at the club’s recent end-of-season awards night, after helping the club to the brink of the play-offs.

And having shone for Maldon this season after joining them following his release from Ipswich Town, the young defender says he is grateful for the opportunity he had at Park Drive.

Wyatt said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Maldon and Tiptree for the last year.

“I’ve had to work hard at Maldon this season to try and get it and it’s been a good year for me.

“It was very flattering to get the awards I did and it’s been a good season.

“I’d have liked to have ideally finished the season with a promotion at Maldon but we just fell short in the end.

“The set-up they have with Colchester has worked really well for me.

“David Wright, who brought me in from Ipswich and Liam Bailey were both great and then Steve Ball after that – I’ve learnt a massive amount from them all.

“Hopefully now I’ll be working with Steve with Colchester’s first team, next season and it’s a good move for me.”

Former Maldon boss and Colchester assistant manager Steve Ball said Wyatt was consistently impressive for the Jammers, this season.

Ball said: “Ben is a player who embraced joining Maldon from day one.

“He didn’t see the move as a backward step for him and has had the right mental approach to what was required from him.

“He was outstanding from the very start of the season.

“He’s an aggressive defender, good at going forward and very much the modern day full-back.”