Oliver Pickett joined the elite 250-cap club on Saturday, as the latest Colchester home-grown player to reach the highly impressive landmark.
Just a few weeks after his team-mates Joe McMillan and James Mitchell also marked 250 first-team appearances for the first team, the middle of three rugby-playing Pickett brothers led the team out against Westcliff for his own milestone.
Playing alongside his younger brother Harrison, and with other members of his family watching on, this was a proud day for a player who has been a stalwart in the back row of the scrum for his hometown club for many years.
“It means a lot to get to 250 caps for Colchester,” said Oli. “It’s taken me a little while to get to it, but to do it with a group of boys I started out with is great. I started out with these boys from the age of seven.”
Head coach Craig Burrows was full of praise for one of the key members of his team.
“What a warrior. Definitely a man you’d rather have in your team than against you,” said Burrows.
“He gives everything out on the pitch. He’s really dedicated and I’m just glad to have Oli with us, and hopefully for 250 more!”