SOUTHEND-based Active Soccer and Sport Academy (ASSA), have become the first sponsors of Southend's South East Essex College Football Academy tracksuits.

The company has provided the 18-man squad and staff with red tracksuits to travel to their 22 matches this season.

The matches will see the college students flying the flag for Essex as they travel right across the county, London and Suffolk taking part in the Football Conference Youth League, a very professionally run competition.

It involves colleges who offer football development programmes and league and non-league clubs.

"This sponsorship deal is not just a company putting its name on the back of a tracksuit, it is an investment in future Essex coaching talent as the ASSA work in schools and delivers football coaching sessions to youngsters within the local area after school," said ASSA managing director Neil Lake.

"It also deals with Saturday teams and does lots of work with the local council. It is important to support the local area and encourage getting more decent coaches.

"It really helps up people's game and the football academy at the college offers a quality service that we are more than happy to endorse and support."

He added: "We already have two former students in employment, both full-time, and a further two present students part-time so as a feeder into local employment the college is great.

"It is great for the boys and it is great for Essex football as a whole."

The college has a very good link with ASSA and Dean Wells, head of the football academy, approach-ed Neil Lake and fellow managing director Neville Hickton and they were both so impressed by the football academy course that they wanted to support one of the teams at the college.

Wells said: "There is a really good link between college and ASSA and several of our Academy students are employed on a part time and full time basis.

"When we entered the Conference League I approached Neil and Neville to ask if they were interested in supporting the team and they were glad to be involved with the college"

So far the Conference team at South East Essex College have made an unbeaten start and sit in third place in the Conference League Central Division having won three out of their first four league games and drawing the other against pre season title favourites Dagenham & Redbridge (Barking Abbey).