Piers Hatcliff is a first year who can play as a central midfielder or as a forward.

Danny Heath: “Piers has been at the club since he was an under-7 and we are all very happy that Piers has wanted to stay with the club. Piers is a positive, forward-thinking player that loves to attack to build, create and take goal scoring opportunities for the team. Piers has very good technical ability to attack with dribbling skills, combination play and also the ability to show good quality to produce an end product when in the attacking third of the pitch. Socially he is confident and demands high standards from himself but also his teammates”.

Piers Hatcliff: “Being here since the age of 6, this club means everything to me and always will. Coming through the academy I have been exposed to so many highs, from the first team play-offs at Wembley to the amazing academy tours to Germany and Holland. I was fortunate enough to be offered my scholarship early which made me want to play for Southend even more. When growing up through the Academy I knew the high expectations it took for playing for the youth team and have always looked up to mirror the first team's players in my position."