Town have announced the names of the 13 new scholars who will join the academy full-time in the summer.

The new intake, who begin two-year scholarships in July, were formally welcomed to the club earlier today by caretaker-manager Bryan Klug, academy manager Lee O’Neill and skipper Luke Chambers.

Jake Alley is a goalkeeper who comes from Hertfordshire, while Dylan Ruffles is a full-back or winger who joined the academy at 13 having previously been with the development centre in Lowestoft.

Centre-half Alex Henderson, who is from Boxford near Sudbury, has recently been on the bench for the U23s. He joined the academy as an U11 and is a leader on the field.

London-based central defender Louie Fehrenbach joined the club at U15 level, while left-back Tommy Smith, who has featured for the U18s this season, progressed into the academy from the Walsham-le-Willows development centre aged nine.

Central midfielder Teddy Baker has been with the Blues since the U8s and hails from Bawdsey. Matt Healy is another midfielder, who has been with College Corinthians up to now and has won Republic of Ireland caps at U16 and U15 levels.

Also joining from Ireland is midfielder Connor O’Reilly, who Finn Harps announced would be moving to the Blues earlier in the month. From Letterkenny, O'Reilly has won Republic of Ireland caps at U16 level.

Welshman Lewis Reed is a centre-forward, who is the grandson of Billy Reed, who became the Blues’ first ever full international when he won two caps with Wales in 1954.

From France is the versatile Allan Viral, while Cambridgeshire-based forward Ben Knight is the best known name among the new recruits having been capped by England at U15 and U16 levels and been linked with the likes of Manchester City. Knight has already featured for the U23s.

Felixstowe-born Zak Brown, the younger brother of Charlie who moved from the Blues to Chelsea a couple of summers ago, is a quick striker, who has also played for England at U15 and U16 levels. He joined the academy as an U13.

The powerful Tyreece Simpson, who is also a talented rugby player, only joined the academy recently having spent time on trial with Manchester City.

He was part of the Norfolk-based Langley School side that reached the national final of the ESFA Playstation Small Schools’ Trophy last year. He has recently featured for the Blues’ U18s."

Photo: ITFC

ScottCandage added 21:02 - Apr 20 Best of luck, Gentlemen! May you all taste champagne from the Premier League Trophy when you win it for Ipswich Town!
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not_a_witty_name added 21:06 - Apr 20 Sounds promising, good luck lads.
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northblue added 21:11 - Apr 20 Welcome lads hope everything goes well for you.
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Alfiesboys added 21:11 - Apr 20 Good luck to you all
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Superblue95 added 21:24 - Apr 20 So many terrible haircuts
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BillyBaxterwasbest added 21:50 - Apr 20 “Mick McCarthy has quit Ipswich immediately. Put money on them to go down next season. The club have no money and he has performed a minor miracle but their fans want him out”, “While I can understand Ipswich fans' frustrations, it must be directed properly”, “Ipswich fans will regret this.” “I don't think McCarthy will be greatly missed in Ipswich, but he didn't have a bad record”, “Mick McCarthy has performed under very difficult circumstances there. If the next guy can't match him it's not a big drop-off to becoming a relegation contender. They need new money.” “Mick is a criminally underrated manager who has done a magnificent job with tiny resources. When you look at how he guided them to the play-offs and consistently competed for them, one can only assume a lot of Ipswich fans are morons”, “Losing Big Mick is their big loss. Relegation next season.”

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TheTrueBlue1878 added 22:57 - Apr 20 Ben Knight, remember the name, mark this post.
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dingus added 23:01 - Apr 20 Why are there only 12 in the photo?
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suffolkpoker added 02:04 - Apr 21 Knight- ‘ipswich messi'
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christiand added 07:02 - Apr 21 The start of an exciting journey - good luck to all!!
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Dissboyitfc added 07:39 - Apr 21 Billybaxterwasbest....keep comments on subject!!!! no one is saying he didnt have a good record in those 1st 3 years, he did well! but constantly kept us in the hunt for the play-offs! you are having a laugh surely, it was once, last season was the lowest finish for over 50 years with the worst football and entertainment ever witnessed at portman rd. The season we finished 7th at no point were we really in it or competing to be in them! He has gone, now lets pull together! You will be one of those who under their breath will pleased when we lose so you can say, be careful what you wish for! You need to move on like the rest have! We need to be unified and i believe the real supporters will be!! Good luck to the new Recruits!

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Seasider added 09:09 - Apr 21 Quite agree Dissboy.Billbaxterwas best was completely off topic,and cant seem to get over McCarthy going. Mick may have had some input to this before he left;but the final decision wasn't his,as the announcement was 10 days after his departure. As Dissboy points out surely we are all supporters of ITFC.There may be the odd Troll on here;but I am sure that Mr Baxter is not one of them,and should join the Ipswich family going forward.Hoping for a win today. Btw good luck to all these young lads,who are mainly local due to the Town Academy only being Grade 2.Have not heard anything lately about efforts to achieve Cat 1 status ?

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itfcbam added 12:14 - Apr 21 And this is 1 area MM doesn't get any credit for. Getting Klug back to the club, and we are starting to see the rewards of this, much like back in the Burley era when we had youth coming through. Takes a few years to see the benefits but hopefully a sign of promising things to come
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Popeye added 13:47 - Apr 21 The lad third in from the left with the dark red tie is wearing trainers with a suit!!
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Dog added 15:40 - Apr 21 Those were the days when i had hair and could have a haircut like those. Now i sit in the barber chair, say alright Andy and then three minutes later book up for the same time in 2 weeks. Good luck kids. Work hard and don't drink or gamble.
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dirtydingusmagee added 21:51 - Apr 26 they certainly weren't judged by their haircuts , trip to an air base next come on lads get fell in .
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