Town U18s coach Sam Darlow has left the club after almost five years at Playford Road.

Darlow joined the Blues from Peterborough in 2018 as a youth development lead phase coach.

He ran the U16s and, following Adem Atay’s departure last summer, was lead coach of the U18s as they reached the quarter-finals of the 2022/23 FA Youth Cup in which they were unlucky to lose 4-2 after extra-time to West Ham having been reduced to 10 men in the first half.

In March, Callum Tongue was appointed lead U18s coach with Darlow then the assistant to the former Manchester City academy coach.

“My time at Ipswich Town has come to an end,” Darlow wrote on social media. “Throughout the journey I have met some great people, both staff and players, friends for life. It has been a pleasure and my honour to say I have worked at, firstly, such a historic football club with an incredible fanbase.

“Secondly, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some very highly thought of names in the game, having the privilege of spending time talking to and learning from them.

“Lastly, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish all the staff and players past and present all the best for the future and hope our paths may cross again.

“We didn’t do too bad, FA Youth Cup quarter final, NI SuperCup, PDL Cup U18s and U16s, plus a few in the first team and beyond. Here’s to the next chapter.”

Photo: TWTD

Suffolkboy added 18:09 - Jun 24 Yep ! You have been a lucky chappy to work at ITFC ,but equally you'll have contributed greatly to the successful pathway for lots of individuals and to the Club . Every success in the future , hope you'll find a suitable appointment which will enable you to progress your own ambitions ! Very best ! COYB
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foreverthebeat added 18:33 - Jun 24 Good luck Sam with your future you have done us proud this just shows ITFC means business from the bottom upwards perhaps we'll unearth some real gems just like the big man BOBBY did
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HARRY10 added 21:20 - Jun 24 No criticism of Sam, but our academy is long in need of a revamp. We were hardly bringing through players for L1, never any that went on to be sold for millions. The last time we produce a keep was nearly 20 years ago with Supple and Price. If the new people are serious, then we need to be Cat 1.
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RegencyBlue added 07:54 - Jun 25 Getting Cat 1 status isn't that easy now, the existing Cat 1 Academies have pretty much pulled up the drawbridge. We should have gone for Cat 1 status when the system started but Evans decided not to so he could save a few quid! Another legacy of his disastrous ownership.
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Linkboy13 added 10:06 - Jun 25 We need to get back to the good old days when we were producing players that were ready made first team material.. makes me laugh when we rave about the likes of Baggott, El Mizouni, Mcgavin, Ndaba etc.
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