Town's community operation has become a charitable trust and will now be known as the Ipswich Town Education and Sports Trust (EAST). The club will be the first to fully integrate education and sport as part of a registered charity limited by guarantee.

A board of trustee directors has been appointed David Sheepshanks as the chairman. Also included are chief executive, Derek Bowden, Jim Magilton, Ipswich Borough Council chief executive James Hehir, Suffolk County Council chief executive Mike More, Suffolk College principal Dave Muller, Ipswich Community Voluntary Services chief executive Richard Middleton, Olympic swimmer Karen Pickering MBE; Farlingaye School headteacher Sue Hargadon, National Football in the Community manager Dave Palmer, BBC Radio Suffolk's Ebony Eye presenter Dawn Gerber and financial consultant and retired KPMG partner Nigel Smith.

The company secretary is Town councillor Roger Fern. The leading executive officers of the Trust will be David Brooks and Sacha Frost who will run a team of 18 full-timers as well as 109 part-time employees and 150 volunteers operating throughout the region.

Chairman Sheepshanks welcomed the move: “This is a special and exciting landmark in the development of our community operation at Ipswich for which all our expert staff, volunteers and participants can be justly proud.

“When I think back to 1995 when David Brooks and I first sat together to plan a revolutionary new approach to our community activities, we had just one coaching centre.

“Today there are some 35 regional coaching centres and a thriving series of educational programmes, including Playing for Success and Onside, that are supported by strong relationships with schools throughout the region.

“In particular, our Community Trust now features its own CYFL Junior Leagues for U8s, U9s and U10s, girls' football at both grass roots and a Centre of Excellence, special needs and disabled courses, coaching for coaches, adult education and a growing international exchange programme with Norway, Finland and latterly Ghana in Africa.

“In 1995, most kids in our area wore every colour shirt but blue yet today that trend is reversed and a whole new generation of Town supporters is evolving. Our scheme represents a genuine partnership with the region.

“The power and allure of football is being used to the benefit of huge numbers of young people and their families, to stimulate learning and to encourage inclusion, irrespective of ability, and the sheer fun of taking part.

“At the same time, this all benefits the Football Club with the constant widening of its appeal through our involvement with an expanding fan base.

“Now to take it to the next level, and I hope that the formation of this Trust, Ipswich Town EAST, will be a springboard to even bigger and better things as we look to benefit from the input of our new trustees, and capitalise on the new fund raising opportunities that charitable status provides.

Chief executive Derek Bowden added: “The establishment of the ITFC Education and Sports Trust represents a significant milestone for the club. Securing Charitable Trust status will enable the Trust to move ahead with ambitious plans to develop new community based football facilities at the club's Bent Lane site and generate further grant funding to extend and create new education, healthcare and sport projects.

“We are very proud of the role that the Trust plays in our community and are enthusiastic in our support of it.”

Photo: Action Images

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