Town have announced the names of this summer's new academy scholars. The seven youngsters will start full-time at Playford Road in July, although many of them have already played for the U18s and Jack Ainsley has even come on as a sub for the reserves on two occasions.
Ainsley, from Felixstowe, is the son of 1980s Town youth player George and the brother of ex-academy scholar Stuart. A striker, he has been with the Blues since he was eight. An England U17 international.
Craig Calver, nicknamed Wiggy, is from Saffron Walden and is another prolific striker. He first rose to prominence last summer when he scored a hat-trick for the U15s against the San Diego Nomads at the Northern Irish Milk Cup tournament. Joined the Blues from Cambridge City in 2005.
TWTD was first to break the news that Bermudian midfielder Reggie Lambe had been playing for the U16s in recent weeks. Lambe attends a school in New York and has had three trials at Playford Road in which he impressed Town's academy staff.
Scottish central defender Paul Watson has been at Portman Road on and off for the last three years and even had a spell on work experience last season. Also interested Celtic, Rangers, Hibs and Hearts.
Hertfordshire-based Joe Clemo was included in a reserves squad for the first time earlier this week having been a regular in the U16s. A product of the development centres in the Harlow and Chelmsford, Clemo is a right-sided attacking full-back who can also play in midfield.
As reported by TWTD in February, central midfielder Matt Daniels joined the Blues on trial having previously been with Norwich City and has done enough to be offered a scholarship. Was an unused sub for the reserves at Leyton Orient on Tuesday.
Irishman Paul Murphy spent much of this season with the Blues before returning home and finishing 2006/07 with Crumlin United. Murphy was previously his local club, Wexford Albion, before joining Home Farm, the club where Owen Garvan's father is a coach. Murphy, who plays either at centre-forward or as a winger, spent this week with the Republic of Ireland U16 side at the Montaigu Tournament in France.
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