Manager Mick McCarthy says Town’s academy scholars’ talents aren’t just limited to their footballing skills. The youngsters sang in front of the senior pros last week and impressed the Blues boss.
McCarthy says that prior to returning home for the holidays last Thursday, the academy boys performed a few songs — some of them apt choices - in order to earn their Christmas tips from the first-teamers: "They were great, they were terrific. I love all that.
"It wasn’t my doing, it’s a tradition of old and they were fantastic. Rocko, David October, was playing the guitar and they were all singing. They were class!
"The interesting one, bearing in mind they were looking for their tips for doing the boots over the year, was It’s Not About the Money, Money, Money. I think we all got the message!”
Even the manager himself had to cough up: "I have a lad who comes and does mine, Byron Lawrence. He has two people’s boots to do, he just makes sure they’re clean and puts them back.
"He got his dough for it and it was well worth it, let me tell you, as I’ve only been here since November and he got 12 months’ money!
"It’s lovely,” he continued. "And I think it lets them interact with the players and the first team. I think it’s great.”
He says the youngsters and senior players are close: "There’s a good spirit between the first teamers and the academy boys.
"They were very, very good, I have to be honest. It was one of those situations where you wait for it and you’re almost waiting for them not to be good so you can take the piss, but they were very good, you had to give it to them.
"The lads bought into it, they were terrific. There’s a good spirit in the place, they’re a good group.”