TWTD readers who sign up to become Academy Friends before midnight tonight can enter a competition to win two seats in the Portman Road Directors’ Box for a Town home game and watch the match as the guests of ex-Blues midfielder and academy sponsorship manager Simon Milton.
In addition to the seats in the Directors’ Box, the winners will also get refreshments in Directors’ Guests’ Lounge before the match and at half-time.
It costs from £5 a month to be an Academy Friend and to help to raise the £500,000 the Academy Association is looking for annually as the club moves to Category One status for the 2014/15 season.
You’ll have your name listed in every matchday programme, on the Academy Association website and you will also receive small Academy Association gifts, for example, a silicone band and car sticker. You will also receive a monthly newsletter via email.
Businesses can also sign up as sponsors from £500. After gruelling deadline-day talks with Simon Milton in Portman Road’s old manager’s office TWTD signed up for the Ramsey Package, which includes the Directors’ Box tickets which are now up for grabs.
Milton said: "I am delighted to have TWTD on board again as academy sponsors, they have supported the academy in various ways over the last five years and have always promoted the work we do here. Someone will be very happy when they win the donated tickets.” To win the competition, become an Academy Friend here and tell us in an email sent to competition@twtd.co.uk which ex-Town, Newcastle, Wigan and Sunderland defender sponsors the academy’s U12 side before midnight and be the lucky entrant drawn at random. Also include your name and the postcode of the address with which you signed up as an Academy Friend. Those who have previously signed up as Academy Friends are also entitled to enter.
Returning striker Alan Lee, who is now coaching in the Blues youth set-up, has also signed up as an Academy Friend.
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Bromley boss Andy Woodman hailed his side’s on-penalties victory over the Blues in round one of the Carabao Cup at Hayes Lane as “an amazing result” and one the League Two club shouldn’t underestimate.
Highlights of last night’s on-penalties Carabao Cup defeat at Bromley.
Town manager Kieran McKenna has a couple of roles in mind for new signing Chuba Akpom to play more regularly, but says the 29-year-old, who joined on a season-long loan from Ajax on Sunday, is capable of operating in a wide variety of forward positions.
Blues boss Kieran McKenna was pleased with young midfield duo Cameron Humphreys and Fin Barbrook, despite Town’s on-penalties Carabao Cup first round defeat at Bromley.
Boss Kieran McKenna says Town’s process around penalty shootouts will be reviewed, the Blues having exited three cup competitions on spot-kicks over the last year, this evening’s Carabao Cup first-round loss at League Two Bromley the latest.
Town forward Conor Chaplin believes the Blues lacked urgency in their on-penalties Carabao Cup defeat to League Two side Bromley at Hayes Lane.
Town boss Kieran McKenna says forward Omari Hutchinson felt that he “couldn’t contribute” for the Blues in their Carabao Cup tie at Bromley with the 21-year-old having made his desire to return to the Premier League clear.
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
George Hirst and Ali Al-Hamadi both missed penalties as the Blues were beaten 5-4 in a shootout by Bromley following a 1-1 draw at Hayes Lane in round one of the Carabao Cup. Deji Elerewe gave the home side the lead just before half-time, however, sub Ben Johnson levelled for the Blues eight minutes after the restart but unconvincing Town were unable to find a winner and the League Two side claimed their first ever win in the competition on penalties.