Town’s U18s are in FA Youth Cup third round action against local rivals Colchester United at the Weston Homes Community Stadium this evening (KO 7pm). The Blues have won the competition three times in the past, in 1973, 1975 and 2005.
Academy director Bryan Klug says FA Youth Cup ties are major occasions in the career of a young player: "It’s a big night in front of the manager at a stadium. These games are amongst those in their careers that they’ll always remember.
"They’re only young boys, only 16 or 17 years old and it’s a big occasion for them. They can be good nights. All you want is for both teams to settle down and play good football.”
Having helped Town to their third triumph in 2005, Klug admits he still feels a frisson of excitement when the young Blues play their first game in the competition.
"I always do, I just hope that the players are able to do themselves justice, you have a little worry about that all the time because they are kids.
"But coaches Alan Lee and Gerard Nash have prepared them brilliantly, so I’m pretty sure they’ll be fine.
"You never know how they’re going to react, but it won’t be for the want of trying. I’m sure they’ll give loads of effort and we’ll hopefully be playing in the next round.”
Lee and Nash are without one academy scholar, defender or midfielder Matt Clarke, who has already moved on to bigger things, having made his senior debut in the Capital One Cup at Crawley earlier in the season.
"Matt won’t be playing,” Klug confirmed. "He’s in the first-team squad and that’s more important and he’s doing really well. The gaffer’s pleased with him and that’s all that matters.”
The young Blues will also be without injured keeper Jacob Marsden, centre-half George Fowler and full-back Amon Walton Owen.
Right-back Josh Emmanuel, 17, and central midfielder Kundai Benyu, who have been regulars in the U21s, will feature this evening.
Benyu, who only turned 17 last week, in particular has caught the eye with his impressive performances for Mark Kennedy’s side.
"He’s a good player, we think he’s going to be a good player,” Klug continued. "He’s young but he’s coming on nicely.”
Also in the squad will be 15-year-old midfielder Andre Dozzell, the son of former Blue and current academy coach Jason.
Andre, who starts a full-time scholarship next summer, recently played two games for the England U16s.
"It’s always good to see them win caps, it will have been a great experience for him, he deserves it,” Klug added. "He’s one of the best players in the country, no doubt.
"Andre will be in the squad, he’s playing very well at the moment, as is Luke Woolfenden, another schoolboy.”
The game very much has a derby feel about it with Klug having coached Colchester’s U18s coach Wayne Brown during his time as a young player.
"I was his coach and there are several other people with a a background at the Ipswich academy,” he said.
"We’ve got nothing but admiration for the way that they’ve set their club up to promote young players.
"In the last few years they’ve been doing a really good job. Tony Humes [now the first-team manager] was in charge of their academy for most of those years and Wayne, Richard Hall, John McGreal and Fabian Wilnis are all involved there.”
A tie away against Sunderland awaits the winners - the game will go to extra-time and penalties if level after 90 minutes - a match which will give the Blues a chance for revenge.
"It would be great to play against Sunderland,” Klug added. "We had a terrific game against them last year and just lost on penalties. So we’d love to have another game in the competition for the lads.
"It’s always difficult, you never know exactly how the first game will go because we kind of throw a team together.
"Colchester will have the advantage of playing a game or two already [a 3-1 win at Leyton Orient and then a 2-1 home victory over Cheltenham], but we’d love to take a team up to Sunderland and have a go at them.”
Tickets for the game are available in advance from Colchester United or via cash turnstiles at the game: adults £7, concessions £5 (seniors, disabled, Forces), under-18s £5, under-14s £3, under-eights: £1 and carers: free.
Meanwhile, Saturday's U18s league game between the Blues and U's at Playford Road has been postponed.
Squad from: McDermid, Hayes, Woolfenden, Daly, Smith, Kenlock, Emmanuel, Jones, Kundai, Blanchfield, Dozzell, Ellis, Guldbrandsen, Patterson, McLoughlin, Ramadan, Ford, Ingram.