The Blues’ U18s get their pre-season friendly programme under way with their annual game away against Southwold Town on the Common on Thursday evening (KO 6.15pm).
It’s the 20th staging of the match, which last year ended in a 1-0 victory to the young Blues with Cemal Ramadan (pictured) netting the only goal, while Town also missed two penalties.
The U18s also have confirmed home friendlies at Playford Road against Cambridge United on Saturday 18th July and Leyton Orient on Saturday 25th July (both 11am).
Meanwhile, scholar Monty Patterson was an unused sub as New Zealand’s U23s beat New Caledonia 5-0 at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea this morning to seal top spot in their group.
Patterson, 18, who scored a goal in each of his side’s previous victories against the Solomon Islands and the hosts, is likely to be back in the team for their semi-final against Vanuatu on Friday. The tournament winners will qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Elsewhere, keeper Sam McDermid, released at the end of his two-year scholarship earlier in the summer, has joined Cambridge United as a first-year pro.