Town have announced the names of the 13 new scholars who will join the academy full-time in the summer.
The new intake, who begin two-year scholarships in July, were formally welcomed to the club earlier today by caretaker-manager Bryan Klug, academy manager Lee O’Neill and skipper Luke Chambers.
Jake Alley is a goalkeeper who comes from Hertfordshire, while Dylan Ruffles is a full-back or winger who joined the academy at 13 having previously been with the development centre in Lowestoft.
Centre-half Alex Henderson, who is from Boxford near Sudbury, has recently been on the bench for the U23s. He joined the academy as an U11 and is a leader on the field.
London-based central defender Louie Fehrenbach joined the club at U15 level, while left-back Tommy Smith, who has featured for the U18s this season, progressed into the academy from the Walsham-le-Willows development centre aged nine.
Central midfielder Teddy Baker has been with the Blues since the U8s and hails from Bawdsey. Matt Healy is another midfielder, who has been with College Corinthians up to now and has won Republic of Ireland caps at U16 and U15 levels.
Also joining from Ireland is midfielder Connor O’Reilly, who Finn Harps announced would be moving to the Blues earlier in the month. From Letterkenny, O'Reilly has won Republic of Ireland caps at U16 level.
Welshman Lewis Reed is a centre-forward, who is the grandson of Billy Reed, who became the Blues’ first ever full international when he won two caps with Wales in 1954.
From France is the versatile Allan Viral, while Cambridgeshire-based forward Ben Knight is the best known name among the new recruits having been capped by England at U15 and U16 levels and been linked with the likes of Manchester City. Knight has already featured for the U23s.
Felixstowe-born Zak Brown, the younger brother of Charlie who moved from the Blues to Chelsea a couple of summers ago, is a quick striker, who has also played for England at U15 and U16 levels. He joined the academy as an U13.
The powerful Tyreece Simpson, who is also a talented rugby player, only joined the academy recently having spent time on trial with Manchester City.
He was part of the Norfolk-based Langley School side that reached the national final of the ESFA Playstation Small Schools’ Trophy last year. He has recently featured for the Blues’ U18s."