Eight new academy players for 2004/05 were inducted into the club last night. The players come from all over the British Isles with Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Suffolk all represented.
Midfielder or striker Darryl Knights is a name which may already be familar to some fans, the Ipswich-born player having made appearances for the England U16s.
Left-sided defender Stuart Ainsley, from Fekixstowe, is the son of George Ainsley who was a Town youth player in the 70s alongside the likes of John Wark and George Burley. Ainsley junior has been with the club since he was 10 years old.
Another name which is becoming familiar is that of Irish striker Billy Clarke, who recently made his debut as a sub for the reserves. Clarke comes from the Maymount club in Cork and has been called up to the Ireland U18 squad for games in Turkey along with fellow Town academy players Michael Synnott and Cathal Lordan.
Fellow Irishman Owen Garvan made his reserves debut against Portsmouth this week and has also been called into an international squad. The midfielder has been included in an U16s squad facing Holland in two games in Dublin on April 27t and 29th.
Sammy Moore, a midfielder, recently left Chelsea for Portman Road feeling he would be more likely to progress at Town. Moore was with Charlton as a schoolboy but left the Addicks for Stamford Bridge for £20,000.
Danny Haynes, a versatile player from London, was recently released by Charlton and impressed the Blues in a trial.
Scot Alan Storrie is a Scotland international at U15 level and plays wide on the right.
The eighth player inducted was centre-half Chris Casement who is from Belfast and is in the Northern Ireland schoolboy side playing in the Ballymena International Tournament next week.
Town have also signed defender Jack Haverson into their schoolboy ranks after he was released by Fulham.
Academy U19 player Aidan Collins has been called into the England U18s side facing Sweden at York City on Thursday, April 29th.