Ipswich Town 1st in association with the Ipswich Town Academy have launched a badge honouring last season's FA Youth Cup win. All funds raised from sales of the badge, which is available from Saturday, will go exclusively to support the work of the Academy's Regional Development Centres.
Launching the badge, Trust chairman Carl Day said: "Everyone was so excited by the winning of the FA Youth Cup and the Academy's tremendous work that the Trust wanted to expand its support of their work by sponsoring the Regional Development Centres. The work of the Academy is fundamental to the future of Ipswich Town and we are proud to be able to support the continuing development in this way.”
Simon Milton, Academy sponsorship manager, commented: "I am delighted the Supporters Trust have taken up the sponsorship of the Development Centres. These Centres are the stepping stone for young players progressing through to the Academy and this season is the first time they have had their own Development Centre training kit bearing the Trust's logo. It is proving very popular, I ordered 250 full kits initially but I have already had to order more.
"The FA Youth Cup badge is another excellent partnership between the Academy and the Supporters Trust. It will raise much-needed funds and also become a very collectable piece of memorabilia in the future.”
The Regional Development Centres are a community-based activity for players aged between eight and 12 in seven locations — Ipswich, Lowestoft, Bury St Edmunds, Bottisham, Chelmsford, Harlow and Colchester - spreading the Ipswich Town message out into the wider ‘Greater Anglia' community.
They are a key activity for the reputation of the club in the community, but particularly in helping to develop young talent for the future of Ipswich Town. These aims match Ipswich Town Ist's desire to expand its work in the community and the Trust is delighted to have secured these sponsorship rights.
The Trust is asking for a £5 donation for each badge with every single penny going to the Academy. Ipswich Town 1st has underwritten the cost of the badges from its own funds, but the badges should also be available through branches of the Supporters' Club. The money will be used to subsidise the purchase of training kit for the youngsters at the Regional Development Centres.
Ipswich Town Ist was formed in the wake of the club's administration in 2003 and has 500 members. For more information on Ipswich Town Ist and details of how to join visit the Trust website.
TWTD is selling a number of these badges via eBay. The first batch of 10 is available now and you can access these via the link http://www.twtd.co.uk/badges.
You can obtain a badge at the ground ahead of Saturday's home game with Crewe Alexandra at £5 per badge from these locations:
Or by post at £6 for one badge (the additional £1 is to cover postage and packing) plus £5 for additional badges. Send a cheque made payable to Ipswich Town 1st, together with your name and address to Ipswich Town 1st, Ipswich Town 1ST, PO Box 44439, London SE1 4TW.