Town midfielder Luke Hyam, with a new contract recently signed and a first team place to currently call his own, is the living proof that dreams can come true. The former Northgate High School pupil remembers clearly how he used to sit in the Portman Road crowd telling himself ‘One day I’d love to be out there’.

Hyam, 20, was just one of thousands of young supporters up and down the country who share the same ambition of desperately wanting to play for their favourite teams.

However, with the influx of foreign talent into the English game fewer local kids seem to be emerging than ever before.

That is one of the reasons why supporters love to be able to cheer home-grown talent and if the youngsters who make it to first team level are also local then so much the better.

Hyam said: “I had a season ticket with my dad and my brother. We used to sit in the Britannia Stand and my favourite player was David Johnson, who was an excellent striker and scored a lot of goals.

“If I remember rightly the first game I actually attended was against Rotherham and I think we won 4-3. I just remember thinking how great it would be to one day be playing for Ipswich — and also thinking I probably would never get the chance!

“If becoming a professional footballer is an achievement in itself, in my view nothing beats playing for my local team. I suppose every player starts out with that ambition but they don’t all make it. As a former supporter, I can honestly say that playing for Ipswich means everything to me.”

Photo: Action Images

Monkey_Blue added 20:57 - Feb 10 algarvefan.. Its not a lecture, I was simply pointing out that local doesn't mean better. I read the piece then your point... the piece was very much about playing for your local club/the club you support... if your point had nothing to do with that, fine, apologies, but then you are saying you point wasn't that relevant to the piece?? I would love us to produce a team of 11 players through the youth system, I love towns past in producing young players, but money talks far more thes days. Look at southampton...great youth system, how many of the good players they have produced played for them into their 20's? The new academy system will mean this is the case even more.... whats worse is that top clubs will snap up good polayers from lessers clubs earlier and they will never reach their potential because they wont play top flight footie...then get released at 21 by which time they have missed 3/4 years of development they'll never get back. Only Arsenal buy kids and actually use them in the first team of the top clubs.

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Monkey_Blue added 20:57 - Feb 10 algarvefan.. Its not a lecture, I was simply pointing out that local doesn't mean better. I read the piece then your point... the piece was very much about playing for your local club/the club you support... if your point had nothing to do with that, fine, apologies, but then you are saying you point wasn't that relevant to the piece?? I would love us to produce a team of 11 players through the youth system, I love towns past in producing young players, but money talks far more thes days. Look at southampton...great youth system, how many of the good players they have produced played for them into their 20's? The new academy system will mean this is the case even more.... whats worse is that top clubs will snap up good polayers from lessers clubs earlier and they will never reach their potential because they wont play top flight footie...then get released at 21 by which time they have missed 3/4 years of development they'll never get back. Only Arsenal buy kids and actually use them in the first team of the top clubs.

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statto added 21:08 - Feb 10 Monkey - you forgot another Lowestoft man, Laurie Sivell and also our cup hero Roger Osborne in the locals made good column!! What of Clive Woods, Trevor Whymark, Mick Lambert, Kevin Steggles, Trevor Putney.....OK, you did say notable, but give Sir Bobby his due, he gave them their chance.
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h32 added 21:09 - Feb 10 ........ and to think this was so nearly another youngster who almost left the Club - bl##dy shameful. The likes of this lad ARE the future of this Club NOW and ALWAYS. And lets face it - ALWAYS HAVE BEEN - as long as I can remember anyway. ACADEMY GRADE 1 - no other consideration - muppets take note.
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h32 added 21:12 - Feb 10 ....... and DON'T insult them by offering paltry 1 year contracts.
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Monkey_Blue added 21:30 - Feb 10 statto... I did think someone would throw a few names at me...but was thinking more along the players that gave us a great rep as a youth system and what we did to create that. As it goes Whymark was my first town hero even though he didn't play in the game that made me a town fan(78 cup final). I wish every town player was a town fan and came through the youth system...but fact is you need a mix but in the end...its all about the player, no matter where they come from or how they end up in the team.. Look at the great players bobby signed as well, Mariner, Cooper, murhen, thijssen, david johnson(the everton one) allan hunter...etc

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austractor added 22:09 - Feb 10 Give him his five year deal now. Thanks
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