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MDs: Academy Will Step Up to Category One
Saturday, 27th Apr 2013 09:51

Town’s academy will step up to Category One status for the 2014/15 season, joint-managing directors Ian Milne and Jonathan Symonds have confirmed. The Blues’ youth set-up is currently Category Two with clubs able to switch every two seasons.

Writing in today’s match programme, Milne and Symonds said: “Our vision for the Academy is to become one of the most successful producers of young players in the country.

“We at Ipswich Town are immensely proud of our academy structure, facilities and willingness to help produce and develop future professional footballers.

“This has been proven by the large number of players to have progressed through our academy ranks and into the first team, here at Portman Road and beyond.

“The purpose of the Academy is to identify and recruit young footballers of outstanding ability. We work to coach and educate them to reach their maximum potential, thereby giving them the very best chance of a career in football.

“However, we will not meet and maintain the Category One status without increased financial support from all areas of the club and we are launching a number of corporate and individual fundraising initiatives to help support the drive to Category One status so that our talented young players can learn, play and compete at the very highest levels.”

Academy director Bryan Klug added: “Category One is where you have to really compete for the best youngsters around. It also gives you the best chance to develop them to play at the top level.

“If you want to produce players at the highest level, they have to play against the best teams and players around. They have to be challenged, every week, every day.

“They need all the experiences that go with being a footballer at the top end. Being a Category One club will provide that and it’s where we need to be going forward. If not, then there is a danger you can get left behind.

“At the Academy we’ve set ourselves the target of looking to have up to 50 per cent of homegrown players playing at first-team level by 2017/18. It’s a big ask and there are many factors that go into that, but that’s the challenge for myself and my staff. Going Category One provides us with the best chance of delivering that.”


Photo: Action Images



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RedDust added 10:05 - Apr 27
I've seen on here people questioning ME long term commitment would this imply he is here for a good while as of yet?
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JS14 added 10:22 - Apr 27
This is exactly how football clubs should be, developing their own players every town team that has been successful has had a good base of players that have come through the academy and I feel that might be happening very soon, the future is bright, the future is blue!!
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bluefeast added 10:30 - Apr 27
This creates an opportunity for us to attract quality players. Better still a 1st team with circa 4 or 5 previous academy players in it will be even better when selling the club to a lad and his family. ie don't go to a man u Liverpool Chelsea etc etc etc come here ,you have a better chance of making the grade.
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Rocky added 10:32 - Apr 27
Best bit of news for a long, long time....
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Mark added 10:37 - Apr 27
Excellent news, this really bodes well for the future of ITFC.
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bluemikey100 added 10:48 - Apr 27
good good news a few more like dyer and bent wickham etc to look forward too
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BotesdaleBlue added 10:50 - Apr 27
This is simply brilliant news and to have Klug heading up the academy we couldn't ask for anymore. I've been on a high since I heard the news.

One point. How would Mr Clegg have explained this about turn had he still been in post, as he had said on many occasions, that category 2 was absolutely right for Ipswich at this present time. I'm pleased the club have now come to the right decision and that I suspect, is down to Klug for the most part. Big thanks must go to Marcus Evans as well in this decision.

Bring it on...
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Suffolk_n_Good added 10:55 - Apr 27
As others have said, this is great news & for me certainly shows ME's commitment for the long term, I don't think we should underestimate the financial commitment ME is making, this feels like we are going back to our roots, producing our own. Well done ITFC
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ShambolicBlue added 11:18 - Apr 27
Where's his bloody tie? Tut.
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bluegc added 11:23 - Apr 27
MASSIVE news!!
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HarryfromBath added 11:27 - Apr 27
This is fundamentally important good news. We will only survive in the longer term by adopting a more German model of youth development, and we have an outstanding track record.

We would also be seriously disadvantaged if our friends up the road became the only club in the region which were Category One.
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shefkuqi32 added 11:45 - Apr 27
Great news and a very important one! More Luke Hyams please we have a great catchment area lets use it
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theobald1985 added 11:58 - Apr 27
good news.
the current player development centres for younger players will help by getting the best players in the area playing together from 7 onwards.
we need rules to make sure players are given a chance.
even a requirement for 2 players to be academy produced would be a start.
I have had my doubts regarding evans and still am not 100% on him but this is good news without doubt.
i really hope he is in it for the long haul
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Telford_Blue added 12:03 - Apr 27
Shambolic Blue

Would it be wrong of me (and will probably get me heaps of minuses) to say that by the looks of him he probably ate it!!! (Sorry)

On the real news story, this is fantastic news. With all the new parachute money we are not going to buy our way out of the league as the playing field is an unfair one, however, the combination of ME's funds, MM's nouse and a good dollop of homegrown talent sounds very promising. Bent, Dyer, Wickham I all agree with but am I wrong isn't Hyam a home grown talent and whilst he might not be a Kieron Dyer yet he certainly has turned into a truly valuable asset this season!
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RetroBlue added 12:03 - Apr 27
AT LAST!

Finally ITFC appears to have a proper Plan that transcends across all playing levels at this Club.

Under BC/MM/ TC and Evans' financial backing this Club WILL now move forward after nearly 10 years in the doldrums.


COYB's .... "In Mick We Trust"
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Big_Foot_Blue added 12:43 - Apr 27
Despite the stick I think the club have done well with the plan starting 2 years ago and culminating with this. Don' forget catagory 2 was still an increase on finance and facilities from what we were doing. Looking at it now we have got an upward curve starting with rehiring Klug, then improving to category 2 and now pushing on for category 1. Instead of rushing and getting it wrong we have slowly progressed and now when we get to category 1 we will be ready and have a good infrastructure of coaches rather than rushing and signing the first 15 coaches that showed up... the future is looking bright.
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ParisBlue added 12:44 - Apr 27
After the disappointments of the last few years it at last looks like we are getting our proud club back.
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SenatorBlue added 12:51 - Apr 27
Echo a lot of the above comments, and RetroBlue's in particular. Finally, a future plan, so obviously the right plan for ITFC, that everyone buys into. Evan's financial security, MicMac's wise management, and Klug developing the future talent. Best news out of ITFC since the takeover. The feel good factor is starting to return.
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BillBlue added 13:54 - Apr 27
Since his takeover I have had serious doubts regarding Evans but am getting very strong vibes that he has learned from his past shockingly bad decisions which were occasioned by his ignorance in this field. I feel that at long, long, last we are going back to our roots and that Mr. Evans is now receiving good, sound, advice and appears to be willing to accept it. That can only mean one thing, a good, exciting, future for us as a club and I am beginning to believe again. I am encouraged to see there is a five year plan set out to bring the portion of the team from the Academy, that is exactly right and, apart from having an excellent Manager was the reason for our past success. I hope that the MM/TC combination remains here while all this is going on and Klug remains in the Academy then I shall be delighted to see a true football team playing in our colours and putting to shame (again) the bought teams such as ManUre, ManCity and Chelsea and hope I am still here to see it. I am convinced that it can still happen and, with the correct approach, will happen. COYB
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itfc1981 added 14:09 - Apr 27
I have no Guam's about this move whatsoever.
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Ipswichbusiness added 14:33 - Apr 27
This is wonderful news; this club has been at its best and strongest when it has had a core of home grown players in the first team. However, the academy is only one part of the mix as you also need a management which is prepared to give the youngsters a chance and a board that is capable of doing what it takes to keep them rather than selling them on (e.g. Rhodes and Wickham).
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TractorBeezer added 19:36 - Apr 27
Fantastic news. It's reassuring to know that we have ambition and a plan. Credit to ME for supporting this.
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alfromcol added 19:52 - Apr 27
Moving to Category 1 using the saving resulting from Major Clegg's exit?
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tractorman9 added 21:05 - Apr 27
I had a right go at Simon Clegg about this at the Northern Supporters Club AGM at the Brewery Tap in Leeds last season - I am so pleased we are finally doing this as it will be the future lifeblood of the club - our beloved Ipswich Town. Cannot understand why we didn't go for Cat 1 to start with to be honest. Great news all the same and I hope we get Cat 1 status after the audit. Come on the Boy's !!!!
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tractorman9 added 21:08 - Apr 27
So pleased for Big Mick and TC plus the owner, board, all the backroom staff and the players and squad. I liked Paul Jewell but the change had to happen and I sincerely hope Mick can do his business this summer and we can make a real go of a promotion charge next season as well as cat 1 Academy. COME ON THE BOY'S !!!!
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