Town’s academy scholars will be educated at St Joseph’s College from September, the Blues having strengthened their links with the Belstead Road-based independent school.

“We are delighted to be working with St Joseph’s College through the LFE (League Football Education) to provide our scholars with a fantastic environment to learn on and off the pitch,” Lee O’Neill, Town's academy manager, told the official site.

""“St Joseph’s College has a proven track record when working with elite young athletes. Furthermore, we feel the ability to offer a range of academic provisions only strengthens young players’ options throughout their football journey. "

“The College has a home from home feel and this is something that we advocate at the Ipswich Town’s academy.

”""St Joseph’s assistant principal - director of sport, Mr Anthony O’Riordan, added: “Our vision is to refocus our efforts and expertise across four specific sports — rugby, netball, cricket and football.""

“We are working collaboratively with professional sports stakeholders, including Northampton Saints rugby, Mavericks netball, Suffolk Cricket, and Loughborough, Essex and Suffolk universities as well as Ipswich Town.

""“We will simultaneously ensure a rich, holistic sports offering and provision to the student body as a whole.”""

Principal, Mrs Danielle Clarke, continued: “We are extremely proud that our already strong sports provision is expanding and further developing. "

“We see sport as an integral part of life here at St Joseph’s, on a par with academic endeavour and success.

"Enabling young people to become rounded, grounded global citizens, who are fulfilled by following their individual passions is our business.”

Photo: ITFC

Eiffel78 added 10:03 - Jul 4 I hope they've changed their philosophy since I was there. As a 10/11 year old I was a decent player, played for my previous school, etc. Not saying I'd have been good enough to turn professional, but with the right coaching who knows. But because I was a poor rugby player and hated cross country, they lost interest in me (and a number of others) from a sporting point of view for the 7 years I was there.

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DrDre added 11:06 - Jul 4 I went to St Jos in the early 90s and it was Rugby or nothing back then. As someone who was keen on football it sucked. It sounds like they've broadened their range of sports which is good.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 11:27 - Jul 4 Lol, they forgot about Dre
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chorltonskylineblue added 11:56 - Jul 4 Has this got anything to do with competing with the big Premier League boys? For example, Man City provide fully paid private school education for scholars with the club - and in some cases (possibly all?) they offer it to siblings of the scholar as well. A big enticement for parents. I think Man Utd offer something similar and probably lots of other PL clubs too. With Ben Knight and others being enticed away from ITFC, is the club looking at this to try and keep players?

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Marcus added 13:50 - Jul 4 I notice how football is now appended as an acceptable sport. I guess they see the opportunity for some money. I was at SJC 86-91 and can confirm football was just about banned other than as a recreational sport, never competitive. It was rugby and cricket for team sports. The school has progressed from a shadowy past and this tie up could work well. It's more professional and is a step to creating a better team spirit amongst the academy scholars. Perhaps it could help with retention and progressing to the top tier.

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rugbytomc added 15:49 - Jul 4 I mean going to St Joes is a bit like having no education - so is this really going to change anything for the academy scholars who don't make it professionally?
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moggasnotebook added 20:37 - Jul 4 This is happening because the yellow lot up the A140 do the same for their younger players at Langley School. The yellow lot have then used this as a tool to help attract players to the club - they then dump boys from all sorts of background into Langley School which causes a bit of havoc with some certain types who are not used to that background. Langley School is not the best private school in Norfolk by any stretch of the imagination and to a lot of parents it's viewed as lowering the tone at a school trying to bring its image up by association.......

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Devontractor added 14:05 - Jul 6 Anyone remember George Hockley from the 70s? He'd have loved this tie up.
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