Both the U13 and U14 sides playing in the Eastern Junior Alliance (EJA) are now recruited by and coached by ITFC, with Ipswich's Phil Beale working closely with Danny Laws and the team at AFC Sudbury. The project is overseen by ITFC Academy Head of Recruitment Steve McGavin.

After just over one calendar year, we're all delighted that two players have already made the progression from the AFC EJA groups to the main ITFC Academy squads, and have been offered Academy registrations for this season.
Further to this, another six players have trained with the ITFC Academy whilst playing with AFC Sudbury EJA U13/U14.

Defender Harry Blackburn was the first player to progress through the new partnership with AFC Sudbury. Harry had been in the Ipswich Town 'Elite' scheme for two seasons prior to last year, and had developed very well over the 2016/17 County Cup winning season at AFC, resulting in his successful Academy trial.

The second player to make the progression from AFC to ITFC is Striker Oli Mayhew who had a phenomenal goal scoring record for 'the Yellows'. He only joined the group last season and thrived at the excellent facilities offered at AFC, along with the coaching programme implemented by his Ipswich Town coaches.

The purpose of the link between the clubs is to challenge the players that have been identified through Ipswich's recruitment, whilst nurturing them in the environment on offer at AFC and coaching them to reach their maximum potential.

Over the next two seasons ITFC will eventually be recruiting for, and coaching all four EJA age groups alongside Danny Laws and AFC, with the hope that they continue their pathway with 'The Suds' on the Scholarship programme on offer there, should they not progress to ITFC's Academy.

Danny Laws, AFC Academy Director, said the following;

"The Academy here at AFC Sudbury is delighted for Harry & Oli and we are proud to have paid a part in both boys development and progression to the next level.
We have worked hard over the last year to establish our partnership with ITFC and are really looking forward to the second year.
Phil will continue as the U13 Head Coach with Chris Smith moving up with the current group. These are exciting times with both the U13s and U14s looking very strong groups. "