Ipswich Town Football Club currently runs a Category Two Academy, with a five-year plan to improve to Category One, which is run by Bryan Klug. The youth teams play their home games at the Ipswich Town Training Centre at Playford Road in Ipswich,

Suffolk Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowes ...

, while some home games are played at Portman Road. Some of Ipswich's greatest ever players have come through the club's youth system since the 1960s, including

Roger Osborne Roger Charles Osborne (born 9 March 1950) is a former professional association football, footballer who is best known for scoring the winning goal in the 1978 FA Cup Final. Biography Born in Otley, Suffolk, Otley, East Suffolk (county), East S ...

, Mick Mills,

Kevin Beattie Thomas Kevin Beattie (18 December 1953 – 16 September 2018) was an English footballer. Born into poverty, he played at both professional and international levels, mostly as a centre-half. He spent the majority of his playing career at Ipswich ...

Russell Osman Russell Charles Osman (born 14 February 1959) is an English former professional association football, footballer who played as a centre back in the Football League for Ipswich Town F.C., Ipswich Town, Leicester City F.C., Leicester City, Southamp ...

, George Burley, John Wark, Terry Butcher and

Jason Dozzell Jason Irvin Winans Dozzell (born 9 December 1967) is an English football manager and former professional footballer. As a player, he was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Ipswich Town and Tottenham Hotspur. He also playe ...

. The academy was also very successful during the 1990s, producing a number of first-team players including Richard Wright,

Titus Bramble Titus Malachi Bramble (born 31 July 1981) is an English former professional association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, centre back. Bramble played in the Premier League over thirteen consecutiv ...

James Scowcroft James Benjamin Scowcroft (born 15 November 1975) is a retired footballer who played as a striker. He is currently a coach for the Ipswich Town academy. Scowcroft began his career at Ipswich Town, graduating from the club's academy. He went on ...

and Kieron Dyer. More recently, players such as Connor Wickham, who became the youngest Ipswich player to ever play for the first-team, making his debut at 16 years and 11 days old and

Andre Dozzell Andre Leon Dozzell (born 2 May 1999) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Queens Park Rangers. Dozzell graduated from the academy at his hometown club Ipswich Town, scoring on his senior debut in 2016. He has won ...

, son of

, who like his father went on to score in his debut for the club at the age of 16, have both graduated from the academy.

Under-21s squad

Out on loan

Under-18s squad

Academy coaching staff

Notable academy players

The following is a list of players who have played in the Ipswich Town youth system and gone on to make 3 or more senior appearances at Championship level or above or the top league of that country. Players who are currently playing for the club are highlighted in bold. Players who never made a senior appearance for the club are in ''italics''. *

Colin Harper Colin Harper (born 1968, in Belfast) is an Irish non-fiction author and composer. Background Harper was born in Belfast and graduated in Modern History 1989 from Queen's University, Belfast, later acquiring a postgraduate diploma in Information ...

* Mick Mills * Derek Jefferson * Geoff Hammond * Laurie Sivell *

Brian Talbot Brian Ernest Talbot (born 21 July 1953) is an English former football player and manager. He was capped six times for the England national team. Talbot played in midfield for Ipswich Town, Arsenal, Watford, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, ...

Eric Gates Eric Lazenby Gates (born on 26 June 1955) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward. Gates' brother Bill was also a professional footballer who played for Middlesbrough from 1961 to 1973. Club career Ipswich Town ...

* Robin Turner * George Burley *

Tommy Parkin Thomas Aitchison Parkin (born 1 February 1956) is an English retired professional football midfielder. His nephews, Jacob Murphy and Josh Murphy, also became professional footballers. Career Born in Gateshead, Parkin spent his youth career w ...

* John Wark * Les Tibbott *

* Alan Brazil * Terry Butcher * '' Gary Stevens'' * Kevin Steggles *

Steve McCall Stephen Harold McCall (born 15 October 1960) is an English retired footballer who now works as a Scout for Carlisle United. A defensive midfielder during his playing days, McCall built a reputation as a cultured midfield player, with immacula ...

Mich d'Avray Jean-Michel (Mich) d'Avray (born 19 February 1962 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a former professional association footballer who spent the majority of his playing career at Ipswich Town. He was most recently Technical Director at Ajax Cape To ...

* '' Colin Clarke'' *

Ian Cranson Ian Cranson (born 2 July 1964) is an English former professional footballer for played for Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City. Playing career Born in Easington, County Durham, Cranson began his career with Ipswich Town and made hi ...

Frank Yallop Frank Walter Yallop (born 4 April 1964) is a British-Canadian professional soccer coach. Yallop is currently the head coach and sporting director of USL Championship side Monterey Bay FC. He played 13 years in England for Ipswich, including the ...

* Mark Brennan *

Jon Hallworth Jonathan Geoffrey Hallworth (born 26 October 1965) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Club career Hallworth began his career as a trainee at Ipswich Town before signing a professional contract. During his ...

Tony Humes Anthony Humes (born 19 March 1966) is an English football manager and former professional footballer who is currently director of football at English club Colchester United. Humes played as a defender in the Football League for Ipswich Town bet ...

* Dalian Atkinson * Craig Forrest * Mick Stockwell *

Chris Kiwomya Christopher Mark Kiwomya (born 2 December 1969) is an English football manager and former professional footballer, who is the manager of British Virgin Islands national football team. He played as a forward from 1987 until 2002 notably in the ...

* David Gregory * '' Richard Hall'' * Gavin Johnson * Neil Gregory * Adam Tanner *

Tony Vaughan Anthony John Vaughan (born 11 October 1975) is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender/midfielder from 1994 until 2006. He played Premier League football for Ipswich Town before moving into the Football League with M ...

* ''

Matthew Upson Matthew James Upson (born 18 April 1979) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre back. Upson played for England at full international level including at the 2010 World Cup. Upson started his career with Bedfordshire ...

'' * Richard Wright *

* Richard Naylor * Keiron Dyer * Wayne Brown *

* Scott Loach *

Arran Lee-Barrett Arran Lee-Barrett (born 28 February 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made his senior debut for Cardiff City in 2004. After two years at Cardiff he signed for Weymouth where he spent another two y ...

* Darren Bent * Darren Ambrose *

Matt Bloomfield Matthew James Bloomfield (born 8 February 1984) is an English professional football coach and former midfielder who spent the majority of his career with Wycombe Wanderers, having started his career with Ipswich Town, graduating from the club's ...

* Matt Richards *

Ian Westlake Ian John Westlake (born 10 November 1983) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Cheltenham Town, Oldham Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers, Montreal Impact and Ne ...

Dean Bowditch Dean Peter Bowditch (born 15 June 1986) is an English former professional Association football, footballer who played as a midfielder or Forward (association football), forward. He made over 200 appearances for Milton Keynes Dons F.C., Milton K ...

Richard Keogh Richard John Keogh (born 11 August 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Ipswich Town and for the Republic of Ireland national team. His main positional role is at centre-back, though he has also played at right-back d ...

Lewis Price Lewis Peter Price (born 19 July 1984) is a retired Welsh international professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently the First-Team Goalkeeping Coach for League One club Milton Keynes Dons. Apart from making 6 Premier Leag ...

Scott Barron Scott Barron (born 2 September 1985) is an English retired professional footballer who played in all three divisions of the Football League for Millwall, Ipswich Town, Wrexham and Brentford as a left back. He over 130 appearances for Millwall a ...

* ''

Chris Whelpdale Christopher Mark Whelpdale (born 27 January 1987) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League South side Eastbourne Borough. Career After playing local football in Brentwood, Whelpdale was recruited by ...

'' * '' Josh Simpson'' *

Owen Garvan Owen William Garvan (born 29 January 1988) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Garvan began his career in his native Ireland where he played for Home Farm as a schoolboy. He earned a move to England with Ipsw ...

Shane Supple Shane Supple (born 4 May 1987) is an Irish coach and former Association football, footballer who played as a Goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper. In 2015, he made a return to competitive football, after initially retiring in 2009, by ...

* Danny Haynes * Billy Clarke *

Chris Casement Christopher Casement (born 12 January 1988) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who currently plays for Leiston. He began his senior career with Ipswich Town for whom he played from 2005 to 2009, during which time he participated in se ...

Liam Trotter Liam Antony Trotter (born 24 August 1988) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chelmsford City. He has previously played for Ipswich Town, Grimsby Town, Scunthorpe United, Millwall, Bolton Wanderers, Nottingham F ...

* Ed Upson * '' Ryan Bennett'' * '' Morgan Fox'' *

Jordan Rhodes Jordan Luke Rhodes (born 5 February 1990) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Championship club Huddersfield Town and the Scottish national team. He started his career at Ipswich Town and after loan spells at Oxf ...

* ''

Stuart O'Keefe Stuart Antony Alan O'Keefe (born 4 March 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for club Gillingham. He began his career with Ipswich Town, spending six years in the club's youth academy system, but wa ...

'' * Tommy Smith * '' Nick Pope'' * Connor Wickham *

Jack Ainsley Jack Ainsley (born 17 September 1990) is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Stowmarket Town. Club career Early career Born in Ipswich, Suffolk, His father George Ainsley and brother Stuart Ainsley also were at Ipswich as youngs ...

* Macauley Bonne * Tom Eastman * Luke Hyam * Ronan Murray *

Josh Carson Joshua Glyn Carson (born 3 June 1993) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder or a winger for NIFL Premiership club Coleraine. Carson started his career with Ipswich Town's youth system in February 2009, before signing a profe ...

* '' Caolan Lavery'' * ''

Cody Cropper Cody Cropper (born February 16, 1993) is a retired American professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. Youth soccer Born in Atlanta, Cropper moved to Maple Grove, Minnesota when he was 10. He played with the Minnesota Thunder A ...

'' * Jack Marriott *

Teddy Bishop Edward James Bishop (born 15 July 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for league one club Lincoln City. Club career Ipswich Town Bishop was born in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. He originally played for boyhood ...

* Matt Clarke *

Harry Clarke Henry Patrick Clarke (17 March 1889 – 6 January 1931) was an Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement. His work was influenced by both the Art Nouveau and ...

Josh Emmanuel Joshua Oluwadurotimi Emmanuel (born 18 August 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right back and winger for Carlisle United. He will become a free agent on 30 June 2024. Emmanuel came through the youth academies of West ...

Myles Kenlock Myles Lewis George Kenlock is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for National League club Ebbsfleet United. Club career Ipswich Town Born in Lambeth, Kenlock was a schoolboy at Crystal Palace before leaving the club a ...

* Flynn Downes *

Tristan Nydam Tristan Ryan Nydam (born 6 November 1999) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder or left back. Nydam represented England at under-18 and under-19 levels. Club career Ipswich Town Nydam was born in Zimbabwe and moved to ...

Luke Woolfenden Luke Matthew Woolfenden (born 21 October 1998) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Ipswich Town. Woolfenden is a graduate of the Ipswich Town academy, making his senior debut in 2017. He spe ...

Ben Folami Gbenga Tai "Ben" Folami (born 8 June 1999) is an Australian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward_(association_football)#Winger, winger for Melbourne Victory FC, Melbourne Victory and the Australia national soccer ...

Jack Lankester Jack Richard Lankester (born 19 January 2000) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for club Crewe Alexandra, having previously played for Ipswich Town and Cambridge United. Club career Ipswich Town Born in Bury St Edmu ...

Idris El Mizouni Idris El Mizouni (born 26 September 2000) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ipswich Town. Born in France, he has represented the Tunisia national team. Club career Ipswich Town Born in Paris, El Mizouni came through th ...

Liam Gibbs Liam Geoffrey Gibbs (born 16 December 2002) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL Championship club Norwich City. Club career Ipswich Town Gibbs joined the Ipswich Town academy in 2011, progressing through the ...

* Tyreece Simpson

Academy Player of the Year

Youth honours

Reserves/Under-21s

* The Football Combination **Champions (4): 1972–73, 1975–76, 2006–07 (East Division), 2007–08 (East Division) *

FA Premier Reserve League The Premier Reserve League (officially known as The Barclays Premier Reserve League for English football sponsorship, sponsorship reasons) was the reserve team league for the top English association football, football teams in the Premier League. ...

South Division **Champions (1): 2001–02 *

Professional Development League The Professional Development League is a system of youth association football, football leagues that are managed, organised and controlled by the Premier League or by the Football League. It was introduced by the The Football Association, Footbal ...

South Division **Champions (1): 2018–19, 2021–22

Academy

League

* U17 FA Premier Academy League **Champions (1): 2000–01

Cups

FA Youth Cup The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under-18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part. It ...

**Winners (3): 1972–73, 1974–75, 2004–05 *Professional Development League Cup **Winners (1): 2021–22 *

Suffolk Premier Cup The Suffolk Premier Cup is the top level football cup competition organised by the Suffolk FA. It is currently open to clubs competing at the Eastern Counties League Premier Division level and above. Suffolk's only professional football club, Ipswi ...

**Winners (5): 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 2006–07, 2009–10

Notes

References

External links

Ipswich Town Academy official site

The Blues Foundation
{{coord missing, Suffolk Under-21s and Academy Football academies in England