Academy
Ross Halls Profile Image
Ipswich Town academy players and staff, pictured at the end of their pre-season tour in Slovakia.
Ipswich Town academy players and staff, pictured at the end of their pre-season tour in Slovakia. (Image: ITFC)
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Ipswich Town's academy sides enjoyed a training camp in Slovakia last week. Ross Halls recaps the tour...
A total of 43 academy players and 19 staff were part of the successful tour as the young Blues prepare for their second season in the Premier League 2.
They started the trip with a game against Slovakian club Spartak Trnava’s U19s, with Town including players from both the U18s and U21s sides.
They were beaten 1-0 by their hosts, who scored the only goal of the game via Rastislav Flimmel - what a great name - in the 31st minute.
A few days later, they faced DAC 1904’s B team, winning that game 3-2, but had to came from behind.
Tudor Mendel levelled the game, before the exciting winger struck again to put Town 2-1 up. However, the Slovakian side made it 2-2 before half-time.
The young Blues went on to win the game late on when young centre-half Kellyan Olawole scored after a goalmouth scramble from a corner.
The tour was concluded when a Town U17s side faced DAC 1904’s U17s, with the Blues' featuring many of the new intake of first-year scholars.
They won the game 3-0, thanks to a brace from centre-back Pedro Felico and a goal from midfielder James Brentnall.
Overall, it was a successful tour for the club with new experiences and memories made for the young players.
Town U18s are next in action tomorrow as they travel to Suffolk non-league side Bury Town, while the U21s travel to Gillingham on Friday.