By Steve Pearce

Town scholars to benefit from link up with St Joseph's

Town have strengthened links with St Joseph’s College with the Club’s Academy scholars to be educated at the school on day release from September.

The partnership will see the young Blues receive a tailored educational programme, providing them with excellent learning opportunities through their scholarship at the Club. 

“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,” Academy manager Lee O’Neill told the Club website.

“St Joseph’s College have 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, said: “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, added: “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.”