Town have announced a new intake of academy players ahead of the 2020/21 Women's Super League Academy season.
Six players have signed a two-year scholarship with the Blues, including four capped England youth Internationals.
Prior to the curtailment of the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The young Tractor Girls sat sixth in the WSL Academy League and had reached the semi-finals of the WSL Academy Cup for the second straight year.
Since the formation of Town's Academy in late 2017, a significant number of young players have since gone on to make their senior debut for the club, including 16 of the 19 registered academy players featuring at senior level last season.
Introducing the new young Tractor Girls...
Prior to the curtailment of the season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, The young Tractor Girls sat sixth in the WSL Academy League and had reached the semi-finals of the WSL Academy Cup for the second straight year.
Since the formation of Town's Academy in late 2017, a significant number of young players have since gone on to make their senior debut for the club, including 16 of the 19 registered academy players featuring at senior level last season.
Introducing the new young Tractor Girls...
Name: Sarah Brasero
Position: Midfielder
Previous Club(s): Norwich City PDC, Sprowston
Bio: Sarah started her football career playing for boys teams in Norfolk from the age of 12. She has latterly played for Sprowston for both the boys and girls team whilst continuing her development at the Norwich City PDC. After becoming a standout player, Sarah quickly cemented herself in the England youth setup and has since been capped at U15 and U16 level.
Position: Midfielder
Previous Club(s): Norwich City PDC, Sprowston
Bio: Sarah started her football career playing for boys teams in Norfolk from the age of 12. She has latterly played for Sprowston for both the boys and girls team whilst continuing her development at the Norwich City PDC. After becoming a standout player, Sarah quickly cemented herself in the England youth setup and has since been capped at U15 and U16 level.
Name: Issy Bryant
Position: Forward
Previous Club(s): Cambridgeshire ACC, Cambridge City
Bio: Issy started playing football at the age of 4 and played for local boys sides before joining the Cambridgeshire ACC at 10-years-old. She has since spent the past six years progressing through the Cambridgeshire ACC whilst also playing for Cambridge City girls, where she amassed a remarkable 77 goals during the 2018/19 season.
Internationally, Issy has enjoyed continued success throughout the England age groups since her debut at the age of 14, scoring her first goal for her country against Switzerland in February 2019. Issy had been due to represent the young Lionesses at the Nordic Tournament in Denmark this summer but it was subsequently cancelled due to Covid-19.
Position: Forward
Previous Club(s): Cambridgeshire ACC, Cambridge City
Bio: Issy started playing football at the age of 4 and played for local boys sides before joining the Cambridgeshire ACC at 10-years-old. She has since spent the past six years progressing through the Cambridgeshire ACC whilst also playing for Cambridge City girls, where she amassed a remarkable 77 goals during the 2018/19 season.
Internationally, Issy has enjoyed continued success throughout the England age groups since her debut at the age of 14, scoring her first goal for her country against Switzerland in February 2019. Issy had been due to represent the young Lionesses at the Nordic Tournament in Denmark this summer but it was subsequently cancelled due to Covid-19.
Name: Summer Hughes
Position: Winger
Previous Club(s): Arsenal PDC, Essex RTC
Bio: Summer started her career at local club Capel Plough before moving on to the Arsenal PDC. After a year with the Gunners, Summer moved on to the Essex RTC where she was coached by Town boss Joe Sheehan. Summer featured for Town as a trialist in a couple of WSL Academy League games at the tail end of last season before deciding to commit her future to the Blues.
Position: Winger
Previous Club(s): Arsenal PDC, Essex RTC
Bio: Summer started her career at local club Capel Plough before moving on to the Arsenal PDC. After a year with the Gunners, Summer moved on to the Essex RTC where she was coached by Town boss Joe Sheehan. Summer featured for Town as a trialist in a couple of WSL Academy League games at the tail end of last season before deciding to commit her future to the Blues.
Name: Nina Meollo
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous Club(s): Norwich City
Bio: Nina started her career at the age of 11 playing for a local boys team as the only female goalkeeper in the league. She went on to join Norwich City's academy and ACC from U12 to U16.
She has also spent time away at Regional and National England Camps, and was placed on stand-by for England U15 International fixtures in 2019.
Position: Goalkeeper
Previous Club(s): Norwich City
Bio: Nina started her career at the age of 11 playing for a local boys team as the only female goalkeeper in the league. She went on to join Norwich City's academy and ACC from U12 to U16.
She has also spent time away at Regional and National England Camps, and was placed on stand-by for England U15 International fixtures in 2019.
Name: Lucy O'Brien
Position: Midfielder
Previous Club(s): Cambridge United ACC, MK Dons RTC
Bio: Lucy started her football at grassroots and has since progressed through the Cambridge United ACC before most recently representing the MK Dons RTC.
She has been a regular at international level having being selected for England camps and matches from U15 to U16 and U17 age groups. Most recently she has represented her country in the U17 European qualifiers and has scored 4 goals for her country. Lucy featured for Town in three WSL Academy League matches during the 2019/20 season and scored in each game, including a stunning volley against West Ham United.
Position: Midfielder
Previous Club(s): Cambridge United ACC, MK Dons RTC
Bio: Lucy started her football at grassroots and has since progressed through the Cambridge United ACC before most recently representing the MK Dons RTC.
She has been a regular at international level having being selected for England camps and matches from U15 to U16 and U17 age groups. Most recently she has represented her country in the U17 European qualifiers and has scored 4 goals for her country. Lucy featured for Town in three WSL Academy League matches during the 2019/20 season and scored in each game, including a stunning volley against West Ham United.
Name: Sara Smith-Walter
Position: Defender
Previous Club(s): Essex RTC
Bio: Sara started playing football at 7 years old for FC Clacton Boys. She then joined the Essex Girls RTC at U14 level, where she stayed until joining recently joining Town.
During her time with Essex she was called up for a number of England youthtraining camps, which led to her representing her country at a Home Nations Tournament. Sara also spent a few months training with the Blues during the 2019/20 season before deciding to commit her future to the club.
Position: Defender
Previous Club(s): Essex RTC
Bio: Sara started playing football at 7 years old for FC Clacton Boys. She then joined the Essex Girls RTC at U14 level, where she stayed until joining recently joining Town.
During her time with Essex she was called up for a number of England youthtraining camps, which led to her representing her country at a Home Nations Tournament. Sara also spent a few months training with the Blues during the 2019/20 season before deciding to commit her future to the club.
Everyone at Ipswich Town would like to welcome our new academy scholars to the Tractor Girls and wish them every success during their time at the club.
