The young Tractor Girls begin their WSL Academy League season away to Reading this afternoon, with seven new players joining the Blues as part of the club's annual intake.
Full-back Leonie Telford, midfielder Megan Wearing and forward Elizabeth Way become the latest group of players to join Ipswich Town from the Essex RTC, following in the footsteps of a number of the Blues' first-team players. Goalkeeper Ella-Mae Hakes joins the club from MK Dons, with versatile midfielder Abbi Smith joining from Arsenal.
Zofia Szczech becomes the first player to progress through the Ipswich Town ACC. The Poland youth international midfielder, who can also operate in defence, makes the step up to WSL Academy football after impressing for Town's academy side in a couple of Suffolk FA Women's Cup fixtures last season. The intake is completed by attacking midfielder, Lauren Hailes, who won't be eligible to make her debut for the club until her 16th birthday in November.
In addition to committing their footballing futures to the club, Szczech and Wearing will join existing academy players Sarah Brasero-Carriera, Summer Hughes and Nina Meollo in continuing their education with the club's education partner St Joseph's College as part of Town's ongoing partnership with the Ipswich-based school.
Academy squad list:
Sarah Brasero-Carriera
Issy Bryant
Lauren Hailes
Ella-Mae Hakes
Summer Hughes
Nina Meollo
Lucy O'Brien
Abbi Smith
Sara Smith-Walter
Zofia Szczech
Leonie Telford
Elizabeth Way
Megan Wearing
Today's WSL Academy League fixture against Reading at the John Madejski Academy kicks off at 2pm.
Zofia Szczech becomes the first player to progress through the Ipswich Town ACC. The Poland youth international midfielder, who can also operate in defence, makes the step up to WSL Academy football after impressing for Town's academy side in a couple of Suffolk FA Women's Cup fixtures last season. The intake is completed by attacking midfielder, Lauren Hailes, who won't be eligible to make her debut for the club until her 16th birthday in November.
In addition to committing their footballing futures to the club, Szczech and Wearing will join existing academy players Sarah Brasero-Carriera, Summer Hughes and Nina Meollo in continuing their education with the club's education partner St Joseph's College as part of Town's ongoing partnership with the Ipswich-based school.
Academy squad list:
Sarah Brasero-Carriera
Issy Bryant
Lauren Hailes
Ella-Mae Hakes
Summer Hughes
Nina Meollo
Lucy O'Brien
Abbi Smith
Sara Smith-Walter
Zofia Szczech
Leonie Telford
Elizabeth Way
Megan Wearing
Today's WSL Academy League fixture against Reading at the John Madejski Academy kicks off at 2pm.
