Ipswich Town Foundation and Brantham Athletic FC Partnership

Brantham Athletic FC are delighted to announce a formal collaboration with Ipswich Town Foundation.

ITFC will provide CPD opportunities to Brantham Athletic coaches, provide onsite parents information evenings for the Post 16 Football and Education programme at Portman Road and offer students a pathway/exit route into Brantham Athletic U18 Thurlow Nunn, U18 Suffolk League Team, plus any male or female senior teams.

In return Brantham Athletic will exclusively promote Ipswich Town Foundation provision from U7 to U16 and everything in between. There will also be the potential of Possible us of use of 1^st Team pitch for ‘home’ ITFC Football & Education fixtures.

Darren Smith, Chief Executive Officer for the club said:

The club having been formally approached by Ipswich Town Foundation to work in partnership with them to provide an academic and footballing pathway for our U16’s boys and girls. Once we met with Luke Worley at Ipswich, we were very impressed, not only with Luke and his passion and enthusiasm but also with the facilities given over to the Community Trust by the main club at Portman Road as well as the commitment both financially and personally of the new owners of ITFC.

It is important for us as a club, that by recommending a pathway for our U16’s that the academic side of the pathway is paramount and provides future opportunities for the young people to progress to both University and employment with the sporting and football world. On discussions with Luke it was made that crystal clear that whilst the football coaching and playing is important, that the academic studies take priority, this was exactly the statement we wanted to hear.

As well as the pathway for our youngsters, the link up will also provide a the opportunity for those studying at the Community Trust wishing to get in to senior football to come to us by joining one of the Brantham senior teams from U18’s to the first team, both male and female. The club will also benefit from the excellent coaching staff that the Trust has who will be available to assist our coaches on a regular basis, thus not only improving our youngsters, but also improving our coaches and managers.

Given all of the above, the club are delighted to announce this collaboration with the Ipswich Town Foundation and feel it will benefit those youngsters of Brantham Athletic that wish to continue in to sporting academic study for years to come.

Later in the summer, we will hold a joint presentation evening with the Community Trust for them to present to the youngsters and their parents the opportunities that there are at the Trust going forward.

Brantham Athletic Director of Football, Dave Childs said: “I’m really pleased to be part of Brantham Athletic FC and going into partnership with ITFC. After meeting with Luke we were impressed with Luke’s passion and professionalism with the whole programme.

I’m excited about the pathway for our U16’s in their footballing and future employment.

We are looking forward to helping students at Ipswich Town Foundation and provide a pathway into U18 and senior football.”

Football and Education Officer, Luke Worley said: “For us to be able to build close working partnerships with local football clubs is paramount. This will allow current and future students the chance to develop in competitive football environments should they not have a pathway discovered, with the opportunity to represent Brantham Athletic.

We will also be able offer youth players from Brantham Athletic the opportunity to gain post 16 qualifications whilst helping identify exit routes in to university or employment alongside continuing their passion in football.

It was clear that Darren, Dave and myself were on the same page when we first discussed options, that although we are a football programme with the draw of ITFC obvious for all to see, that Education was the most important factor in us agreeing to support one another moving forward.

I am excited and enthused to work closely with the club officials, players and families over the period of our partnership.”