By Aston
April 5 2006

Ipswich Town manager Joe Royle says Town will not be scrapping Town’s reserve side despite their relegation from the FA Premier Reserve league (South).

Town played their final reserve game at Portman Road this season against Charlton on Monday night but it is not the end of reserve team football for Town.

 

Town manager Joe Royle: “There is absolutely no way we are going to give up on reserve football at this club. We still regard it as a vital component.

 

“We would never do anything to halt the progress of our up-and-coming youngsters. A reserve team has a worthwhile function, acting as it does as a bridge between the youth team and the first team.

 

“Reserve team football has changed beyond all recognition over the years but our view is that there remains a need for it.

 

“When I think back to my time as a youngster at Everton I remember playing in a reserve fixture against Liverpool in front of 13,000 spectators.

 

“They were quite clever back then. They would play it on the same day as the Merseyside derby so the fans that couldn't get into the first team fixture would turn up and watch the reserves, whether at Goodison or Anfield.

 

“I can also recall an occasion when I played alongside nine international players in the reserves, which made it easy for me.

 

“That can't happen nowadays, with clubs trimming their squads and operating with fewer players at their disposal, but a reserve team can still fulfil a purpose.

 

“It's about natural progression. You will occasionally find a kid who can step straight into the first team from the Academy, but generally speaking the reserve team still offers the more conventional route.”

 

Source: EADT

 

Talk about Town on our new look Message Board.