Ipswich Town's Academy kids will be representing the club in Iceland and the Netherlands over the next few weeks.And a former first team star and two season ticket holders have stepped in to help sponsor next week's Iceland trip.

Ipswich Town's Academy kids will be representing the club in Iceland and the Netherlands over the next few weeks.

And a former first team star and two season ticket holders have stepped in to help sponsor next week's Iceland trip.

A 16-strong group of 14 and 15 year-olds fly out to Reykjavik on Wednesday with coaches Tony Humes, Ken Goody and Paul Bartlett, to defend the Rey Cup won by Ipswich in their debut in the tournament a year ago.

Iceland international Hermann Hreidarsson, now with Charlton Athletic, has chipped in to help the Town party play in his home country.

Record signing Hreidarsson left Ipswich for Charlton in March 2003 for a £900,000 fee and he previously played for Wimbledon, Brentford and IBV Vestmannaeyjar in the Icelandic Premier Division.

And two Ipswich season ticket holders, Gary Drewery and Gary Raven, are also helping support the trip.

Academy sponsorship manager Simon Milton said: “We are very pleased to have their support.

“It is important for young players to experience tournaments and meet different teams and styles of football.

“Hermann often pops in to see us when he is in town and when he heard we were going to his home country he said he would like to help. He was really pleased about it.”

Also taking part in the Reykjavik International Football Festival in some age groups are Glasgow Rangers, Stoke City and a team from Ghana.

Bartlett said: “The trip is also being supported by fans Gary Drewery and Gary Raven, from the Chelmsford area who had spoken to Simon (Milton).

“They are proud of the club's youth development system and wanted to help with it.”

Coach Humes said: “We understand it will be a tougher competition than last year and we will play games on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons with the finals on Sunday.

“Playing in the national stadium last time was a great experience for everyone.

“It is great experience for the boys to be with their mates away from their homes and parents and playing against foreign sides. It is really good for them and the team spirit.

“Half-a-dozen of the boys were with us last year. It is a great opportunity for them all and one which will be good for them in the future.”

It is not the only foreign tournament for the Academy this summer. Shortly before the start of their new season an under-18 squad will travel to Doetichem in Northern Holland to defend another title won in 2003.

The tournament is from Friday, August 13 to Monday, August 16.

The Academy U18 league season begins on August 21 at home to Nottingham Forest followed a week later by a trip to Newcastle United.

The under-16 team fixtures get under way two weeks later.

dave.vincent@eadt.co.uk