In-demand Reid on track in Academy

Strikers thrive on goals. And teenager Craig Reid was pleased to get off the mark for the new season with a brace against Bolton Wanderers two weeks ago, and is hoping to add to them at Aston Villa tomorrow, writes David Vincent.

The 17-year-old from Coventry joined Ipswich after impressing at the schoolboy exit trials at London Colney.

To do so he had to overcome terrible conditions that day; the weather blew up a gale while three teams of young players attempted to do enough to get scouts from other clubs to notice them.

Craig, who had been with Coventry City, was supported by his mother, father and elder brother Chris on the day. And his family is always there when "Reidy" turns out for Ipswich.

His brother Chris is a former youth player with Derby County who now plays Sunday football.

The young striker was very much in demand after those exit trials.

His dad Kevin Reid said: "The trials day was terrible. The rain was driving in sideways but everything went well for Craig. We are very pleased he is here at Ipswich.

"To be fair there was a lot of interest in him after the trials day but we felt the best thing was to join Ipswich because of the treatment he received here.

"He has settled in very well and made friends."

Craig played for local teams in Coventry and was top scorer for Coventry schoolboys for four seasons.

He had trials with Swindon Town who offered him a scholarship, but instead he accepted an offer from home town club Coventry City. But at the last minute the Sky Blues did not follow it through.

That took him to the exit trials where he was noticed and invited for a trial with Ipswich.

Malcolm Moore said: "It was raining very heavily. Ken Goody lent me his umbrella but we were both absolutely drenched.

"There were three teams of boys all doing their best but it wasn't ideal for them. Craig did very well."

"At the end of the day you have to hand in slips of paper saying which players you are interested in.

"We got his details and invited him. He came down to look at us and it went from there really.

"It turned out 18 football league clubs were interested in him.

"We like to get people to come down here, see how we work, and make their own judgement.

"They don't always chose to join us but that way they have a chance to make their own opinions."

Craig Reid said: "Last Saturday it was very hard work. Personally it is nice to get off the mark for the season. Hopefully I can carry on now.

"I have been staying after training working on my finishing with Steve McCall.

"Joe Royle had helped with advice about the right position to take up in the penalty box in order the affect the game. He was a quality striker in his playing days.

"When we played Bolton they got on top but we came out of our shell in the second half and came back into it and almost got the draw.

"Hopefully the team will start gelling together from Saturday and start winning a few more games like we did last season.

"We have some great coaches here and they know how to get things going."

Last midweek Reid looked lively when he came on for the last 25 minutes of the reserve game with Arsenal at Portman Road. He was on the bench again for the reserves against Leicester City on Wednesday but never got on as Ipswich had to reorganise after Aidan Collins was sent off.