HIS introduction into football came alongside Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott.

But David McGoldrick has painful memories of one of his first encounters with Ipswich Town.

The new Blues frontman was part of a Southampton youth team that also contained Adam Lallana, Nathan Dyer and Leon Best.

But it was not enough to overcome Ipswich in the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2005.

Bury St Edmunds boy Ed Upson scored an extra-time winner to beat the Saints in a memorable second leg at Portman Road.

McGoldrick, who made his full debut for Town in Saturday’s goalless draw at Cardiff, remembers the low point well.

The 25-year-old striker, who scored a penalty in the first leg, recalled: “We played them home and away. We drew 2-2 in the first leg at home and I scored.

“In the second leg we came down here (Ipswich) and didn’t really turn up in front of a great atmosphere.

“I think Walcott started and we had Nath Dyer, Adam Lallana, Leon Best, Martin Cranie, Lloyd James. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was already training with us even though he was younger.

“Their boy scored in the last minute to win it and that was an upsetting feeling for me as a kid.”

McGoldrick joined Town on loan earlier this month from Nottingham Forest, although the move will become permanent in the summer.

While Forest fans have questioned his goal record, the man who last week earned the League One player of the month crown following his blistering loan spell at Coventry City has already impressed Town fans.

And he puts his ability down to his grounding he had on the South Coast.

He said: “A lot of the players from that game have gone on to get experience in the Premiership and Championship.

“It was a great academy that really helped me develop.”