18 year old first year professional has joined Ives on a loan to the end of the season from League One Stevenage. The youngster has worked his way through the Academy at Boro to earn his first contract and was the club’s leading scorer in the EFL Youth Alliance League last season. He has already enjoyed a successful loan spell at Isthmian Premier League Cheshunt earlier this season and will be looking to score goals at quattro tech Westwood Road.
Highly rated central defender Jake has joined the Ives from fellow Southern League Premier Central side Coalville Town. He has a wealth of experience at step 3 and higher having enjoyed three very successful spells with Leiston, most recently a two year period from May 2021 during which he remained an ever present in the Blues side becoming vice captain for the 2022/23 season.
The much travelled defender spent his development years with Torquay United where he enjoyed a number of successful loans to step 2 and 3 clubs before eventually making a move to Scottish Premier League Heart of Midlothian. Since returning South of the border in 2015 he has enjoyed spells with Wingate and Finchley, Grays Athletic, Merstham and Kingstonian in addition to his time on the East coast with Leiston.
18 year old Arber is currently training with Charlton Athletic having previously been a member of Wolverhampton Wanderers academy as a youngster. The London based keeper has appeared for Forest Hill Park in the Southern Counties East Football League and made one appearance locally for Godmanchester Rovers in 2022/23 season.
22 year old ex Northampton Town Academy keeper Lewis has joined the Ives on dual registration from Newport Pagnell Town where he has been a regular this season with the Swans. He will not be entirely unfamiliar with Ives travelling fans having played two games for the club during 2021/22 season including an excellent display in an impressive 2-1 victory at Nuneaton Borough. His other previously clubs include Hemel Hempstead Town, Northampton Sileby Rangers, Rugby Borough and Daventry Town
Powerful striker Torin has joined the Ives on an initial one month loan from Peterborough United. The youngster is a regular for Posh Under 21’s and has been named on the bench for the first team. He initially came to the attention of manager Ricky Marheineke when he grabbed an impressive brace in Peterborough’s pre-season visit to Quattro-tech Westwood Road.
20 year old utility player George has joined the Ives from Southern League Division One Central high flyers Leighton Town. George began his footballing career in the academy of National League Boreham Wood and since leaving the Wood he has built up plenty of Southern League experience with Kempston Rovers, Aylesbury United, Hitchin Town and AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
American/British centre back Sam grew up in the USA playing for LA Galaxy and Pateadores Academy and represented the USA in Israel’s Maccabi Games in 2022. Sam played against the Ives in last seasons Hunts FA Senior Cup Final being a major influence in ensuring Yaxley kept a clean sheet in that game. This season he has been a regular with Northern Premier League East side Grantham Town and now looks to take the step up by joining Ives.
Hugely promising 20 year old Italian born right back Ben has had his career seriously interrupted by injuries and has arrived at quattro tech Westwood Road looking to re-build. He started as a youngster at Northampton Town Academy before moving on to Aston Villa Academy and then to Peterborough United where his performances earned him six appearances in the first team and a 2 ½ year contract. He was attracting interest from a number of higher level clubs before a serious hamstring injury unfortunately ended his time as a professional
19 year old Peter joined the Ives on an initial 28 day loan from Northampton Town in October 2023. The Northampton born youngster is a product of the academy at Sixfields making his first team debut in the Papa John’s Trophy tie against Brighton in November 2021 and going on to sign his first professional contract six months later. Since then he has enjoyed successful loan spells at AFC Rushden & Diamonds and National League Aldershot Town. He now arrives at the quattro-tech Westwood Road looking to further develop his career.
Northampton Town loanee Josh holds a number of enviable records with the Cobblers. He became the youngest player ever to make his first team debut with the club when he played against Brighton in the EFL Trophy in November 2021 at the age of 15 years and 336 days. He has since gone on to make four more first team appearances in the same competition and on 18th October 2022 he became the club’s youngest goal scorer when he netted against Arsenal under 21. He already held the record as the youngest debutant for the clubs under 18 side when represented them as a 13 year old. The young professional has also spent successful loan spells at Harborough Town and Barwell and will look to further develop his career during his spell with the Ives.
Ex Hashtag United, Brightlingsea Regent and Welwyn Garden City attacking midfielder Carlos is another that has joined the Ives this season to further bolster the attacking options. London based Carlos is a product of the Barnet academy, he also had trials with Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town before entering into non-league football where he has found a happy knack of scoring goals from midfield.
Powerful striker Brandon is another first year professional that has joined the Ives on an initial one month loan from League One Cambridge United. He earned his pro contract with some impressive performances and important goals for the U’s during his two year scholarship at the Abbey Stadium. He joined Cambridge after a spell at West Ham United and was another of the integral parts of United’s FA Youth Cup run last season. Brandon enjoyed successful work experience loans at St Neots Town and Cheshunt last season and sees the Ives as a step up on his football journey.
First year professional Dan joins the Ives on an initial one month loan from League One Cambridge United. A wide midfielder with an ability to beat players and can play on either side of the park. He played a major part in the U’s history making FA Youth Cup run last season that only ended in the quarter finals. Dan spent the majority of last season on work experience at St Neots Town and is now looking to make a big step up at quattro tech Westwood Road.
Midfield anchor Fernando started his career at Cambridge United and spent some time on loan at St Neots Town. Following his release from Cambridge United, Fernando joined AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the summer of 2017. Later that year he moved to Basford United in order to pursue his university studies at Nottingham Trent University. Whilst in the East Midlands he also spent periods at Grantham Town and Ilkeston Town. Returning to East Anglia following his graduation he rejoined AFC Rushden & Diamonds and was a key member of their squad before moving on to Ives local Southern League rivals Royston Town in summer 2022.
Centre back Murphy has joined the Ives from Southern League Premier Division Central Redditch United where he was a regular in the first team squad last season scoring only one goal in the Reds 2-0 win over Ives last September. Also capable of playing full back, or in a defensive midfield role Murphy brings an added versatility to Ricky’s squad. He has also previously represented Barton Rovers, Eynesbury Rovers and Biggleswade FC
Aaron is another local lad who started his footballing journey with Mildenhall Town where his performances earned him a chance at Peterborough United. After a season with the Posh he was released and went on to join Ives local rivals St Neots Town where he has been a regular for the past couple of seasons. Now looking to make a step back up the football ladder he has arrived at quattro tech Westwood Road as a very solid defender that can play on both right and left sides and also has a very impressive long throw in his armoury.
Local lad Shay is a highly promising young keeper who made his competitive debut for the Ives in 2018/19 season as an 18 year old against Redditch and kept a clean sheet in an important home victory. He is a very confident lad who has been attending regular training sessions at the Club since he was a youngster. He is a very competent young shot stopper who has already proved that he is up to the challenge when his chance arrives.
21 year old ex Tottenham Hotspur keeper Kacper has joined the Ives from Northern Premier League Division One Midlands side Yaxley after a starring role for the Cuckoos in last seasons Huntingdonshire FA Senior Cup Final. Although never making a first team appearance for Spurs Kacper was often in match day squads and was a regular in the U18 and U23 sides during his time at White Hart Lane. He spent spells on loan at Potters Bar Town and Braintree Town during his time with the North London club and following his release in 2022 he became first choice stopper at Yaxley.
Highly rated second year professional Eddie has rejoined the Ives on a six month loan from League One Oxford United. Eddie will be familiar to Ives fans as the keeper that produced a string of impressive performances at quattro tech Westwood Road during a similar loan spell in 2021/22. The youngster has already been named on the bench for Oxford United first team for League One fixtures and has enjoyed loan spells at North Leigh, Thame United and Evesham United prior to his return to Ives.