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USL Monterey Bay FC

MBFC's Boone, Doner, Gleadle, and Siaha Train at Ipswich Town FC

January 12, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Monterey Bay FC News Release


One month after being inducted into the Ipswich Town FC (ITFC) Hall of Fame, current Monterey Bay F.C. Sporting Director and Head Coach Frank Yallop has arranged for Union players Chase Boone, Morey Doner, Sam Gleadle, and Antony Siaha the opportunity to train with the development squad at Ipswich Town this January in preparation for the 2023 campaign.

"I can't wait for the opportunity to see Ipswich and train with the team," said Boone ahead of the trip. "Frank has told me great things about Ipswich Town, so I am just very thankful to get the chance to experience it first hand."

After spending the majority of his professional playing career for Ipswich Town FC in England, Yallop has built a lifelong connection to the Blues. And it is that connection that has allowed these four Monterey Bay F.C. players this special opportunity on the Ipswich Town grounds.

"I think every footballer's dream is to play in England. To get a chance to test yourself against players in a different county and league is something that motivates me as a player," said Doner. "Ipswich is a historic club. Seeing the culture and the ins and outs around the club is something I'm really looking forward to. I want to elevate my game this year so having this early preseason training will help carry into the season really well. I'm grateful to Frank and the coaching staff for helping me with this opportunity."

Yallop was officially inducted into the Ipswich Town FC Hall of Fame at a match at Portman Road on December 2, 2022 in recognition of his almost 400 appearances for the Blues during a career that began as a teenager and lasted nearly 16 years from 1980 - 1996. A month after making the trip to Ipswich himself, four of his players now get the opportunity to see where their manager's playing career blossomed.

"I am very excited. I think it's a blessing to get this opportunity. Training with top-level goalkeepers and a top-level goalkeeper coach will definitely have me ready to perform for Monterey Bay F.C. this season. I want to improve as much as I can and this will be a good opportunity to see what it takes to get to the next level."

The training opportunity with the Blues comes in advance of the Crisp and Kelp's 2023 preseason opener at Cardinale Stadium on February 4 against Major League Soccer (MLS) side San Jose Earthquakes, a club which has also inducted Yallop into its Hall of Fame. And for Boone, Doner, Gleadle, and Siaha, there is no better way to prepare for Monterey Bay's second season in USL Championship.

"This trip to Ipswich with the guys will be a great experience on and off the pitch," said Gleadle in December. "Getting to see the facilities, chat to other players at various levels there, as well as train with them every day for three weeks is huge. Not a lot of players get this level of training, so we won't take it for granted. This will help us a lot to get into top fitness levels and fast track our readiness for the 2023 season with Monterey Bay. As long as we take care of ourselves and handle the load well, we will be flying come preseason and heading into the regular season."

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