Reserves and Under-18's midfielder Charlie Smy reflects on 2025/26.
DK: How did you find the season from a personal perspective (Res/U18s) - arguably a successful one?
CS: Yeah I think it’s been a very good season, with the 18s in particular as we managed to get to the second round proper which was a massive achievement and also to win the league undefeated. Reserves season was a tough one but a good learning experience nevertheless.
DK: Can you pick 3 standout games from this season, if so which ones and why?
CS: 1- Erith Town in the first round proper - I thought we dominated the game from start to finish and it was a really good 4:0 display from the boys.
2 - County cup vs Sudbury- it was a very tough game and I was buzzing to get a goal and to go on to win it on penalties a very good moment.
3- Second round of the fa youth cup vs Southend - it was a very good opportunity to play against a very strong side in the second round proper and it was a good experience to play in front of so many people at Bloomfields.
2 - County cup vs Sudbury- it was a very tough game and I was buzzing to get a goal and to go on to win it on penalties a very good moment.
3- Second round of the fa youth cup vs Southend - it was a very good opportunity to play against a very strong side in the second round proper and it was a good experience to play in front of so many people at Bloomfields.
DK: How do you think this season ranks within your previous seasons at the club?
CS: I think this season has been a good one mainly due to the success in the cup run with the 18s and the league title and it’s a season that I will remember for a long time.
DK: Similarly, how'd you summarise your time at the club?
CS: It’s been a really positive experience, I’ve learnt a lot during my 2 years at the academy which I can take forward into my footballing career.
DK: What'd you make of the season for the Reserves?
CS: It’s been a season full of ups and downs with some good performances not getting the points they should have. However there’s also a lots of things I’ve learnt from the reserves season this year.
DK: A very historic season for the U18s - how proud are you overall?
CS: I’m very proud of the 18s season and to do it with the boys makes it so much more special. Definitely a season to remember.
DK: How special was it being part of that impressive FA Youth Cup run, the best the club's ever had?
CS: It was very special, obviously making history for the club in that competition was a massive goal for us at the start of the year and thanks to all the coaching staff that helped us along the way, we managed to get to the second round which is a very good accomplishment.
DK: Unfortunate to not quite retain the Suffolk Midweek Cup, but you must be otherwise proud of that run?
CS: We had a good run in the competition, with some big wins like the ones against Sudbury and Lowestoft but we were very disappointed to lose the final, a game where we never really found our rhythm.
DK: An unbeaten U18 League Champion campaign though, how does that feel?
CS: It’s very good to win the league and to do it unbeaten makes it much more impressive.
DK: A largely unchanged team over the previous seasons, how much has that consistency and togetherness played a part in the success?
CS: All of us boys go to college together and it’s brought us all a lot closer over the 2 years we’ve been here which I feel has played a massive part in all of our success.
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