More attacking power was the order of transfer deadline day in January 2020; Ben Folami coming in from Ipswich Town on loan to help with that. The Aussie striker had been on the books at Portman Road for five years up to that point; coming over from his homeland and joining the Tractor Boys’ academy set-up in 2015. With us in big trouble at the wrong end of the League Two table at the time of his arrival, his job was a clear one: score goals and lift us free of relegation strife by the end of the 2019-20 campaign.
Ben Folami: Before Boro’
Folami’s career started out, unsurprisingly, in Australia. The forward was first with NSW Football Institute, before moving onto Sutherland Sharks. But his big break (no offence) came when Ipswich Town came a-calling in 2015. Over he came and was soon making his way up the ladder; rising through the ranks and making his senior debut within two years. First team chances were, however, sporadic as his progress continued; Folami admitting that life as a pro in England was tougher than in Oz. Not quite the whinging Poms now – are we!
Away from club football, the striker – of Nigerian decent – has turned out for Australia at both U19 and U23 level. And there can surely be no reason why, if things keeping going upwards for the lad, that he won’t be in the full Aussie set-up before you know it. Just not when we need him, please.