Pride of Anglia - Ipswich Town Football Club
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Friday, 31 July 2009
The Man Who Made The Town
Sir Bobby Robson RIP
A very sad day indeed. I know that he had been ill for a number of years now, and that it was unlikley that he would fight off cancer for a fifth time, but his death today is still quite a shock. Two minutes silence is planned at tonight's game and if I can stop myself from shedding a tear during those two minutes I will be most surprised.
Apart from my parents, there is no one who had a greater influence over my life during the 70's and early 80's than Sir Bobby. If he hadn't become Town's manager I doubt whether I would have travelled to the many places that I did as I followed his Ipswich side across the UK and Europe. He and they were marvellous. I wouldn't have caught the travel bug, a bug which took me to the US amongst other places, I would not have met my wife (in the USA), had my two kids, and so on and so forth. I'm sure there are many many others, fans, players and the like who were similarly influenced and affected (so positively) by the great man.
Like many others (see the huge number of tributes published on the web less than 12 hours after his passing) I will always remember the man with great fondness. What great memories he has left with us all. Not just the great Ipswich triumphs of 78 and 81 (and the great near miss with England in 1990) but other quieter but no less important moments. For example, at grounds around the country he would invariable make a point of seeking out the group of hardcore Town fans that made it to every away game (myself included) and reward us with a handful of complimentary tickets. He didn’t need to but he did it anyway. A real Gentleman.
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Views from Portman Road
Can't quite decide where you want to sit at the next home game? Well help is at hand with our collection of assorted views from seating around the Field of Dreams!
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Do You Remember...
...when Butcher Bled for the Blues?
Terry butcher's heroic exploits for England in 1989, when he famously played on with a bloodied shirt against Sweden, was not the first time he had shed blood for his team. Back in January 1982, with Ipswich flying high at the top of the First Division, Ipswich went to Second Division Luton for an FA Cup tie. Little did Butcher known when he took to the field that afternoon, that he would be putting not just his playing career, but his whole life on the line.
Town at War
Part 2: Town in Uniform
Of all the players, officials and staff at the club prior to the outbreak of war just a single life was lost. But what a huge loss to the club it was - that of Captain 'Ivan' Cobbold, who had been Chairman of the club since 1936. Captain 'Ivan', as he continued to be known despite promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel during the hostilities, had rejoined the Welsh Guards in 1939. He lost his life five years later - in June, 1944 - when a German 'doodlebug' hit his regiment's chapel in London while he was attending a service there. He had led the club into professionalism; persuaded A. Scott Duncan to leave Manchester United and join Ipswich as manager and devoted a significant amount of his time in promoting the club's claim for election to the Football League. It was also he that set the style for non-interference with the work of the manager, a style which the various Chairman and Directors of Town have followed to this day.
Friday, 3 July 2009
Town and the NASL
Part 1: Galloping Gorman
John Gorman has twice held the post of assistant manager at Ipswich, first under George Burley in 1999, and then under Jim Magilton, from December 2008 to April 2009. Prior to coaching Gorman enjoyed a relatively successful playing career starting at Glasgow Celtic and then by way of Carlisle United and Tottenham found himself playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the now defunct North American Soccer League. There he proved to be popular with both team mates and fan’s alike winning Player of the Year in 1981. From 1979 to 1982 he made over 100 appearances for the Florida club as this article from a NASL match day programme explains...
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