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A Potted Club History - The Thirties

Results and tables for the following seasons can be found in our all-time results section.

The Decades Winners

World Cup Winners: 1930 Uruguary, 1934 Italy, 1938 Italy

League Champions: 1939 Everton, 1938 Arsenal, 1937 Manchester City, 1936 Sunderland, 1935 Arsenal, 1934 Arsenal, 1933 Arsenal, 1932 Everton, 1931 Arsenal, 1930 Sheffield Wednesday

FA Cup Winners: 1939 Portsmouth , 1938 Preston North End, 1937 Sunderland, 1936 Arsenal, 1935 Sheffield Wednesday, 1934 Manchester City, 1933 Everton, 1932 Newcastle United, 1931 West Bromwich Albion, 1930 Arsenal

Pictured above: The club turn professional


Season 1930-31

The first official supporters' club if formed at a meeting held at the Crown & Anchor Hotel, with Major Harold R. Hooper, who would play a prominent role in the formation of the professional club in 1936, elected its first president. Town are Ipswich Hospital Cup Winners and Southern Amateur League Runners-Up.

 

Season 1931-32

Dammo Green sets an all-time Southern Amateur League record scoring eight-goals in the 10-0 defeat of Eastbourne, although Town have to settle for the third place. The briefest of FA Cup runs sees Town KO'd by Leiston Works 3-2 in a preliminary round tie.

 

Season 1932-33

Herbert Dainty, a member of Dundee's Scottish Cup winning side in 1910, is appointed team coach. Only three league games are lost as Town secure the Southern Amateur League Championship and win the Ipswich Hospital Cup with a 1-0 victory over Harwich & Parkeston in the final.

 

Season 1933-34

The Southern Amateur League Championship is won for the second consecutive season, completing a six-year run in which Town finish no lower than third in league competition, but an early exit from the FA Cup is suffered at the hands of St Albans City.

 

Season 1934-35

Bob McPherson takes over as team coach. Town finish fourth in their final ever season in the Southern Amateur League ironically playing Eastbourne, their very first opponents in the competition back in 1907, in the last game of the season.

 

Season 1935-36

Captain John Murray Cobbold, or Captain Ivan as he was known, becomes the club's first President in the close season. Town join the newly formed Eastern Counties League but the season is overshadowed by talk of the club finally turning professional. Goalkeeper Jock Henderson is sent-off in the 2-0 defeat at Yarmouth and it will be another 57 years before another Town 'keeper receives his marching orders when Craig Forrest is sent-off in the 0-0 draw with Sheffield United at Portman Road in September 1992.

 

Turning pro ...

Under increasing pressure to turn professional, and with the threat of a breakaway by local businessmen led by Leonard P. Thompson to form an entirely new club, Ipswich United, club president Captain Cobbold calls together the rival factions and at a meeting at the Town Hall on May 1st the decision is made to apply for membership of the Southern League and end the clubs days as an amateur one.

 

Season 1936-37

Mick O'Brien is appointed as the club's first recognised manager. Town are unanimously elected into the Southern League. Ossie Parry, signed from Crystal Palace, becomes Town's first professional player, but the real coup is the signing of Jimmy McLuckie, a Scottish International, from First Division Aston Villa. The first professional game played by the club at Portman Road ends in a 4-1 win against Tunbridge Wells Rangers, and Town's first year as a pro side sees them crowned Southern League Champions, five points clear of nearest rivals Norwich City Reserves.

 

Season 1937-38

After just a season in charge Mick O'Brien resigns to be replaced by A. Scott Duncan who is poached from Manchester United. He is unable to match Town's achievements of the previous season in terms of league position but is instrumental, along with Captain Cobbold, in gaining Town entry into the Football League and they are voted into the Third Division (South) in place of Gillingham.

 

Season 1938-39

Football league debut at home versus Southend United ends in a 4-2 victory. A last minute equaliser at Aston Villa (1-1) earns Town an FA Cup 3rd Round replay at Portman Road where a then record crowd of 28,194 watch Town succumb 2-1. The supporters association boasted the largest membership of any supporters club in the Football League. Leading scorer Gilbert Alsop (pictured) with 25 league and cup goals.

 

Season 1939-40

A 1-1 draw at home with Norwich (Town goal scored by Fred Chadwick (pictured)) is Town's last competitive fixture for 6 years as war with Germany is declared the following day.

 

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