IPSWICH TOWN - Younger posters will probably be amazed to learn that Ipswich Town was one of the powerhouse teams of the First Division in the 1980s and, imo, that team would
easily be in the top six of the Premier League today such was the incredible quality of the playing squad and their manager Bobby Robson who, of course, went on to manage the England team with decent success.
Founded in 1878 they turned professional in 1936 and have played at all levels in the Football League participating in European football since the 1960s. They play at Portman Road, capacity 30,311 and, under manager Paul Hurst, they currently sit bottom but one in the table with no wins and just 6 points from 11 games. Their 8 goals scored is the joint lowest in the Division along with QPR. Last season they finished 12th in the table. Now nicknamed the Tractor Boys, their team colours are blue and white tops, white shorts and blue socks.
Their list of quality/notable players is enormous and I just don't have the time to list them all. They include Mick Mills (England captain), Terry Butcher, John Wark (190 goals from
midfield) and Russell Osman (both appeared in the movie
Escape to Victory along with Kevin O'Callaghan), Paul Mariner, powerhouse legend Kevin Beattie (described by Bobby Robson, no less, as THE BEST ENGLISH PLAYER I HAVE EVER SEEN), Colin Viljoen, Alan Brazil, keeper Roy Bailey, George Burley, David Johnson, Darren Bent, and the incredible Dutch duo Arnold Muhren and Franz Thijssen. Back in the 1960s you had Ray Crawford (218 goals), Ted Phillips (181 goals) and finally, I must make mention of ex Swan Shefki Kuqi who scored 33 in 88 for them.
I think all I have mentioned were international players and apologies to the many I have had to omit - and there WERE many more!! Their present squad includes Welshmen, Gwion Edwards, Ellis Harrison and Emyr Huws. In the movie I mentioned, Kevin Beattie doubled for Michael Caine and keeper Paul Cooper for Sylvester Stallone in the football scenes.
Former managers of the club include Sir Alf Ramsey, Jackie Milburn, George Burley, Joe Royle, Mick McCarthy, Roy Keane and Sir Bobby Robson.
Major honours include Football League Champions in 1961/62 and this was
immediately after winning the old Second Division title in 1960/61 under manager Alf Ramsey. They won the FA Cup in 1977/78: EUFA Cup winners in 1980/81: Texaco Cup winners in 1972/73. They also finished runners-up in the First Division in 1981 and 1982. In 1979 they beat league runners-up Manchester United 6-0 with keeper Gary Bailey saving THREE penalties.
They have competed in three European competitions and have never been beaten at home defeating, amongst others, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Lazio. For a small club isolated geographically in Suffolk, they have certainly won their share of accolades over the years.
I can't claim to have any particular memories about our games with them but I was in attendance on 27th March 1982 when they beat us 2-1 at the Vetch in front of 20,450 fans. Robbie James netted a penalty for us. But prior to this we actually went to Portman Road and beat them 3-2 with goals from Alan Curtis, Bob Latchford and Gary Stanley. Although I didn't go to the game I remember from telly that Curt's goal was a beauty, exquisite in its elegant execution. To be honest, I was amazed that we won there, so good was the Ipswich team of that time. But we deserved it. I read this: "Following the match, the respected Ipswich manager, Bobby Robson, admitted that, over the previous five years, no club had so dominated a game there as Swansea had done. 'Ipswich', to quote one journalist, 'were out-fought and out-thought'"
Such a great time to be a Swan, aye.