IPSWICH TOWN

 

A long, long time ago, way out East, a cowboy outfit of footballers called Ipswich Association FC (formed 1878) merged with a rugby club to form Ipswich FC in 1888.  It took them another 50 years for the club to gain entrance to the Football League, but once they did there no no stopping them staying where they were.  They remained in Division Three (South) until 1953, when they won that league - a feat they reproduced three seasons later after being relegated back there.

It was only when ex-Spurs full back, Alf Ramsey retired from the game and lacking anything better to do, took over as manager at Portman Road that things took off in Suffolk.  His second season saw them out of the bottom league and within four years they were in the First Division courtesy of the Second Div. championship in 1961.  The newcomers also took Tottenham's League championship off them at their first try.  Ramsey's fighting team became known as the side with a punch after their home county.  Not blessed with big names, they played for each other and made more well known sides look small.  But it couldn't last.  Teams grew wise to their methods and by 1964 they were down to Div. 2.  

A prosperous period began with promotion to the First Division as champs in 1968.  And shortly after, Bobby Robson took over and although he couldn't remember the name of the team, he presided over the halcyon days of the Tractor Boys. An FA Cup win over Arsenal in 1978 was followed by the culmination of their European exploits with a UEFA Cup triumph over Twente Enschede - a high scoring Dutch side.  That season the Horses also finished runners-up in the old First Division, as they did the following term.  However, there was never the luck going for them to take the big title, despite the bleeding Terry Butcher, the ancient Paul Mariner and the hairy John Wark. 

For all those old enough to remember their golden days, Mick Mills was the cornerstone of the side.  Looking like Phil Collins and playing like him to sometimes, he played 591 times for the club in his 16 year stint.  How the side that faced Tottenham on 21st August 1976 managed to have an average age of 22 years and 9 months with him in it, I don't know !!  Almost an amazing a fact as the one that saw Gary Bailey save three Ipswich penalties in a 6-0 win over Manchester United in 1980 !!

The team grew nearly as old as their manager, who was soon off to manage England in the footsteps of Ramsey (being required to leave after an unsuccessful World Cup campaign too). There followed an unprecedented turnover in managers - four in 12 years until they settled on old boy defender George Burley.  Under his guidance the club have gone down into Division One, a run of play-off nightmares, which culminated in a narrow win over Barnsley in 2000 to take them back into the top flight.  They have surprised everyone by playing attractive and successful football, with the promise of more to come.

In the good old days, the club had always been run by an upper class elite who could often be heard to chant "Rah, rah, rah !  Let's smash the oinks !!", when entertaining clubs from more industrial areas.  There was a load of old Cobbolds in charge and they wooed the fancy of many a young player they wanted to sign with offers of claret in the boardroom. However, the cases of top vino were swept away in a bloodless coup staged by David Sheepshanks, now the chairman of the club.  You will often hear the cries now that come from the home end of "We are the Sheepshank Boys" ... and nobody is really surprised !!

Famous Players : - Keith Bertschin, Ray Crawford, Gary Dobbin, Colin Viljoen, Mitch D'Avray, Harry Nagg, Romeo Zondervan, Roy Bailey, Eddie Youds, Frans Thijssen.

Famous Fans : - Keith Dellar (former World Champion darts player), Bill Treacher (Actor - Arthur Fowler in "EastEnders"), Griff Rhys Jones (Comedian - "Not the Nine O'Clock News)

Club Records

Formed 1878
Turned Professional 1936
Became a Limited Company 1936
Former names -
Previous grounds -
Nickname "Blues" or "Town"
Club Colours HOME : Shirts - Blue
Shorts - White
Shirts - Blue

AWAY : Shirts - White
Shorts - Black
Shirts - White

Record Premier League Win 5-0   v  Sunderland (Home)   29.12.2001
Record Premier League Defeat 0-9  v  Manchester United  (Away)  1995
Record Football League Win 7-0  v  Portsmouth   Division 2   7.11.1964
7-0  v  Southampton  
Division 1    2.2.1974
7-0  v  West Bromwich Albion    Division 1  6.11.1976
Record Football League Defeat 1-10   v  Fulham   Division 1   26.12.1963
Record Cup Win 10-0 Floriana (Malta) - European Cup R1 25.9.1962
Record Fee Paid £4.5 million to Sampdoria (Italy) for Matteo SERINI  (August 2001)
Record Fee Received £12 million (conditional) from Sunderland for Connor WICKHAM (June 2011)
Record Football League Appearances 591  -  Mick MILLS  (1966-82)
Record Premier League Appearances  
Record Premier League goalscorer  
Record goalscorer in a Premier League season  
Record Home Attendance (all-time) 38,010      v  Leeds United   
FAC R6  8.3.1975
Record Premier League Attendance  
Record Match receipts £105,950   v  AZ 67 Alkmaar  (UEFA Cup Final L1)   6.5.1981  
Record total of goals in a Premier League season  
Most capped player while at club Allan HUNTER  47 (Northern Ireland)

 

Stadium details 

Address : Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk  IP1 2DA

Telephone :  01473 400 500
01473 400 555  (Ticket Office)
  09068 121 068(News)
Fax :  01473 400 040

Capacity :  22,700
Pitch size : 112 yards  x 72  yards
Official website : www.itfc.co.uk
Unofficial website : The Sick Parrot
Young, Gifted and Back

Fanzines

Those Were The Days
Dribble
A Load of Cobbolds
Score !
Without A Care In The World

 

Travel to Portman Road

Road

 

Rail

From Liverpool street (London) trains go direct to Ipswich station.

Exit station and cross the road ahead of you, going over a bridge.

Continue on road for approximately 500m and the ground is on your left.

 

Full results history of Spurs v Ipswich Town

Transfers from Ipswich Town to Tottenham

Transfers from Tottenham to Ipswich Town

Spurs v Ipswich Town Notes

Spurs v Ipswich Town Facts

Spurs v Ipswich Town Match Reports

Spurs v Ipswich Town Reserves Match Reports

Spurs v Ipswich Town Youth Match Reports

Honours

Managers

League Record

 

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