Diary of an Ipswich fan: entry 7th August 2009

Info

I have been gone for a whole week! The internet was giving me major issues but now I hope to provide you in with all sorts of news.

Sir Bobby Robson

First and foremost as I am sure you all know, Sir Bobby Robson died on the 31st of July.

 

A true legend, he managed Ipswich Town for 13 years through the most successful era of the club’s history.

 

I had the great honour of meeting the man, in WHSMiths in Manchester’s Trafford Centre. A book-signing was taking place for his autobiography and people were flocking to get a copy signed (understandably). My father and I were in a neighbouring bookshop, no doubt leafing through the comics/ graphic novel section, when Sir Bobby walked past with his minder perusing the bookshelves. Not much of a meeting you might say and you’d be correct.

 

Me and dad promptly joined the back of the line to get our books signed (a copy for dad and one for his brother’s birthday). We got to the front of the queue and saw the man, looking resplendent in his suit. I stood in silence with a stupid smile on my face while dad and the greatest football manager ever kept up a dialogue of smiles and winks.

 

Then it happened.

 

My father asked Sir Bobby to sign his Newcastle Utd shirt which of course Bobby did with pleasure. My dad then asked if he would be so kind as to sign the shirt I was wearing, (the 03-05 Ipswich Town shirt). Sir Bobby replied ‘Wow, I haven’t seen one of those in ages, here lad let me sign that for you’. Afterwards he shook my hand and we were on our way.

 

He was a total gentleman.

 

I’d like to think that Bobby remembered that signing session a little bit more than all the others but that’s probably wishful thinking.

 

A true great – he will be forever remembered.

 

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Other Football News:

 

Name	To	From	Price (£)
Veliche Shumulikoski	Preston North End	Ipswich Town	Undisclosed400,000 ?
Kevin Lisbie	Colchester United	Ipswich Town	Loan (End of Season)
Jack Colb	Ipswich Town	Sunderland	Loan (January)

 

 

 

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Preston North End have signed Veliche Shumulikoski for a undisclosed fee. The midfielder has signed on a 3-year deal and could make his Preston debut on Saturday against Bristol City.

 

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Kevin Lisbie has been handed back to Colchester United on a season long loan. The loan contract stipulates that the player will be allowed to play in any play-off games involving Colchester at the business end of the season. It has only been a year since Lisbie signed for Ipswich Town but he said:

‘this is the perfect place for me to come back to. There were other options but this is the right place for me’.

 

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Ipswich have signed Sunderland midfielder Jack Colback on loan until January. The 19 year old has been at Sunderland since he was 11 but is yet to see senior football. Manager Roy Keane told BBC Radio Suffolk

‘He’s a good young midfielder who’s tenacious and can deal with the ball’.

He could be in the squad against Coventry City on Saturday.

 

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