Diary of an Ipswich Fan – why I support Ipswich Town Football Club

Our Story Begins…..

I started supporting Ipswich Town when I was 8 years old. I won a £5 bet against my uncle that Ipswich would stave off relegation from the 2000/01 Carling Premiership, having won the Play-offs from Division 1 the previous year. Ipswich surpassed all expectations and finished 5th, comfortably 5 points clear of Chelsea in 6th. The £5 was mine and so was a new sense of pride.

Before, I had (not very enthusiastically) supported Southampton as they were my local team. After Ipswich had managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup in their first season back in the top flight I became enamoured with the team.

Ipswich Town Football Club’s Heritage

They hail from Suffolk as their emblem pays homage to, the horse emblazoned on it being a Suffolk punch (a huge thing probably capable of destroying cities).

The club enjoyed its greatest period of success in the late 1970’s and early 80’s, winning the 1978 FA Cup and the 1981 UEFA Cup. They finished runners up in the top flight in both the 1980-81 season and the 1981-82 campaign. Their only English League Title came in the 1961-2 season.

The club, nicknamed the ‘Tractor Boys and the Blues’ (the colour in which they play) was founded in 1878 making them one of the oldest teams in England. Their ground (which I am yet to have the pleasure of visiting) is called Portman Road and houses 30,311 seats has been open since 1884 placing it inside the 10 oldest football stadiums in the world.

Many great players and managers have passed through the gates of Portman Road. This includes Knights of the Realm, Bobby Robson and Alf Ramsey both of whom have managed the Blues. Statues of them are present outside the stadium.

I am very proud to say that I have met and shaken hands with Sir Bobby, he also signed my Ipswich shirt (which I have never worn since as when I do it will have to be washed, risking the loss of the great man’s signature).

Last Season for Ipswich Town

In the 2008-09 season Ipswich Town finished 9th, the highest they could have finished even 3 games from the end of the season.

Jim Magilton

Due to the fact that he had not delivered a good promotion challenge in the 3 years he had been in charge, former club captain Jim Magilton was let go as manager. His highest finish at the helm was 8th.

Richard Wright

The 2008-09 season also saw the return to Ipswich of Richard Wright who had left the club in 2001 when transferred to Arsenal, then to Everton in 2002 where he stayed for 5 years before being sold to West Ham who in actual fact didn’t select him for a single game. Instead they loaned him out to struggling Southampton who barely escaped relegation in the 2007-08 season (I attended the last game against Sheffield United, there was a huge pitch invasion).

At the end of that season he was transferred back to Ipswich, playing in 46 games in his first season back.

Roy Keane

Last Season saw the rise of a new crop of youthful players breaking into the first team, rejuvenation that new manager Roy Keane (ex-Man Utd player and Sunderland manager) will hope helps him to fulfil his goal of promotion back to the Premier League.

Ipswich Town v Cork FC – pre-season friendly – 19th July 2009