My team. For life. And beyond.
The 50th F.A. Cup Final at Wembley (before Tony Blair destroyed it). Ipswich beat Arsenal 1-0 by a goal by Roger Osborne! Boy did I cry that day. Here the TV Commentator announce the goal here.
Me and Paul Mariner 1978 - at the time the best striker in the English game. And yes, that is the F.A. Cup.
It so happened that my mum had among her roles the management of the business car fleet at Ortho Cilag, and one time she had an offer to go to Ipswich as someone's guest. Little the person offering know that her son was a fan of Ipswich. And that day she visited was to be a "home day" for the team. Of course, I had to go.
I sat there, in the bar, with my mum. And one by one the team came up the stairs. And one by one I met them. And one by one I asked (and got) their autographs. My feet did not touch the ground for months. Mum, you will never know....
Who was there? Well I can't remember the spelling now and I will check the history books, but 10 of the first team 11 were international players: Bobby Robson (Manager), Kevin Beatie (man he scored from a direct free kick from just inside the enemy half at Leeds one season), Paul Cooper (saved more penalties than any other goalie for a long while; I still can here the crowed the day we beat Liverpool at Anfield - when Liverpool were THE team); Clive Woods (the wizard); Roger Osborne (the goal!); Arnold Muhren (Bobby introduced the use of European players in England with Arnie and Franse); Franse Thijssen; Paul Mariner (the striker); Roger Talbot (remember that semi-final against WBA?); and Captain Mike Mills. Others included Allan Hunter, John Wark, George Burley, Eric Gates, Ray Osman, Brazil, and Terry Butcher.
And who can forget the 1980-81 season when the title was decided on the last game. Only to lose to Villa.
And 2 years later, Ipswich are victorious in Europe with the UEFA Cup. After this high point, the team is sold. All 10 International first team players are sold or dispersed, and Bobby Robson goes on to manage England, and then much later Newcastle. Few can claim a more profound impact on the modern English game. I remember when Bobby cried in the World Cup where England made it to the semi-finals. He cried, and that face said it all that night. What a man. I can even remember the day we drew, I think it was in 1997-98, with Les Palmas 3-3 in the UEFA cup and we went on to win and lose to Barcelona 3-0 and 0-3 and lose on away goals in the next round. This was the season before we went on to win! My radio at the time was about 2 inches square and it was my first. I listened to the game under may bedding as I was supposed to be asleep. I think it was John Motson who could not believe his own eyes that day. For a time, about 10 years, Ipswich were second only to Liverpool. Even the mighty Manchester United and Arsenal, with all their glory boys and money now, did not have as good record as Ipswich Town. And the tractor boys are by far superior. For always. For Bobby and that team.