Archive for the ‘Ipswich Town FC’ Category
Football Legend Sir Bobby Robson, 76, dies
July 31st, 2009
A sad day for any football fan. Bobby Robson was a rare breed, a successful gentleman. RIP Bobby and thanks for many of the great memories you contributed to.
A Terrible Day For Ipswich Town
April 23rd, 2009
I woke up this morning to terrible news. It was brought to me via Facebook by my ever loving sister (Although I am sure she had an evil glint in her eye as she posted the link to my wall). This news is so terrible that it is going to make me question one of the longest relationships of my life. One that has taken me through the full gamut of emotions expected of a long term affair, passion, pain, joy, ecstasy, desperation and recently indifference.
What has caused me to contemplate the end of the affair…… Roy Keane, that’s what!
The Tractor Boys in their infinite wisdom have decided that their best route to success is to appoint this ‘man’ as their next manager. I have not had to question my allegiance to a club since the day Brian Clough took over at Leeds United in July 1974. In the short tenure of Clough at Leeds I, as a ten year old boy, was forced to switch my footballing allegiance. I just couldn’t face the idea of my team being managed by a man I had such little regard for and made the decision to start supporting Ipswich Town. (It was close though as Stoke City were doing very well at the time.)
My support of the Tractor Boys since then has been unfailing, although it has had it’s peaks and troughs and has recently slumped to a certain level of ambivalence. But today……
Unless anyone needs reminding Roy Keane was thrown out of the World Cup, deliberately tried to end the career of Alf-Inge Haarland with a vicious tackle, abandoned the Irish team and no doubt performed other terrible deeds that I know nothing about.
These issues would automatically prevent him being my choice for Ipswich manager but there is one other reason for my chagrin. He is ambitious. Gone will be the days of Ipswich playing the beautiful game, passing the ball around, forgetting that a match lasts 90 minutes, accepting that our defenders can’t tackle as long as they can pass etc etc.
All of a sudden great importance is going to be placed on discipline, playing as a team, being fit, getting ‘stuck in’ and… winning. The dressing room will become a very uncomfortable place to be and everyone will start growling alot. Grrr!
This will probably lead to victories, promotion to the Premier League and possibly a trip to Europe (I can dream.) but it will be so…. Not Ipswich!
Being older now I will wait a while longer before making any decisions. After all, 44 days after joining Leeds United, Brian Clough was gone.
But by then so was I.
By the way, if you are an Ipswich Town fan and this news has forced you to contemplate a holiday, come and stay in Florida.
If you have read this far then you deserve to see a glorious Ipswich moment. 1978 FA Cup Final Arsenal 0 Ipswich 1. Glory!
