They gained admittance to the Football League in 1938 and had mixed fortunes until the arrival of Alf Ramsey, former Spurs full back, in 1955 on his first appointment as a manager. He was so successful that he was named England team manager in 1963 before leading England to their World Cup win at Wembley Stadium in 1966. It is not hard to see why Ramsey was chosen to lead England. In his eight years at Ipswich he guided a team of able, but not outstanding footballers, from the Third Division (South) to the First Division and then, during their inaugural season in the top flight, to the Championship title.
Another top quality manager joined Ipswich in 1969, Bobby Robson. He led the club very successfully until 1982 winning the FA Cup and UEFA Cup along the way. He, too, left Ipswich to manage England.The club nicknames are The Blues, quite obvious as their colours are predominantly blue, and the Tractor Boys. This last nickname is frequently used now by the media, but is relatively new, only gaining currency during the last twenty years or so and was actively disliked by some at the club when it first appeared.
Portman Road consists of four stands and an administration block.
The old West Stand, now the East of England Co-operative Stand, was originally built in 1952 and fully up-dated in 1990.
It has two shallow lower tiers of seats and a larger upper tier separated by a row of executive boxes which stops some way short of the Bobby Robson Stand at the North end of the ground. It is somewhat unusual in that, instead of the club name or initials being picked out by different coloured seats, there is a message from the sponsors. The next stand to be built was the Cobbold Stand, which stretches along Portman Road itself, and consists of two tiers again with executive boxes built into the mid-line, though these have obviously been added later as they extend out from the stand with curious sloping roofs which provide a useful space to add extra advertising. Some of the seats at the top of this stand are restricted view as the steel work used to support the stand erupts in amongst the top four rows of seats. Within the stand facing the road is the Hall of Fame and, directly across the road is the statue of Sir Bobby Robson. Also on the outer wall of the Cobbold Stand, named after the brewing family who were associated with the club for many years and who have provided five chairmen of the club, is one of the sites of commemorative plaques to fans who have passed on. There are other commemorative plaques to fans on the outer wall of the Bobby Robson Stand together with the plaque marking, in 2009, the naming of the stand by Lady Robson.
The two stands at either end of the ground are the newest, being built just after the turn of the century and are two tiered all-seater stands with rows of executive boxes along between the tiers. The players tunnel emerges from between the West Stand and the Alf Ramsey Stand and the police control box stands above it.This fact led to the police control staff sending a steward over to me prior to the start of the match to warn me about taking photographs inside the stadium. I was taking my usual selections of still and video pictures before the game and I can only think they were unused to having their photo taken, being more used to photographing the innocent fans. The dug outs are in the traditional spot level with the half way line.
The statue of Sir Alfred Ramsey is outside the ground on the corner of Portman Road and Sir Alf Ramsey Way (formerly Portman Way).
Also outside the ground behind the Co-op Stand, but still within the confines of the stadium, is an astro turf practice pitch used by local sports clubs and youngsters being coached by Town staff. The spectators in the Co-op Stand pass through turnstiles on Sir Alf Ramsey Way and then walk over part of this pitch to access their entrance to the stand. The actual club practice ground and academy is situated towards the Kesgrave part of town.Forest came to Portman Road on a dismal run of form, having drawn two and lost four of their last six games. This has caused us to slip out of the playoff places to seventh position just above Ipswich, on goal difference only,who conversely, are on a great run of form , winning their last two games against playoff rivals. They have taken 12 points from the last 18 available. After our showing against Charlton on Tuesday night, I certainly wasn't feeling too confident of success, but, strangely, I felt that Gary Brazil might pull some rabbits from the hat. He is in charge of the academy and as such knows the form of our younger players. The second string first teamers have not exactly been pulling up trees in recent games so perhaps Mr Brazil will ring the changes.
The first game between the two sides this season finished 0-0 at the CG with Forest frustrated after a dominant performance left us sharing the points. Once again,today, Ipswich were captained by our ex-player Luke Chambers and once again he ran the gauntlet as he acknowledged the visiting fans presence. Some gave him the bird and some applauded. Former player Paul Anderson also started for Ipswich, but David McGoldrick, who has been in good form this term, appears to be injured and out for the season.
For us Gary Brazil did indeed ring the changes. Not only a change in formation, but a change in tactics which caught Mick McCarthy by surprise and put The Blues on the back foot for the whole of the first half. Young Ben Osborn, who had appeared on the subs bench quite a few times this season, was handed his first start, attacking on the left side of midfield. Lee Peltier also made his first appearance for the Reds after his strange loan move earlier in the week. This enabled Jara to move back to right back, Greg Halford moving into the middle of defence in place of the suspended (for ten yellows) Jamaal Lascelles. Personally, I think Lascelles has done a wonderful job coming in this season after the injuries to, first Kelvin Wilson, then to Danny Collins. Lascelles and Hobbs formed a fine partnership, but when Collins was fit to come back, Hobbs was injured so Lascelles kept his place. In fact, owing to injuries throughout this time, he has more than once been senior partner in central defence. But in the last few games I think the pressure has begun to tell and his form has dipped, so an enforced rest is just what the doctor ordered. Other changes see Raddi Majewski and Jamie Paterson come into the side. The most interesting additions to the squad were on the substitutes bench where young Jack Blake and Stephen McLaughlin made their first appearance for the senior team. (I think). It was also great to see former Forest goalie Steve Sutton stepping out onto the pitch to assist as goalkeeping coach to the senior squad in addition to his duties with the academy.
As I said, Forest were dominant in the first half and should have had more than the single goal scored by Collins from a corner in the fifth minute. Fox put the ball on a sixpence and there was no stopping Collins header. After this we attacked throughout the first half. Ipswich were caught cold and forced into a tactical substitution on 35 minutes with Anderson making way. Then Ipswich made another substitution at half time in an effort to wrest the initiative. Which they did, having far more of the play in the second half, though Forest continued to attack, though rather more sporadically. Finally the Ipswich pressure told, our defence went to sleep when a corner was taken short and the ball was headed into the net for the equaliser. No more goals were scored and the teams shared yet another draw.
I felt much better and more cheerful after this match, the team having played with great verve and enthusiasm with the fans keeping up a good noise throughout the game. Still just outside the playoffs, but facing the future with more optimism, especially as our own Psycho, aka Stuart Pearce, tough tackling legend, seems to have indicated that he is in fact still interested in managing us. What will the next week bring?
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