Why am I a Town fan?

I was born 2 miles from Portman Road and grew up on Chantry Estate, Ipswich. When I was 9 we moved and lived in Stowmarket for 1 year before moving to Great Bently near Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. I attended St Helena Comprehensive School in Colchester until I was 18 and thereafter went to London University until 1980. After graduating with a degree in Geology I obtained employment with Anglo American in 1981 and have been in RSA, Namibia and Botswana ever since. My parents live in Mistley, Essex, and I still go to the Skinners Arms (my local for 30yrs) in Manningtree for a pint and a pre match chat on a Saturday morning when I'm back in the UK. Approximately, 50% of the pub is adorned in blue shirts on a Friday night before a game.

I supported Chelsea up to and including 1970, (Peter Osgood, FA Cup and Cup Winners Cup etc. Every 12 year old at the time supported Chelsea). I had a brief flirt with Don Revie's Leeds until I went to the Ipswich v Southampton game in October 1972. I remember Channon and Ron Davies scored for the Saints in a 2-2 draw. This was my first ever game standing in the north stand (aged 14) and I was hooked from there on. I literally threw my Leeds United school bag away and bought an Ipswich one. Thereafter, every bit of pocket money was spent on traveling to Ipswich home and away games. I went to several European games away. To this day I believe the best away result by a British club was Ipswich winning 4-1 at St Ettiene in 1981. St Ettiene had knocked out Man Utd the "favourites" in the previous round and no one gave us a chance of winning. Michel Platini was the Captain and we were 1-0 down at half time. Mariner scored a second half hatrick and Muhren got the other. We won the second leg 3-1 at FPR, for a 7-2 aggregate win!!! The rest they say is history as we won the Uefa cup that year. I missed the final as I left for South Africa on 31st March 1981.

Car Registration .....ITFC..GP

Greatest sporting day ever...F.A.Cup Final May 1978.....I was there!!!!!

Second greatest sporting day ever.....Playoff Final May 2000....I was there!!!!

Greatest Town Player ever watched....Kevin Beattie.

Most Skillful Town player......Frans Thyssen.

Greatest player ever watched live.....George Best.

Favourite player in 2004....Thierry Henry.

Teams worth watching other than Town....Arsenal and Newcastle.

Team I will not watch.....Crystal Palace (Wimbledon reincarnated)

The only reason to go back and live in the UK would to become a season ticket holder at FPR.....