Opponent Bio: Ipswich Town

Based at its Portman Road home, Ipswich town is the only professional club in Suffolk and ‘enjoys’ a fierce rivalry with their Norfolk counterparts, Premier League club Norwich City. Ipswich is a club defined by its legendary managers, arguably the two greatest England national side managers, Sir Alf Ramsey & Sir Bobby Robson, were at the club before being selected to lead the England national side.

Formed in 1878, the club joined the football league in 1938 and it was some time before they made their mark on English football. It was not until Sir Alf Ramsey took the reins before the 1955-56 season did the clubs fortunes change.

Ramsey took the club from the fourth tier to the top flight in successive seasons. In true fairy-tale fashion, Ramsey’s Ipswich went on to win the First Division title at their first attempt in 1960-61, a monumental achievement for the club. Ramsey managed the club for a further season before leaving his post to control of England and in that respect, the rest is indeed history.

Later that decade the club appointed another great in managerial terms, Sir Bobby Robson. Robson would create a dynasty at the club, including two major trophies, the FA Cup in 1978 and also, most famously, a UEFA Cup triumph in 1981. Robson’s era is remembered particularly fondly in Suffolk with the North Stand of their Portman Road home being named after their former manager.

After frequent high finishes including Football League Runners-Up on two occasions, Robson departed The Tractor Boys with his destination being Wembley, to manage the national side.

Recently, the club have been unable to escape the Championship, for better or for worse and our now the league’s longest-serving club, having remained there since the 2001-02 season.

This season the club sit in 14th position.

FORM: 4 WINS 3 DRAWS 4 DEFEATS

GOALS: David McGoldrick 5 ASSISTS: Aaron Cresswell 6

DISCIPLINE: Luke Hyam 19 Fouls 2 Yellow Cards

SHOTS: Davis McGoldrick 14 14 On Target