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SideFX · 18-11-2008, 05:42 AM

Club History

Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2008, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.

The club was founded in 1878 but did not turn professional until 1936, and were subsequently elected to join the Football League in 1938. They play their home games at Portman Road in Ipswich. The only fully professional football club in Suffolk, they have a long-standing and fierce rivalry with Norwich City in Norfolk, with whom they have contested the East Anglian Derby 134 times since 1902.

Mick Mills holds the record for Ipswich league appearances, having played 591 first-team matches between 1966 and 1982. The club's top league goalscorer is Ray Crawford, who scored 203 goals between 1958 and 1969, while Ted Phillips holds the record for the most goals scored in a season, 41 in the 1956–57 season in Division Three (South). Allan Hunter is the most capped player for the club, making 47 appearances for Northern Ireland.

The club's widest victory margins in the league have been their 7–0 wins against Portsmouth in the Second Division in 1964, against Southampton in the First Division in 1974 and against West Bromwich Albion in the First Division in 1976. Their heaviest defeats in the league were 10–1 against Fulham in 1963 and 9–0 against Manchester United in 1995.

Ipswich's record home attendance is 38,010 for a sixth round FA Cup match against Leeds United on 8 March 1975. With the introduction of regulations enforcing all-seater stadiums, it is unlikely that this record will be beaten in the foreseeable future.

The highest transfer fee received for an Ipswich player is £6.5 million, from Newcastle United for Kieron Dyer in July 1999, while the most spent by the club on a player was £4.75 million for Matteo Sereni from Sampdoria in July 2001 following the club's successful qualification for the UEFA Cup.

Portman Road Stadium

Following the recommendations of the Taylor Report in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster the previous year, the terraces in both the north and south stands were also converted to all-seating, creating the first complete all-seater stadium in the top flight of English football with a spectator capacity of 22,600.

Success on the pitch lead to further investment in the infrastructure, with the club spending over £22 million on redeveloping both North and South stands, resulting in a current capacity of 30,311. In the past ten years, statues of both Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson have been unveiled outside the stadium. The playing surface at Portman Road is highly regarded and has been voted best pitch in the league on a number of occasions.The current groundsman, Alan Ferguson, has received a number of accolades, including both Premiership and Championship Groundsman of the Year.

Notable Players

Name: Richard Wright
Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 05/11/1977
Height: 6' 2" (188cm)
Weight: 14st 0lbs (88.98kg)
Previous Clubs: West Ham United, Everton, Arsenal, Southampton (loan)
Position: Goalkeeper

Started his career at Town and went on to make almost 300 appearances for the Club before joining Arsenal in a £6m move in the summer of 2001. Made 22 appearances for the Gunners, then joined Everton a year later for £3.5m. Spent four years at Goodison Park, playing 71 times then joined West Ham in the summer of 2007. A year later he was back at Portman Road. Capped twice by England at full level, as well as being an U21 international.

Name: Alex Bruce
Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 28/09/1984
Height: 5' 11" (180cm)
Weight: 11st 6lbs (72.64kg)
Previous Clubs: Tranmere (loan), Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday (loan), Birmingham
Position:Central Defender

Started his playing career at Blackburn and signed for the club from trainee in July 2002. He went out on loan to Oldham in December 2004, making eight appearances then left Blackburn without making a first-team appearance and joined Birmingham in January 2005. Two days after signing for Brum he joined Oldham again for a second loan and played in their FA Cup Third Round win over Manchester City. In March 2005 he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan and played in their Second Division Play-Off Final win over Hartlepool at the end of that season. He made 12 appearances for Birmingham in total before arriving at Town this week on a free transfer in August, signing a three year deal. Capped by the Republic of Ireland at U21 level, he is the son of former Manchester United skipper Steve Bruce.

Name: Owen Garvan
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Date of Birth: 29/01/1988
Height: 6' 0" (183cm)
Weight: 10st 8lbs (67.0kg)
Position: Central Midfielder

Academy product who got his first taste of the senior side in 2004/05 when aged 16, he was named as substitute for the win over Brighton in November of that campaign. Capped by the Republic of Ireland from U15-17 levels. Was a regular in Town's FA Youth Cup success in 2005 but unfortunately missed the decisive second-leg of the Final against Southampton after being rushed into hospital with a virus on the eve of the game. Made his Town debut v Cardiff in August 2006. Capped by the Republic of Ireland at U21 level.

Name: Tommy Miller
Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 08/01/1979
Height: 6' 1" (185cm)
Weight: 11st 8lbs (73.54kg)
Previous Clubs: Sunderland, Hartlepool, Preston (loan)
Position: Central Midfielder

Now in his third spell at the Club after joining as a free agent in the summer of 2007. Was a youth at Portman Road before starting his career at Hartlepool in 1997/98, where he made 137 League appearances, scoring 35 goals. He joined Town in July 2001 and scored 37 goals in 139 games over four years, then headed to Sunderland as a free agent in the summer of 2005. Spent two years at the Stadium of Light, playing in 35 games for the Black Cats, as well as having a short spell on loan at Preston.

Name: Danny Haynes
Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 19/01/1988
Height: 5' 11" (180cm)
Weight: 12st 4lbs (78.09kg)
Previous Clubs: Millwall (loan)
Position: Striker

Academy graduate. Made his debut at Leeds in September 2005. First goal for the club at home to QPR in December but it was his last minute winner at Norwich three months later that booked his place in Town folklore. Part of the winning FA Youth Cup squad of 2005, he was named as the Club's Most Improved Player in the 2005/06 season. Capped by England at U19 level.

18-11-2008, 05:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
SideFX Rookie Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wycombe Gender: Male Posts: 35	No Place Like Home - Ipswich Town Football Club Club History Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2008, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02. The club was founded in 1878 but did not turn professional until 1936, and were subsequently elected to join the Football League in 1938. They play their home games at Portman Road in Ipswich. The only fully professional football club in Suffolk, they have a long-standing and fierce rivalry with Norwich City in Norfolk, with whom they have contested the East Anglian Derby 134 times since 1902. Mick Mills holds the record for Ipswich league appearances, having played 591 first-team matches between 1966 and 1982. The club's top league goalscorer is Ray Crawford, who scored 203 goals between 1958 and 1969, while Ted Phillips holds the record for the most goals scored in a season, 41 in the 1956–57 season in Division Three (South). Allan Hunter is the most capped player for the club, making 47 appearances for Northern Ireland. The club's widest victory margins in the league have been their 7–0 wins against Portsmouth in the Second Division in 1964, against Southampton in the First Division in 1974 and against West Bromwich Albion in the First Division in 1976. Their heaviest defeats in the league were 10–1 against Fulham in 1963 and 9–0 against Manchester United in 1995. Ipswich's record home attendance is 38,010 for a sixth round FA Cup match against Leeds United on 8 March 1975. With the introduction of regulations enforcing all-seater stadiums, it is unlikely that this record will be beaten in the foreseeable future. The highest transfer fee received for an Ipswich player is £6.5 million, from Newcastle United for Kieron Dyer in July 1999, while the most spent by the club on a player was £4.75 million for Matteo Sereni from Sampdoria in July 2001 following the club's successful qualification for the UEFA Cup. Portman Road Stadium Following the recommendations of the Taylor Report in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster the previous year, the terraces in both the north and south stands were also converted to all-seating, creating the first complete all-seater stadium in the top flight of English football with a spectator capacity of 22,600. Success on the pitch lead to further investment in the infrastructure, with the club spending over £22 million on redeveloping both North and South stands, resulting in a current capacity of 30,311. In the past ten years, statues of both Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson have been unveiled outside the stadium. The playing surface at Portman Road is highly regarded and has been voted best pitch in the league on a number of occasions.The current groundsman, Alan Ferguson, has received a number of accolades, including both Premiership and Championship Groundsman of the Year. Notable Players Name: Richard Wright Nationality: English Date of Birth: 05/11/1977 Height: 6' 2" (188cm) Weight: 14st 0lbs (88.98kg) Previous Clubs: West Ham United, Everton, Arsenal, Southampton (loan) Position: Goalkeeper Started his career at Town and went on to make almost 300 appearances for the Club before joining Arsenal in a £6m move in the summer of 2001. Made 22 appearances for the Gunners, then joined Everton a year later for £3.5m. Spent four years at Goodison Park, playing 71 times then joined West Ham in the summer of 2007. A year later he was back at Portman Road. Capped twice by England at full level, as well as being an U21 international. Name: Alex Bruce Nationality: English Date of Birth: 28/09/1984 Height: 5' 11" (180cm) Weight: 11st 6lbs (72.64kg) Previous Clubs: Tranmere (loan), Oldham, Sheffield Wednesday (loan), Birmingham Position:Central Defender Started his playing career at Blackburn and signed for the club from trainee in July 2002. He went out on loan to Oldham in December 2004, making eight appearances then left Blackburn without making a first-team appearance and joined Birmingham in January 2005. Two days after signing for Brum he joined Oldham again for a second loan and played in their FA Cup Third Round win over Manchester City. In March 2005 he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan and played in their Second Division Play-Off Final win over Hartlepool at the end of that season. He made 12 appearances for Birmingham in total before arriving at Town this week on a free transfer in August, signing a three year deal. Capped by the Republic of Ireland at U21 level, he is the son of former Manchester United skipper Steve Bruce. Name: Owen Garvan Nationality: Republic of Ireland Date of Birth: 29/01/1988 Height: 6' 0" (183cm) Weight: 10st 8lbs (67.0kg) Position: Central Midfielder Academy product who got his first taste of the senior side in 2004/05 when aged 16, he was named as substitute for the win over Brighton in November of that campaign. Capped by the Republic of Ireland from U15-17 levels. Was a regular in Town's FA Youth Cup success in 2005 but unfortunately missed the decisive second-leg of the Final against Southampton after being rushed into hospital with a virus on the eve of the game. Made his Town debut v Cardiff in August 2006. Capped by the Republic of Ireland at U21 level. Name: Tommy Miller Nationality: English Date of Birth: 08/01/1979 Height: 6' 1" (185cm) Weight: 11st 8lbs (73.54kg) Previous Clubs: Sunderland, Hartlepool, Preston (loan) Position: Central Midfielder Now in his third spell at the Club after joining as a free agent in the summer of 2007. Was a youth at Portman Road before starting his career at Hartlepool in 1997/98, where he made 137 League appearances, scoring 35 goals. He joined Town in July 2001 and scored 37 goals in 139 games over four years, then headed to Sunderland as a free agent in the summer of 2005. Spent two years at the Stadium of Light, playing in 35 games for the Black Cats, as well as having a short spell on loan at Preston. Name: Danny Haynes Nationality: English Date of Birth: 19/01/1988 Height: 5' 11" (180cm) Weight: 12st 4lbs (78.09kg) Previous Clubs: Millwall (loan) Position: Striker Academy graduate. Made his debut at Leeds in September 2005. First goal for the club at home to QPR in December but it was his last minute winner at Norwich three months later that booked his place in Town folklore. Part of the winning FA Youth Cup squad of 2005, he was named as the Club's Most Improved Player in the 2005/06 season. Capped by England at U19 level.