The 1994/95 season was the first time I headed to Portman Road , I was six years old and went to see Liverpool beat Ipswich 3-1 with goals from Robbie Fowler (2) and John Barnes with Ipswich legend Adrian Paz pulling one back at the end. Little did I know this would be the start love affair which has lasted 18 years and would see me through a mix of emotions that only a football fan can understand.

As an Ipswich fan my real early memories came from the George Burley era onwards. I was obsessed with football and supported a team that would win more often than not. We would qualify for the play-off semi-finals year after year only to be denied by Dean Holdsworth - reducing me to tears.

Finally fifth time lucky (after the away goals rule got dropped) we beat our play-off bogey men thanks to one of the most extraordinary games ever witnessed at Portman Road (and Jim Magilton). There was only ever going to be one winner at Wembley despite Craig Hignett's efforts - we were back where we belong.

The next season was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, finishing fifth and back among the European elite – There was no better time to be an Ipswich fan and we achieved something that probably will never happen again it was no longer 'Those Were The Days' but 'These Are The Days' – cheers TWTD.

Most Ipswich fans would admit that season was an anomaly and we would have been happy for a mid-table finish the following season. I still maintain to this day that had we not lost Richard Wright that season we would not have been relegated.

However, we did lose him and I will not be the first person to tell you how quickly things change in football – Ipswich were relegated the following season, Burley was sacked, Joe Royle appointed but it was too little too late That summer was one of the saddest for me as a Town fan with the loss of Matt Holland for £750,000 rubbing salt in an ever-expanding wound.

However, it was not all doom and gloom the emergence of Shefki Kuqi and Darren Bent partnership coupled with some clever signings from Royle meant that Ipswich became a free-scoring attractive football team (that couldn’t defend).

Ipswich reached the play-offs the next season only to be beaten by West Ham. However as Alex Ferguson once said, football goes it three-year cycles which is why It was not the 2003/04 season but the 2004/05 season which was the major blow, as we all knew it was last chance saloon.

It was looking rosy as Shefki Kuqi scored in the 74th minute to make the game finish 2-2. We would bring them back to Portman Road and make it a 'fortress' as Upton Park had been the previous year. Our fortress did not withstand the enemy’s attack and West Ham won 2-0.

I sat in the North Stand for about 20 minutes after the game, there were no tears as there had been in my youth but I knew this was going to be the start of a new era at Ipswich Town – an era that would see the team be reduced to mid table mediocracy.

There were wholesale changes at the club which included the manager with the installation of club hero Jim Magilton. Jim I felt did very well with what he had but with new ownership it was probably the right decision to start a fresh with a new man.

The Roy Keane era was a dark time for Ipswich as I felt he really ripped the heart and soul out the club. You could sense that there was a bad feeling surrounding the club, which for me was epitomised by the departure of Bryan Klug, a man responsible for producing many talented footballers and who is highly respected in the football world.

We all know what happened over the next 18 months , however, the appointment of Paul Jewell gave me some real hope. Twice we have been thwarted by that man, my most distinct memory was me being at Molineux to watch Wolves v Bradford on the final day of the 1998/99 season (as I could not get a ticket to Portman Road )- Bradford won 3-2 however Tore Andre Flo’s brother Håvard Flo hit the post towards the end – Ipswich were a few inches from the Premiership.

I clapped Bradford and Jewell off that day, believing that they had a great manager as a team of Bradford's size taking up is no mean feat. He did the same at Wigan at Ipswich’s expense again – surely fate would have it that he would be that man to take Ipswich up? Only time would tell but for all the fans calling for his head remember that Rome was not built in a day.

From analysing my life as an Ipswich fan the 1994/95 season to the current season, Town have ended the season on a high note on three occasions (Staying up , Promotion and Europe). Long gone are the days of Muhren and Thijssen with the days of Holland, Stewart and Reuser becoming a far too distant memory too.

Who is going to be the next Ipswich Town hero? From the current crop I could not tell you.

As Paul Jewell said earlier in the week, “These are dark days for Ipswich Town” and it makes you wonder when will it be 'These Are The Days' again.

Illinoisblue added 18:16 - Nov 28 all well and good, but what's your point here? In the midst of an ITFC crisis and you offer nothing more than a few personal memories with some cliches sprinkled on top.
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konnevesi_blue added 19:43 - Nov 28 But his blog is not about the present crisis. It's just a journey through his personal experience so why be negative?
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sonian_blue added 19:43 - Nov 28 Your point is?
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Illinoisblue added 20:09 - Nov 28 at Konnevesi - why be negative? Because it's poorly written. Exhibit A: "Ipswich reached the play-offs the next season only to be beaten by West Ham." Most fans wouldn't refer to Ipswich and would instead use "we". And why bother bringing it up anyway? We all know what happened. When I saw the title "My love affair" I automatically assumed it was going to be someone bleating that the affair was over and they wanted a divorce. This effort is almost worse in that it offers precisely nothing beyond "I like my club and there have been some ups and downs"

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wesleyITFC added 20:22 - Nov 28 Oh shut up you whingers, blogs don't always need to have a point. Good blog. I still believe Jewell will take us up, not this season all be it but he will
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bluearmy4life added 20:43 - Nov 28 Good Blog mate. We need cheering up as fans! No harm in going down memory lane. Through the good and the bad, but more recently the bad :(
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HarryfromBath added 23:26 - Nov 28 This blog may not have a point, but it elegantly traces the narrative of the team over a generation. Although the dream of success this season may be receding, the footballing idea behind Ipswich Town - a philosophy of dynamic, attacking and fearless football - will never die. Thanks for posting a really engaging story.
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Garv added 23:57 - Nov 28 In fact using 'Ipswich' instead of 'we' shows a more formal writing style and in a blog you can choose which road you go down, formal or in-formal. If you post a stupid negative comment then I'll give you a patronizing reply. Most blogs don't have a point, they are just things picked off the top of someone's head and sometimes not planned at all, thats the beauty of them.

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Illinoisblue added 00:05 - Nov 29 Little odd, wouldn't you say, to use a formal writing style when talking about your love affair? And, of course, these aren't blogs at all. Essays, columns, articles, long opinion pieces - take your pick. But they're not blogs.
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26_Paz added 12:52 - Nov 29 I was also at this game (coincidentally I was also 6 years old!) good article!
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Reuser31 added 20:59 - Nov 29 You don't have to read the blogs! I for enjoyed the trip down memory lane, well written mate.
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Calmingwind added 22:10 - Nov 29 Enjoyed this, I unfortunately missed out on the glory years of the 70's and early 80,s through lack of being born to late :( so I look back at the burley era with great fondness - would hardly call Paz a legend though :)
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DurhamTownFan added 09:09 - Nov 30 Nice memories, but most blogs have to ave a clear argument about why I should listen to what you have to say. My Ipswich memories also began in 1994/5, so this basically just told me my own memories (that by the way, you might have made more colourful with better anecdotes).
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