New loan keeper David Stockdale says yesterday’s Portman Road open day convinced him that he made the right decision in joining the Blues for the season from Fulham. More than 2,000 fans turned up to watch Stockdale and his new team-mates put through their paces on the main pitch.

Stockdale, who was also linked with a loan to hometown club Leeds, while Swansea had a £2 million bid rebuffed by the Cottagers, was clearly impressed with yesterday’s turn-out: “There were other options but I felt that Ipswich was the best and it also comes down to Fulham and the other club agreeing terms.

“I’m totally happy here, I made the right decision, I know that now, and the fans today have just cemented that decision.”

He says he needed to move on loan to gain experience with Fulham boss Martin Jol not convinced that the 25-year-old is ready to take over from first choice Mark Schwarzer. Stockdale says keepers often find themselves in this position while their outfield peers have already established themselves: “Goalkeeper years are like dog years! Mark Schwarzer’s nearly 40 now and most outfield players go on to 35, so in goalkeeper years I’m about 20 or 21. I don’t feel it, though!

“But I don’t really think about that, I try and think about how I can do my best every week, rather than every year.”

Australian international Schwarzer, who started his career in England in the mid-nineties at Bradford where Blues boss Paul Jewell was on the coaching staff, is clearly a big influence on his deputy: “I spoke to him about the whole moving lark; where to go on loan, making the right decisions, feeling right at home where you go.

“Things like that you have a little chat and obviously he had a great word to put in for the coaching staff.”

Stockdale says he also consulted a former Cottagers team-mate, a certain Jimmy Bullard, who he says is a good friend: “We have Fulham connections and you know what he’s like, I could hardly get a word in edgeways! But he spoke highly of the club and he enjoyed his time here.”

The loan to Town coincided with the announcement that the former York and Darlington man had signed a contract until 2015 at Craven Cottage after what the 6ft 3in tall keeper says has been an enjoyable spell up to now: “I’ve had a great three years at Fulham and last year was a big year.

“Even though I only played 13 games, I showed what I could do. With the England thing, I think Fulham wanted to give me what they thought I deserved and I was only too glad to sign it.”

After two calls into England squads last season, although without winning a cap, Stockdale says he’d love more involvement with Fabio Capello’s side, but is currently concentrating on more immediate matters: “If that happens, so be it. But you can’t think ‘I’m going to try and get in the England squad’. You’ve got to play well in the Wolves game.

“But if it comes about, I’m a proud Englishman and I’d love to go off and put Ipswich Town’s name in the England squad.”

He says he enjoyed his first experience of playing for Town at Colchester on Tuesday, even if the match was curtailed by Andy Bond’s injury: “I’d like to pass on our best as a team to the player that got injured in circumstances which weren’t very nice. We’re all rooting for him and were glad to see him get up all right.

“It was nice to get a clean sheet, even if it was by default. The lads are coming together nicely. We’ll try and do a bit more work next week and hopefully put on a show for the Wolves game.”

He says the clause in his deal which could see him return to London if Schwarzer suffers an injury isn’t particularly in his thoughts and plans to move to Suffolk for his year with Town: “I’ll always watch Fulham but my interests are with Ipswich at the moment, until the day that the 24-hour call-back comes through and the gaffer says I’ve got to go back.

“I’m going to move my family here, we’re a young family, we’ve just got married, so we’re going to come here and start and new chapter and go back next year.

“Fortunately as a young family we’ve got a bit more flexibility and we’re going to start a new part of our lives in Ipswich, and what a nice place to do it.”

Photo: Action Images

BotesdaleBlue added 12:17 - Jul 29 Sounds like a very sensible lad. Lets hope he can see the year out with us, although I have a feeling he'll be back at Fulham before Christmas. Looking forward to seeing Mr Stockdale and the other new boys tomorrow.
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keebs_itfc added 12:18 - Jul 29 good lad, says all he right things!
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fourpee added 12:20 - Jul 29 Welcome to ITFC sir, we wish you a seasons loan stay.
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WeirdFishes added 12:21 - Jul 29 i like this guy, both new signings seem very mature! and keeps why dean windass?
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Doctor_Albran added 12:28 - Jul 29 Town PR department are working overtime at the moment, right sounds coming out of everybody... Good to hear, but will wait to see the results on the pitch. Can totally understand him bringing his family here, I love London, but bringing up a family there? nightmare!
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Mark added 12:42 - Jul 29 He seems very sensible and I am pleased that players have good things to say about Ipswich as ex-loanee Bullard did. Players talk to each other and it's little wonder we couldn't attract players under Keane. I can't imagine the likes of Rosenior, Townsend etc. recommending Ipswich under the last regime!
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mickshrimpton added 12:57 - Jul 29 'Can totally understand him bringing his family here, I love London, but bringing up a family there? nightmare! ' Why? I've got a 5 year old and a 2 year old and we seem to manage in London quite well, as do all the other families in our community. And if the Stockdales are living in Fulham on premier league wages they're not battling through the ghetto on a daily basis are they?

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Doctor_Albran added 13:08 - Jul 29 Mick, not a direct slur on your family, I'm sure you float around London like it's your own desert Island! :o) My wife lived in London and I stayed there for a considerable time when we first started dating *misty eyed* and I work there now. I wasn't thinking of the quality of living, as the inside of a nice house is the same anywhere (and the inside of a footballers house, save for the tasteless decor that's sure to be there, wil be as luxurious as most), it's more the thought of using the tube with a buggy, the traffic when trying to get around and parking - all of which are a bloody nightmare - as I hope you would agree. Although getting down Bishops hill at 8:30 of a morning used to be as frustrating as the M4 junction of the Northern Circular.

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icetruckiller added 13:11 - Jul 29 Hope you're hear for the entire season, best of luck.
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Fatboy added 13:14 - Jul 29 "Go to London! I guarantee you'll either be mugged or not appreciated. Catch the train to London, stopping at Rejection, Disappointment, Backstabbing Central and Shattered Dreams Parkway."
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suffolkpoker added 13:17 - Jul 29 souunds like a nice young guy, welcome aboard :)
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mickshrimpton added 13:22 - Jul 29 Fair enough, Doctor - sorry to appear touchy, it's just the whole 'no one in their right mind would want to live in London' thing wearies me. Every property programme seems to be about people escaping the rat race and getting out of London for a 'better life'. Well, I wish they'd all bugger off as it would leave more room for those of us who like living here. I don't drive, I cycle and trips on the tube and bus are the highlights of the day for my kids, although I grant you less fun for the parents. Sorry, this is supposed to be about football isn't it?

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BlackandBlue added 13:34 - Jul 29 Good luck to you David, help get us promoted and then sign permanantly
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Doctor_Albran added 13:45 - Jul 29 No problem Mick, I was only joking As I said, I think London is great and my kids love it when I take them there (althought being 4 and 2, they don't know where they are half the time!), so much to do - but I was looking at it from my perspective as a parent. Whilst a football related site, it's about us fan's and no harm in us having a friendly natter.
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RedDust added 15:30 - Jul 29 I love living in london too... you have a chance to reach your full potential here. but i do here the fields of suffolk calling me home once every 4 months or so..
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Doctor_Albran added 16:09 - Jul 29 RedDust - think you need to stay there a bit longer, you've yet to reach your full potential in respect of spelling! lol Sorry - couldn't resist!
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cooper4england added 20:18 - Jul 29 THIS FEATURE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TOURIST BOARD OF LONDON. "Hey.. We are only a short train ride away"
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cooper4england added 20:28 - Jul 29 THIS FEATURE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TOURIST BOARD OF LONDON. "Hey.. We are only a short train ride away"
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itfc_since_birth added 20:37 - Jul 29 We are only a short but extortionate train journey away!
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TractorCam added 21:32 - Jul 29 Good lad
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Lightningboy added 21:35 - Jul 29 What's the betting Schwarzer injures himself in his first game?
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AlanMahon2011 added 22:06 - Jul 29 this post is stupid, he aint gonna say anything but town is he :S
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Langdon_Blue added 22:13 - Jul 29 Is it me or do all new signings say the same thing these days? "a few options but Ipswich were the only club for me" "the managers ambitions at the club" "the facilities are Premiership quality". Sure, it's nice to read but it would be good if the club changed the press release every once in a while. That said, very happy with the signings so far and hopeful for an improved season!

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TheMysteryTownFan added 22:58 - Jul 29 Sounds good, happy with all the signings and should be a better season. Possibly top six, but the competition is so strong I don't think we will be quite good enough. There is West Ham, Birmingham, Leicester, Forest, Leeds, Cardiff, Hull, Reading, Blackpool and Burnley. Plus the newly promoted teams i.e Southampton, Brighton etc. who will also challenge. Hate to be negative but it will be so tough this year.

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kingdaniel added 23:30 - Jul 29 Good let's sign him :)
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