Portman Road’s South Stand will be officially rechristened the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand prior to tomorrow’s home game against Barnsley. The six members of Ramsey’s 1961/62 First Division championship-winning side who are the club’s special guests at the match — Andy Nelson, Larry Carberry, John Compton, Doug Moran, Ray Crawford and Ted Phillips - will be given the honour of renaming the stand when they take to the pitch 20 minutes before kick-off.

Chief executive Simon Clegg said: "I'm delighted to confirm that with the full agreement and support of Lady Ramsey, the club has decided to invite the team from 1961/62 to rename the South Stand in honour of Sir Alf.

"The Supporters Club have asked me many times to consider honouring Sir Alf in this way and with the 50th anniversary of the League championship win now upon us, it seemed the right time to do that."

Manager Paul Jewell believes it’s important for Town to remember its greatest days in this manner: “It was a fantastic achievement, brilliant. We want to embrace the history of the football club and make some ourselves.

“It would be lovely in years to come if there was something like that [in honour of the current team] because it would mean we’re successful.

“That’s why Sir Alf and Sir Bobby, the 61/62 team, the 78 team and the 81 team are loved by the supporters. It’s important that we pay huge respect to what’s gone on in the past.”

The players, who will also lay wreaths Sir Alf's graveside and at the foot of his statue tomorrow morning, were told of the renaming at this evening’s ex-players’ dinner which is being held at Portman Road.

A number of former players will be in Legends bar after the game meeting fans and signing autographs.

Photo: Action Images

sotd78 added 20:45 - Mar 30 'Tis a shame we could not have had both Sir Alf Ramsey and Churchman's i.e. the Sir Alf Ramsey Churchman's Stand. It is a fantastic honour, much better than South Stand but to some of us it will always be the Churchman's Stand...
0

sherborneblue added 20:51 - Mar 30 quote jas: "ramsey out"
0

hunty21 added 20:51 - Mar 30 so will the britannia stand be named the John Wark stand or Alan Brazil stand, its good to remember our legends and what a legend he is but I wanna see some more legends in the present! not 20 years ago
0

TimmyH added 21:17 - Mar 30 20 years ago!?! and the rest, we don't have any legends in the present, anyway the word 'legend' is in the traditional scense, vaguely meaning of times gone by.
0

DinnernotTea added 21:49 - Mar 30 Think about it...as the away fan you'll have Sir Alf to your left and Sir Bobby to your right whilst sitting amongst the family that made these men famous. Beyond proud to be ITFC tonight. A big thanks to Clegg and Evans.
0

stu_ward27 added 21:53 - Mar 30 great news, just surprised it took so long! will be honored to sit in the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand tomorrow, and hope Town can mark it with a good performance and 3 points!
0

dannysigma added 21:55 - Mar 30 Superb!
0

westozblu added 21:57 - Mar 30 A wonderful gesture - and so long overdue. The statues outside, and now the stands named after them, a wonderful tribute to two legends of the club we all love. Kudos to whoever was responsible.
0

CornardBlue added 22:05 - Mar 30 Great news, will be proud to take my seat.
0

DinnernotTea added 22:17 - Mar 30 Sibe....an incredible story. Thank you. The FA then let him die on a ward at Ipswich general as he suffered from dimentia. He was treated like a dog by the FA and was never liked due to his "working class background". A hero in my eyes. This club and country will never have another Sir Alf.
0

Bluetone added 22:23 - Mar 30 Brilliant news. Now if only the two "Lucky" swans were to fly over at the time of the renaming and the supporters sing "Keep right on to the end of the Road" it would complete this tribute to a great, great man and manager.
0

hpratt added 22:39 - Mar 30 I agree TimmyH, i dont see why the billionaires don't try with the proper historical clubs like leeds, notts forest or derby.
0

statto72 added 22:51 - Mar 30 Sibelius8 - great story. Those Evening Star picture books - 60s/70s/80s - are fantastic books and only this week, I've been settling down into bed each night, looking at the 60s one - pics of Sir Alf, Phillips, Crawford etc. Oh to have been around at that time. I notice that the 1962 retro shirt is going back on sale in Planet Blue this weekend. Would be good to see next season's home shirt based on it IMO. Great news about the stand naming, although just one point to make. I often wondered why the powers-that-be didn't name the North Stand after Sir Alf, seeing as it's in Sir Alf Ramsey Way. Should've named the Churchmans after Sir Bobby IMO. Still, too late now I guess. But overall, fantastic news. And as already mentioned a few times, all Town fans can be proud of the fact that we produced the two best England managers and have both ends named after them.

0

ElvisMariner added 05:47 - Mar 31 Marvelous - a fitting tribute for a truly great man
0

s6blue added 08:26 - Mar 31 well done town -- a fitting tribute
0

TractorBeezer added 13:33 - Mar 31 This is wonderful news and so well deserved. I also had the privilege f meeting Sir Alf during his time at Ipswich and also at the 1970 world cup in Mexico. I am still amazed at his accomplishments and wish that I could be there today.
0

suffolklad added 15:16 - Mar 31 Excellent news worth the 50 years wait
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls