Town legend Kevin Beattie was delighted to see the Blues paired with his hometown club Carlisle United in today's Capital One Cup second round draw. Beattie is hoping to make the lengthy trip home to see the game at Brunton Park.

Beattie, who is a regular on BBC Radio Suffolk’s Saturday lunchtime show Life’s a Pitch along with TWTD’s Phil Ham, said: “I’m absolutely delighted, absolutely elated as I’m from Carlisle. I’d definitely love to go up there for the game.

“There were actually four of us from Carlisle when I was a player - myself, David Geddis, Robin Turner and Steve McCall.”

He says the League One side will provide stiff opposition: “It’ll be a difficult game for Town because they played very well last season and possibly should have got promoted but didn’t quite make it. It won’t be easy.

“The manager, Greg Abbott, has bought in some very good players. They’re a small club but they get fantastic support.”

Most Suffolk-based fans were less than impressed with the draw, the League Cup having previously thrown up treks to Exeter, Shrewsbury and Crewe in recent seasons, and Beattie admits that the 620-mile round trip is somewhat lengthy: “You might as well leave on Sunday to get there on the Tuesday!”

The 58-year-old former England defender, who had a spell coaching the Cumbrians during Roddy Collins’s time as manager a decade ago, remembers the last time the sides met, back in the 1978/79 season in an FA Cup third round tie at Portman Road: “I played in that and scored. I remember it very well. They made it very difficult for us.

“To score was a big bonus for me because the previous time we’d played against them was up there in their season in the First Division [1974/75].

“The boss made me captain but the buggers beat us 2-1 and I missed a sitter of a header to make it 2-2. All my mates thought I’d done it on purpose and I didn’t have to buy a drink all weekend!”

The match is likely to be played on Tuesday 28th August, although that's yet to be confirmed.

Photo: Action Images

cornishnick added 14:59 - Aug 15 "I'm absolutely delighted, absolutely elated". Wow, steady on there Beat. Is his curfew over yet?
0

FenboyBlue added 15:08 - Aug 15 Great! If Kevin knows the way, he can drive the bus.
0

SuperReuser added 15:14 - Aug 15 careful cornishnick haha... Kev may have been a naughty boy, but he bleeds blue!
0

Jimmys_Law added 15:28 - Aug 15 On another note, think how hot you would be playing in that thick long sleeve kit on a day like today?!
0

cornishnick added 15:33 - Aug 15 Quite right SuperReuser, the Beat is a legend
0

Bergholtblue added 15:51 - Aug 15 Jimmys Law ... not only the shirt, but those shorts must have made his eyes water every time he ran!
0

TotalBlue added 16:06 - Aug 15 Only an hour from Lancaster so may well make the trip anyone else going fancy a beer give us a shout!!
0

hollywoodginge added 16:52 - Aug 15 Was the 1st thing I thought of when I saw the draw! The Beat is an absolute gent, I hope he is made a guest for this one.
0

Whitecaps_Fan added 18:50 - Aug 15 Town fans should make a stop over in Blackpool
0

HARRY10 added 19:37 - Aug 15 "I hope he is made a guest for this one.2 If not there ought to be some kind of discreet 'whip round' amongst forum members. Maybe he could travel up as special coorespondent for TWTD Would make for a cracking story of nothing else, and coincidentally his curfew expired yesterday - 12 weeks (22nd May)
0

Talbs77 added 20:17 - Aug 15 I love that photo! How I wish I could have een him play in his pomp! I have an old video called MOTD Ipswich were Beat at around 20/21, scores one of the best goals you will ever see in a game against west ham (think we won somthing like 6-0). I swear he must have just powered through about 5 players! Not a great draw, dont fancy us to be honest.
0

JustSpivvyChops added 21:21 - Aug 15 I felt sure you were going to go with" Benefit Cheat Delighted With Tie Against Hometown Club" Phil....................
0

algarvefan added 22:42 - Aug 15 Old enough to have seen Beattie at his best, he was an awesome player, one of the best ever in a Town shirt....now those were the days :-)
0

Sospiri added 22:57 - Aug 15 The kit he is wearing is the first replica kit I ever bought (well, my folks did, for my birthday). I remember the excitement when the man in the cramped old shop brought it out for me to try on. Ah, the memories!
0

Tractastic added 23:00 - Aug 15 Absolutely 'hollywoodginge' Beats should be the guest for this one and i fancy a town win!
0

cooper4england added 23:06 - Aug 15 sospiri- I hope your parents were present when this "man" gets you to try on a children's football kit
0

yorksblue added 06:52 - Aug 16 Why Blackpool? - It's an absolute dustbin.
0

TrueBlueFerret added 07:45 - Aug 16 Visited Brunton Park when The Beat was working there,he made us very welcome as TOWN fans. A great draw&another ground added to seen ITFC play on beckons.............
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls