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Vegalta Sendai to Present Shirt to Town
Saturday, 19th Oct 2013 13:30

Town will be presented with a shirt from Japanese club Vegalta Sendai prior to Saturday’s game against Burnley. Grant Cummings, one of the producers of the upcoming documentary film Football, Take Me Home, explains why.

On Saturday we will be filming for a segment for the forthcoming documentary feature film Football, Take Me Home. The film tells the story of the maverick fans of Vegalta Sendai, an underachieving second division team in Japan whose home town was at the centre of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Despite losing over half the population of some of the coastal parts of the region to the tragedy, over 3,500 fans made it to the first away game less than a month after the earthquake to make a promise to the people of their city.

Defiantly, they vowed that the team would not lose a game until the city had been rebuilt and almost true to their word, the team set out on a remarkable run that would see them finish runners-up in the Japanese premier division only two seasons later - with no extra funding and the same squad of players that had narrowly avoided relegation the season before.

There is a close connection between Ipswich Town and the events in the story. Two survivors from the earthquake visited Portman Road for a game in the weeks after the disaster and were amazed to hear the Vegalta club song Take Me Home, Country Road being played in tribute to the people of their city.

Their telling of the story — which was outlined in detail in a TWTD blog - allowed a chain of events to be followed back to Japan via Seattle that underlined the power of fans to unite against adversity - a true story of the international brotherhood of football fans that became an inspiration to a country in its darkest hour.


The shirt is being presented by the fans and officials of Vegalta Sendai on behalf of the people of the city in appreciation of the message of support sent by Ipswich Town and their supporters.

The film is being directed by Douglas Hurcombe — who previously wrote this blog for TWTD on how the film came about - and Geoff Trodd and produced by Grant Cummings and Ben Timlett.

The film is a Bill and Ben & Cling Film production, in association with GPO Films and is scheduled for release in early 2014.

The filmmakers will also be amongst the guests on this Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on Radio Suffolk (12-2pm). Read more about the film here.


Photo: Action Images



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senduntd added 16:32 - Oct 17
This was inspirational. Lovely to see football at the centre of something so wonderful. Look forward to the film.
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ManningtreeBlue99 added 16:35 - Oct 17
Wow, incredible story and video!
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TractorCam added 16:37 - Oct 17
Incredible story, glad to see ITFC have good connections, very inspirational.
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BlueBhoy added 16:38 - Oct 17
Lovely to hear. Shame they wear yellow as wouldn't Ming getting hold of a jersey. Wonder if they have an away kit and a decent keeper. ??
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Marcus added 16:54 - Oct 17
Let's invite them for a pre-season friendly.
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bournemouthblue added 17:04 - Oct 17
That's an incredibly complex story and connection, it's absolutely marvellous.

Good luck summarising that for the morons in the North Stand though.
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runningout added 17:11 - Oct 17
go there would be good.. Full of respect for Vegalta Sendai
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MyBlueHeaven added 17:38 - Oct 17
@bluebhoy - did you bother to watch the video? they play in yellow and blue - the same as our away kit in the mid 70s.

grow up.
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miltonsnephew added 17:45 - Oct 17
Any chance of us getting any players on Loan or buying!!!

Some Japanese players are amazing at football.
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therein61 added 17:48 - Oct 17
Thank you Vegalta Sendai for a wonderful gesture just goes to show that football fans worldwide care!!!!! even in adversity, I am full of admiration for you, I reckon we should forge links with this club.
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Terry_Nutkins added 18:15 - Oct 17
Anything to be said for adopting that song - sounds awesome sung by a crowd!
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Taricco_Fan added 18:16 - Oct 17
Truly lovely story and great gesture.
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COYBitfc added 18:33 - Oct 17
FAO Bournemouthblue "Good luck summarising that for the morons in the North Stand though."

I sit in the North Stand, so please explain what us in the NS doing see in the story, video that everyone else has???

Seems that off the back of a truly tragic event that humanity has pulled together through football and lent support via the great game.... A lovely gesture that I am sure will be extremely well received by all attending PR and I am sure everyone will wish them well in their continued rebuilding of their lives and city...

Does this make me a moron?
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hollywoodginge added 18:38 - Oct 17
Spine tingle, Check

Goose bumps, Check

Humbled, Check

What an inspirational video, powerful stuff, I wish every one of their fans and the club every success in the future.
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BluePG added 18:46 - Oct 17
Like watching Last Night of the Proms. Goosebumps.
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pazelle added 18:53 - Oct 17
Looking forward to this, what a superb story.
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kizaitfc added 19:05 - Oct 17
Would be a great idea to get them to come over for a pre-season friendly and give them half the ground or however much they think they could fill

Would allow our fans to see what noise a proper crowd can make
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fifeblue added 19:05 - Oct 17
Are we short of shirts?
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RegencyBlue added 19:23 - Oct 17
Must keep this connection going.

A pre-season friendly sounds like a very good idea.
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AbujaBlue added 19:59 - Oct 17
This is a touching story. I'm so glad I can make this game and hope we can all give them a fabulous reception.
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Millsey added 20:43 - Oct 17
Brilliant song sung by true fans. Would be great to sing that song on Saturday? Country roads is right where we are! Come on and lets try it, its about time we could all sing a simple but strong song for our club?
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wd546 added 21:18 - Oct 17
I don't get to a lot of games due to work commitments but if we had a friendly with Vegalta Sendai, I would be at Portman Road!
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Gipeswic added 22:36 - Oct 17
Almost heaven, West Virginia
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, blowing like a breeze

Chorus:
Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West Virginia, Mountain Mama
Take me home, country roads

All my memories, gathered 'round her
Miners' Lady, stranger to blue water
Dark and dusty, painted on the sky
Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye

Chorus

I hear her voice, in the morning hour she calls me
The radio reminds me of my home far away
And drivin' down the road I get the feeling
That I should have been home yesterday, yesterday

Chorus x 2
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uncle added 08:32 - Oct 18
The kind of bizzare little thing that make me proud of my little club.
Wonderful story, and i now have a japanese team to support.
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Bergholtblue added 09:10 - Oct 18
Oh to be able to create just a tenth of that atmosphere at Portman Road Saturday!
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