Blues legends Frans Thijssen, Arnold Muhren, Eric Gates, Alan Brazil, Russell Osman and Brian Talbot will be amongst those joining the Life’s a Pitch regulars on Radio Suffolk on Saturday (midday-2pm) to celebrate their team-mate Kevin Beattie turning 60.

Throughout the show, Beattie, the show’s legend-in-residence, presenter Mark Murphy, football’s youngest pundit Tractorboy and TWTD’s Phil Ham will be catching up with the Town stars of the past as they pay tribute to the man often described as the club’s greatest ever player.

Also amongst those dropping in will be Pat Godbold, secretary to all Town managers from Sir Alf Ramsey to George Burley, and local media stalwart and one-time Blues ballboy Stuart Jarrold, who now works with Sky Sports.

Beattie will be a club guest at Saturday's game against Watford and is set to be interviewed by PA man Rob Chandler on the pitch prior to kick-off before watching the match from the directors’ box.

There are also calls on social media for fans to mark Beattie’s birthday, which he celebrated yesterday, with a minute’s applause as the clock ticks past the 60-minute mark.

Add your birthday tribute and memories of Beattie's Town career to those already posted here.

Life’s a Pitch can be heard on 95.5FM, 95.9FM, 103.9FM and 104.6FM or online by clicking here.

Last week's programme, which featured 1990s goalscorer David Johnson, can be heard here.

Photo: Action Images

Cloddyseedbed added 10:13 - Dec 19 Wow! This will stir the memories. I am one of the very fortunate fans to have been supporting since the 60's and have witnessed the successes 1st hand over the decades and these players were and still are part of those fantastic hey day memories that will never be forgotten - true legends. Happy birthday Kevin Beattie..
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TR11BLU added 10:24 - Dec 19 Brings goosebumps just thinking about those days.
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BillBlue added 10:49 - Dec 19 Yeah me too Cloddyseedbed but a bit earlier too. My favourite memory of Kev is him on the Town Hall Balcony at the FA Cup celebrations holding up and pointing at a placard a supporter had handed him saying "Kevin Beattie Walks on Water" - he just didn't realise how much we valued him. Happy Birthday Kev.
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BlueVelvet added 12:36 - Dec 19 Like Cloddyseedbed, I've been a fan from the 60's when I sat with my dad in the Chicken Run, and when I could stand for 90 mins I moved with my mates to the north stand and remember capacity gates when fans were lifted from the crowded stands to sit along the pitch edges in more comfort. Happy, and more importantly successful, days. Get the crowd going on Sat Beat - good to see a lap of honour. Have to wait abit longer for the bus pass though. Keep healthy Beat, best wishes.

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DiamondGezzer added 13:02 - Dec 19 Like all of you guys I was lucky enough to witness not only The Great Kevin Beatie but that whole era. Never mind fella's, its only a number.
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Tufty added 19:08 - Dec 19 So our best ever number 6 reached 60. Think the minutes applause would be the best possible tribute from the fans, Perhaps the club should show their appreciation by retiring the number.
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acitfc added 19:20 - Dec 19 Nice one Beat .. As Sir Bobby rightly said such a tragedy that injury and not knowing how to light a BBQ so blighted your career. One of the best to wear a Town shirt with pride!!
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oldegold added 21:04 - Dec 19 The GREAT Kevin Beattie - one of the first reasons why a Londoner like me fell in love with Bobby's swashbuckling Ipswich Town. What a super player and unfortunately an unlucky one but the years 1972-1981 when he donned the blue shirt will be remembered forever by anyone lucky enough to live those fab years. Strong, built like an alehouse, resolute and courageous. His last game against Man City in the 1981 FA Cup semi final will live in the memory when before breaking his arm, he came close on two occasions to scoring - nobody came close to him. Many happy returns and I had the pleasure to meet him in Legends last April - this one's on me, Kevin…Happy 60th !

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