Despite the Blues ultimately missing out on a play-off place, Tommy Smith will remember the 2013/14 season as his best so far for Town.

The 24-year-old central defender said: “I would say this has probably been my most consistent season. I think that’s down to having a regular partner in a regular back four and the manager instilling confidence into the whole back four and the team as a whole.

“Experience helps. You learn things position-wise, when you make your mistakes you make sure you learn from them and you keep trying to grow as a player.”

Smith, a graduate of the Portman Road academy and part of the first-team furniture for several seasons, believes he has benefited from being part of a settled defensive unit alongside keeper Dean Gerken and back four regulars Like Chambers, Christophe Berra and Aaron Cresswell.

He added: “It does make a difference. Bonds develop, you know where other people are going to be around you and you can sort of rely on them without having to communicate all the time.

“Obviously, communication helps at times but it has almost become like second nature. You know they are going to be in a certain position and you can rely on them to be there for you.

“It helps but when we have had changes Tyrone has come in and done really well, while Loachy has also stepped in and done really well.

"The squad is there and Frazer [Richardson] came in last Monday for his first start and he had a really good game. It’s good to have those players pushing us all the way because we know we can’t rest on our laurels.”

Scottish international Berra has marked his first season in Suffolk by being crowned the supporters’ Player of the Year and Smith, last year's winner, said: “He’s done really well obviously. He had to bide his time before he got into the team but he’s not looked back really.

"We’ve developed a good partnership and I can learn from him with his Premier League experience. It’s gone really well.

“I think the biggest thing I have added to my game this season is consistency. In the past I’ve had the good games but I think I’ve had more of them this season — good solid games, not really outstanding performances but no real backward steps.”

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 08:08 - Apr 29 Completely agree, Tommy has improved every season, really hope we keep him next season
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Scuzzer added 09:49 - Apr 29 I think with the amount of experience around him he only could improve, and he will continue to do so. He now is a very reliable and consistent centre back.
2

Lightningboy added 10:54 - Apr 29 Tommy's been brilliant after seemingly losing his way under Jewell..Mick's given us a defence to be proud of again..let's hope we can keep them together for another season.
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itfchorry added 11:19 - Apr 29 We all dream of a team of Tommy Smiths
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colchesterblue added 11:36 - Apr 29 Completely different player to the Tommy Smith of a couple of years ago.
2

NoCanariesAllowed added 12:58 - Apr 29 Correct me if I'm wrong, but Tommy Smith is now our longest-serving current player? I certainly remember him playing v Preston on the opening day of 2008/09, and I think he made his Town debut before that. Put it this way - he was in the team in the days when Alan Lee was with us for the FIRST time...! And if he is our longest-serving, then rightly so. In those first few years I will put my hands up and admit I didn't like him. I thought he was lightweight, I thought he was unreliable, and I thought he would join the ranks of other young players to come out of our club in recent years and disappear down the leagues. Not a bit of it - he has come on from strength to strength, he's not relied upon one particular centre-back pairing to succeed, and he's developed a fantastic goalscoring ability. May he still be with us for many years to come.

3

WhoisJimmyJuan added 13:02 - Apr 29 Shame NZ didn't get to the World Cup though. Looking out for Tommy was my highlight of the last World Cup! Mind you, this is a World Cup pattern: 1986 World Cup: Terry Butcher (England) 1990: No Ipswich player 1994: Bontcho Guenchev (Bulgaria) 1998: None 2002: Matt Holland (Eire) 2006: None 2010: Tommy Smith (New Zealand) 2014: None So 2018 - Jack Marriott (England) of course ;-)

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Tractamatt added 13:05 - Apr 29 Must keep him Chambers and Berra but think it's inevitable that we'll lose Cresswell this summer but with Mints as a ready and able replacement it would be possible to use the money to strengthen other areas. Tommy is a true blue who plays for the team with pride and has come through some pretty rough times to be one of our most important and influential players
2

78ShadesOfBlue added 13:52 - Apr 29 Tommy Smith is a true blue!
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brian_a_mul added 14:01 - Apr 29 Whiisjimmyjuan, we could have Conor Wickham to look out for at the World Cup. You never know, England need strikers and he is the form english striker in the PL at the moment! With Rodriguez out and crouch/lambert gone off the boil it could be a possibility for a squad place
1

Jimmy86 added 14:02 - Apr 29 I actually think tommy is our best defender at the club and has come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years. Need to keep hold of him!!! 1 TOMMY SMITH, THERE'S ONLY 1 TOMMY SMITH
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Superblue95 added 14:11 - Apr 29 Top player, quite under rated as he never gets any speculation about bigger clubs looking at him. Still I'm not complaining would love to see him at Ipswich for another 10 years!!
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Steelmonkey added 19:56 - Apr 29 itfchorry, so does Mick, personally i'd prefer a few more attacking options, but no question that Tommy has been an absolute rock this season, have a well earned rest this summer and set your sights a little higher next season. Hope we get the chance to see Marriot against Wednesday, deserves a debut for the four goals he scored. Would be great to finish the season with a win, 3-1 town COYB's.

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alexsmith111 added 21:59 - Apr 29 If I may say so my self!! He's right it was his best season. Just liked the self back tap
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