Former Blue Dean Bowditch says he has fond memories of his time at Portman Road as he prepares to face his old club for the first time.

Bowditch, 29, came through the academy ranks at Playford Road and, having made his senior debut as a sub in the 2-0 derby win at Norwich in March 2003, went on to make 35 starts and 47 sub appearances for the Blues, while also spending spells on loan at Burnley, Wycombe, Brighton, Northampton and Brentford during his time as a Town player.

He scored nine goals for Town, including a memorable hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Watford in a live Sky game at Portman Road.

Bishop’s Stortford-born Bowditch moved on to Yeovil following his release by the Blues in the summer of 2009 and after two years with the Glovers he joined his current club, where he has now made 136 starts and 31 sub appearances, scoring 38 goals.

“I still always look to see how they get on, and I want them to do well, except this weekend of course,” the former England U16, U17 and U19 international told the Milton Keynes Citizen.

“It was a while ago that I was there now, but I spent a lot of time there and I’ve got a lot of fond memories of Ipswich.

“It’s a club I love and I’m looking forward to playing against them, if I’m playing. I still speak to people there and have a lot of respect for the place.”

Bowditch expects his old club to be amongst the contenders for promotion again this season as they were during his time at the club, the striker or midfielder having featured in the play-off semi-finals against West Ham in 2003/04 and 2004/05.

“To be fair, they’ve been close for many years, even when I was there,” he recalled. “They get there or thereabouts, but never quite make it.

“The year before I made it into the squad, they got relegated and we all thought they’d bounce back and for a couple of years it looked like they might but it just didn’t happen.

“I don’t know whether it’s because they recruit well, but they’re always there and just can’t get over the line. But I think this year will be the same - hopefully they’ll do well.

“I’m sure Mick McCarthy will have them well-drilled, but I’m more concerned with the weekend and hopefully we can do a number over them.”

Photo: Action Images

MattinLondon added 11:22 - Dec 10 Still can't believe he is still only 27. One of those players who I think falls into the 'what if' bracket and probabaly should have done a lot better than what he has. Saying that he is a Championship standard player and better than a lot of the dross loaned to us during the Keane and Jewell years. I wish him all the best - apart from this Saturday
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Lathers added 12:25 - Dec 10 It looked like he was going to be something special for us, but it never really happened for him down to lack of opportunity. At the time though he was competing against the likes of Bent and Kuqi so was unlikely to get in the team. I fear the same could happen to young Andre Dozzell, but hopefully lessons learnt and we will look after our own and nurture the talent rather than giving up on them and shipping them out.

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No32 added 12:31 - Dec 10 Question is: who is that in the background? Is it a young Westlake?
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DeVOS added 12:33 - Dec 10 Is he 27? Surely he is older would of made him 15 when he made his debut? Good to see he still has a lot of affection for the club
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ipswichben added 12:44 - Dec 10 Made his debut at 16. What a day that was, fleming pulling his hamstring as he ran past and set up Fab for 'that' goal. Westlake in the background with his no. 33 squad shirt. Both players looked at one point to have such a bright future. Glad Bowditch is still playing at this level though, no good wishes for Saturday of course though.
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mutters added 12:47 - Dec 10 He's 29 (born 1986) not 27
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dav86 added 13:00 - Dec 10 No32 I think it might be a young Matt Richards, when he had hair
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NSL added 14:24 - Dec 10 I wouldn't call a product of our youth academy who plays first team Championship football a failure or a 'what-if'. Perhaps that's where our youth system fails, where every idiot thinks a young player should be the next Messi and the players themselves start doubting themselves.
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MattinLondon added 15:05 - Dec 10 Don't think anyone labeled Bowditch a failure but considering his talent, as well as what people thought of him [at the time] the expectation was that he would play his football in the Premier League rather than the second or third tier. A bit like Francis Jeffers. Injuries did hamper him greatly and I remember him admitting that he had been 'crap' for an entire season - sorry can' t remember the exact season. Maybe if he had been managed more like how Bishop is now, maybe his body would have had more time to develop etc hence the 'what-if' in my previous post.

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essextractorboy93 added 15:27 - Dec 10 Good to see Bowditch having a decent career, a real shame he never consistently made the starting eleven here but wish him all the best apart from this Saturday! I remember his hat-trick at home to Watford when we won 4-1. The Watford keeper had a shocker for our first goal!
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blueboy1981 added 17:30 - Dec 10 ....... another who will probably score against us.
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muccletonjoe added 19:25 - Dec 10 Remember looking at him and Danny Haynes and thinking the future was bright..... Rum old do
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:36 - Dec 11 Remember having huge expectations about him. After all, he made the national U17s, if I remember rightly. He didn't quite fulfil those expectations, but I'm glad he's had a decent career. He seems a nice lad. Wish him well.
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PhilTWTD added 12:04 - Dec 11 Mutters Yes, 29 amended. Not sure where 27 came from.
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