Ferguson\'s Successor Announced - Ipswich Town News
Town have appointed Ben Connell as the successor to groundsman Alan Ferguson, who has left the club to take on the role of head groundsperson at St George’s Park, the FA’s National Football Centre at Burton.
Connell was previously working at St Joseph's College and will start his new job at Portman Road later in this month. Ferguson takes up his new position next week.
The 31-year-old says he’s aware he has a big task on his hands to reach the standards of Ferguson’s seven-times award-winning Portman Road surface: "I'm delighted to have been handed the opportunity of working at Ipswich Town with the fantastic facilities the club has.
"I know I have some big boots to fill with what Alan has achieved here, but I'm looking forward to the challenge.
"I've known Alan for a few years and he's always been there to answer a question and offer some advice.
"My first job is to continue to provide the standard of pitches that he has done, but there's a good team of groundstaff here and I'm confident we can maintain the levels he has set."
Chief executive Simon Clegg added: "I'd like to welcome Ben to the football club. We spoke to a number of excellent candidates, but felt that Ben was in the best position to carry on the fantastic work that Alan and his team have done over the years."
Photo: ITFC
What to read next:
McKenna: Burns Injury Cramp, Clarke Knee ProblemTown boss Kieran McKenna has confirmed that Wes Burns and Leif Davis, who were both seen limping during this evening's 2-1 victory at Coventry City, have no big issues while Harry Clarke was unavailable for selection due to a knee problem.
Coventry City 1-2 Ipswich Town - Match ReportTown are one point away from a return to the Premier League after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena. Kieffer Moore’s eighth minute goal gave the Blues a 1-0 half-time advantage, but the Sky Blues, who were in charge for long spells, levelled through Haji Wright on 64, however, Cameron Burgess restored the lead with his second goal of the season five minutes later and Town saw out 11 minutes of added-on time to secure three vital points and put them a single point away from back-to-back promotions.
Three Changes For Town at Coventry as Davis StartsTown boss Kieran McKenna makes three changes for this evening’s crunch final away game of the season against Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena but Leif Davis is fit enough to start at left-back.
U21s Thrash HullTown’s U21s defeated their Hull City counterparts 4-0 at the MKM Stadium this afternoon.
Coventry City v Ipswich Town - PredictionsHave you predicted the Coventry score yet? Sixty-eight per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, 27 per cent a draw and five per cent predicting a home win, but what do you think?
U21s at HullTown’s U21s are in action against Hull City this afternoon at the MKM Stadium, the scene of Saturday’s pulsating 3-3 draw between the two first teams (KO 3pm).