Jay Tabb was enjoying a round of golf in June when he returned to the clubhouse to find he had been bombarded by texts on his mobile phone.
The reason? Friends had seen the new season’s Championship fixtures had thrown up a real coincidence in pairing Ipswich with the experienced midfielder’s former club Reading on the opening day.
Tabb, who netted once in nine loan appearances from the Royals at the end of last season, said: "I must have had about 20 texts, including from the physio and the goalkeeping coach at Reading, and it’s quite ironic for me.
"It’s a game I’ve been looking forward to ever since that day and as the big day has got closer I’ve been getting really excited about it. I might send texts to Adam Federici, Jobi McAnuff and Mikele Leigertwood — I got on well with them at Reading — before we go down there.
"There’s a good team spirit there, same as there is here, and you always have a bit of banter.”
At 29 he may be one of the most senior players in the new-look Town squad but there is a refreshingly boyish enthusiasm about Tabb as the big kick-off looms.
He admitted: "This is my 12th or 13th season as a pro and I’m as excited as I’ve ever been. To be honest the manager has had to calm us down a bit in training because everyone has been chomping at the bit ready to get going.
"It’s been hot and you have to be careful how much you do because you have to make sure you leave enough in the tank for the weekend.”
Tabb hailed the team spirit he first encountered last season and which he believes has improved as a result of manager Mick McCarthy’s summer recruitment policy that has seen 10 new faces arrive at the club.
He added: "The manager has done really well with his additions. Apart from a really good team spirit there’s a good mix of youth and experience.
"It might not be the biggest squad but the nucleus is really strong and we also have some good youngsters coming through. They are pushing the older players all the time in training and I think that’s a good thing to have.
"Pre-season has gone really well and we’ve played how the manager wants us to play, except at Barnet where we weren’t on our A game.
"The performances at Colchester and Notts County were very good and they are teams who will probably be pushing towards the top of League One. It’s been good preparation for us, both as a team and as individuals.”