Town fan Susan Gardiner’s new book, Ipswich Town — A History looks at the club’s past from a different perspective.
Susan, a long-time supporter and season ticket holder since 2001, who has written for Turnstile Blues and edits their website, told TWTD that she saw no point in covering the same ground as previous books: "Because of ITFC's great success under Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson, there have been a number of books about the history of Ipswich Town.
"It would be impossible to improve upon the encyclopaedic work of John Eastwood and Tony Moyes in The Men Who Made The Town, so I've attempted to write something very different from the traditional club history.
"It is both a history of Ipswich Town and a social history — recording and exploring the relationship between the football club and the town of Ipswich.
"It uses the voices of people involved with the club, including supporters, players and former players, owners, administrators and local writers, to describe the club’s history within its social context, how changes have affected the club and how developments in football itself have made an indelible impact upon both the football club and the local community.
"Rather than following a strict chronological order, I've used themes, such as War, Work, Place and Youth, to explore Town's history from 1878 to promotion to the Premier League in 2000 under George Burley."
You can read more about Ipswich Town — A History, which is published by Amberley Publishing, and buy a copy here. There is a foreword by former Blue James Scowcroft.
Susan, who has an MA in Literature, History and Culture from Southampton University and has written articles for various publications including New Law Journal and Suffolk Review, also blogs about social history on Those Who Will Not Be Drowned and football for Turnstile Blues. She is also on the committee of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters' Trust.