Scott Loach insists the current Ipswich team can emulate the success of the last Town side to play in the Premier League.
George Burley’s team of 2000 won the Wembley play-off final against Barnsley and a year later, with the Blues finishing fifth in the top flight, he was crowned Manager of the Year.
Loach was a Town fan back then, sitting high in what is now the East of England Co-operative Stand to watch favourites like Richard Wright and Matt Holland put the club back on the map.
He even collected autographs, just like the young admirers who besieged him and his team-mates at Tuesday’s successful open day at Portman Road.
Loach said: "Wrighty and Matt Holland were the stand-out players to me along with David Johnson, who I see from time to time when I’m back in Nottingham.
"It was a good team back then and I think we’ve got everything in our make-up to be very similar if not even better. Obviously, the game changes a lot but there’s no reason why we can’t match those players and have the success that they had.
"I came in to Ipswich when I was eight and Wrighty was training so I watched him and then met him later. He was great to me and, while I’ve been lucky enough to train with people like Joe Hart and Ben Foster, actually going to the training ground and seeing Wrighty was all a bit surreal for me.
"This is a family club — it’s always been known for that — and while I’m here for myself I also want to give a little bit back as well. It was great to see so many supporters at the open day and it reminded me of when I was a young fan myself.”
Loach’s view that the present side could even surpass the achievements of Burley’s boys may cause a stir — but he stands by his comments.
He added: "I’m not just saying that to keep people happy. If somebody could put a camera in the changing room you would see how well we all get on together. There’s no little groups or anything.
"Everyone fights for each other and anyone who steps in can do it without breaking the mould. We all get on very well and we need to start putting that into our performances and building them up throughout the season.”