David Houseley, who along with his brother organised fans’ trips to the Blues’ European games in the 1970s and 80s, died yesterday aged 81 following a long illness.
When Town reached Europe in 1973 for the first time since the Alf Ramsey era, David and his brother Philip were appointed official travel agents by the ITFC Supporters Club, a decision backed by the Town board.
They organised fans trips to all the games played in European competition in a 10-year stretch under Sir Bobby Robson starting with a memorable trip to the Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid, beating them over the two legs.
This was in an era before budget airlines and the Internet and when it was prudent to put in controls to counteract any possible trouble.
As well as cities like Amsterdam, Rome and Prague, there were seaside holidays on the Halkidiki peninsular for the Aris Salonika game and Gran Canaria for the UD Las Palmas tie. The Aberdeen charter train was a nod to the earlier Blue Arrow trips with on board entertainment. David and Philip wrote about the trips in a 2011 book, On a European Journey: With Ipswich Town in Europe 1962-2002. In addition to his involvement in football, David was also very active in the community in Felixstowe.
David (left) with brother Philip
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