Tommy Smith has revealed how he had to retrieve boots belonging to Jordan Rhodes following his pal’s shock departure from Ipswich more than four years ago.
It was July 2009 and the pair were sat together on the Town team bus ready to head for South London and a pre-season friendly at Charlton.
Smith, still on best-pal terms with Rhodes, recalled: "I was very surprised when Jordan left. It was completely out of the blue.
"I can’t comment on what happened behind the scenes. We were just sitting on the bus and he was called away. He came back and told us ‘I’m off’ and it was as quick as that.
"I ended up having to get his boots for him because he wasn’t allowed back into the training ground.”
Rhodes’s transfer to Huddersfield - the Blues ultimately received just over £1 million after top-ups and a sell-on clause - was a huge success for him and his subsequent £8 million move to Blackburn has also worked out well, catapulting him into the Scotland squad.
The striker has netted 125 times in 213 appearances for the two clubs but his departure has always puzzled Town fans, many of whom could not understand then manager Roy Keane’s decision to sell such a promising young talent.
The former Kesgrave High School pupil, , pictured above scoring his only goal for the Blues in the 1-1 draw with Cardiff in April 2008, had made 10 first team appearances, all as a substitute, and looked set to take the next step in his career by challenging for a place in the starting line-up.
Smith added: "We were room-mates on away trips and we lived around the corner from each other on Grange Farm. We used to hang out quite a bit together and at the time it was my best mate at the club leaving.
"I think you can say that leaving Ipswich has been the best thing for his career. It was disappointing to lose him here but he’s gone on and done really well for himself and I’m delighted for him personally.”
Rhodes netted the only goal against Town at Ewood Park in February, his celebrations underlining what the goal meant to him, and tomorrow night’s home clash with Blackburn will mark his first return to Portman Road.
Smith added: "It will be nice to come up against him again. I broke his nose last season so I’m sure he’ll be trying to get some payback for that.
"I’ll probably speak to him today when they are on their way down. I’ll see if I can eke out a bit of information about their team.
"We’re good mates, but as soon as the match starts you’re enemies. I don’t want to see him shouting and screaming against us again.”