Former Blues left-back Colin Harper has died aged 71 after a long illness.
Ipswich-born Harper came through the Blues youth system and made 171 Town starts and five sub appearances, scoring six goals, between 1966 and 1977.
He was a member of Bill McGarry’s side which won the Second Division title in 1967/68 and was a regular for Bobby Robson’s team which played in Europe on a yearly basis in the 1970s, most notably featuring in the 1-0 aggregate victory over Real Madrid in 1973.
In 1975 he was granted a testimonial in which a Blues side faced then England boss Don Revie's All-Stars at Portman Road.
Prior to leaving Town he had spells on loan at Grimsby and Cambridge before joining Port Vale where he was caretaker-manager.
He later managed Waterford, Chelmsford and Sudbury Town, prior to running a building firm locally after hanging up his boots during which time he regularly attended games at Portman Road.
Harper, who leaves a wife, Carol, and three children, died yesterday at a hospice where he had spent his final few weeks.