Kieron Dyer claimed a controversial 4-3 victory over his fellow academy coach Alan Lee in this season’s Portman Cup at Portman Road on Friday. The pair took charge of two teams of fans who had paid for the privilege of gracing the hallowed turf.
The players arrived at Portman Road at 1.30pm to find their kit laid out in the dressing rooms, just as the real teams' would be on a Saturday afternoon.
Prior to kick-off, the sides were introduced to their managers before taking part in a warm-up on the practice pitch and being given a team-talk.
Dyer’s side, occupying the home dressing room and wearing the current first kit, were augmented by former Blues defender Scott Mitchell, now a coach in the academy, while Lee’s away team included Ralph Pruden, the manager of Ipswich Town Ladies and the academy’s head of education and welfare.
The game, which was played in heavy rain throughout and in three thirds, got off to a pulsating third-round-FA Cup tie 200-miles-an-hour start, the home team having an early goal ruled out for offside.
However, soon afterwards Dyer’s team did get their noses in front through Ben Tidey, but Lee’s side quickly hit back via Jawa Tacey from the penalty spot.
The closest Portman Cup in years continued in a similar manner and the score was 2-2 going into the final third, Jarrod Ellis restoring the home side's lead as defenders appealed for an offside flag which never came, before skipper Chris Thompson having netted the second for the away team.
Lee’s side, strengthened significantly in the final third following the loss of TWTD’s Phil Ham to injury, thought they’d won it with the goal of the game, James Plumtree lashing into the top corner from 30 yards his manager later saying, "I don’t think we’ll see a better goal at Portman Road this season”.
But there was to be late controversy when manager Dyer removed his tracksuit to reveal he was fully kitted up in the number 78 shirt and made his way on to the pitch.
The introduction of the former England international turned the game in his team’s favour as he created two goals, one netted by Sydney-based fan Leo Chandiok and then the winner from James Neill to grab a 4-3 victory with Lee’s team tiring in the heavy conditions.
Following the final whistle, both squads took part in a keenly-contested penalty shoot-out won by the away side by a single goal.
The victorious home team were presented with the trophy before the teams, by now soaked to the skin, returned to the dressing rooms to get showered prior to the post-match presentations and a two-course meal in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite.
Dyer named the home side’s man of the match as central midfielder Luke Whelan, a Luke Hyam Lukey-likey, and Lee Jawa Tacey as his team’s. James Plumtree’s strike picked up the Best Goal award, while Leo Chandiok was given the Most Memorable Moment gong having flown in from Australia especially for the game.
Quizzed on the contentious nature of his side’s victory given the match-turning late introduction of a 33-times-capped full England international, Dyer hit back: "Your team was more than capable of bringing an Irish international on as well, but I think someone bottled it!”
Blues U18s coach Lee responded: "To be honest, it ruined the whole day for me, for him to be that self-conscious that he can’t just let the players play, he had to come on and influence the game. I don’t know how he puts his head on the pillow at night.
"To be fair, it was nice to see Kieron Dyer out there and, joking aside, I think it was great for the people there because once a pro’s playing they can see the difference in how quickly they make decisions and all that.
"As always I’m a bit gutted that we lost because of it, but I think fair play to him for going on.”
Dyer, assistant coach of the Town U16s, was pleased to have made his return to the Portman Road turf: "I enjoyed getting back out there and I think it’s good for you lot to play alongside me.
"It was a shame Alan couldn’t come on because of his dodgy hip and I think it added to the day, you can go home and tell your loved ones that you graced the pitch with an ex-England international!”
He says the day is an enjoyable one for the managers: "Al did make a great reference, he said that’s the only time I’m going to be sitting in that dugout!
"At least I can say I sat in the Ipswich Town manager’s seat at Portman Road, so I can take that away with me.”
Both have ambitions to be managers proper in the future but not yet and haven’t put their names into the hat for the current Town vacancy.
"I’ve got a two-year-old and five-year-old, I think down the line it’s definitely something that interests me, but right now I feel that it’s settling in Suffolk time and I'll just take things as they come,” Lee said.
Dyer is of a similar view: "There’s no need to rush, I’m starting on my journey, I’m very happy with things at the moment, I’m learning my trade with the kids and then slowly I’ll build my way up and hopefully one day I’ll be a manager, no rush for me.
"Would I want to be Ipswich Town manager? Yes. But would I want to be the next Ipswich Town manager? No.”
Returning to the Portman Cup, Lee is well aware he’s going to hear a lot about it from Dyer in the weeks and months to come around Playford Road.
"Unfortunately I will,” he reflected ruefully. ”It’ll be down to his tactics, that I didn’t spot this or that. But I know I’d be doing exactly the same thing myself!”
Home Team: Tom Overbury, Garry Mills, Jon Ramdall, Kevin Boyles, Luke Whelan, James Neill, Jarrod Ellis, Leo Chandiok, Sam Ellis, Ben Tidey, Andy Grimes, Richard Tidey, Scott Mitchell, Kieron Dyer.
Away Team: Ben Whiteman, Lee Abrahall, Chris Hodges, Nick Sparkes, James Plumtree, Jawa Tacey, Chris Thompson, Alan Godfrey, Clive Collard, Phil Ham, Rob Linsdell, Ryan Lamb, Frank Cracknell, Ralph Pruden.