Goalkeeper Laurie Sivell was inducted into the Town Hall of Fame at last night’s 39th Ex-Players’ Hall of Fame Reunion Dinner in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite, while tribute was paid to the team which won the FA Cup in 1978 ahead of Sunday’s 40th anniversary.
Lowestoft-born Sivell, 67, was with the Blues between 1969 and 1984 and made 175 appearances.
Noted for his bravery and his lack of height for a keeper, he is only 5ft 8in tall, Sivell had been replaced as Sir Bobby Robson's first-choice by Paul Cooper by the time of the 78 final but featured in one game during the run which saw the Blues lift the UEFA Cup in 1981, the second away leg of the tie against Bohemians Prague.
He was also among the players to feature in Escape to Victory, playing the great German keeper Schmidt.
The evening was hosted by Terry Butcher and Matt Holland with Bryan Hamilton standing down from his role as chairman of the Ex-Players’ Association and his regular co-host Simon Milton enjoying the evening as one of the guests having left the club last year after 30 years.
Butcher interviewed and traded jokes with the seven members of the 78 side who were present - Mick Mills, Roger Osborne, Allan Hunter, Paul Mariner, John Wark, George Burley and Mick Lambert - about that great day at Wembley and the run which took the Blues to the final.
Town players from across the decades and their guests totalling more than 200 attended the event.