Today marks the 50th anniversary of Sir Bobby Robson’s appointment as Blues boss.
Former manager Bill McGarry, who had taken Town back into the top flight as champions of the Second Division in 1967/68, had departed in November 1968 to take over at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After Torquay boss Frank O’Farrell had turned the job down, subsequently taking over at Leicester City a fortnight later, the Blues arranged interviews with two further candidates on January 12th, Billy Bingham, then at Plymouth Argyle, and Robson, who had recently been sacked by Fulham.
But the day before they were scheduled to meet the Town board at the Great Eastern Hotel, London, Bingham informed them he had decided to remain with the Pilgrims and on Monday 13th January 1969 Robson, then 36, was named the Blues’ sixth manager since they turned professional.
A statement from chairman John Cobbold read: "We were vastly impressed by Mr Robson and there was no doubt in our minds that he was the man for the job.
"We have not given him a contract but I realise no manager can be judged in less than two years. I sincerely hope Bobby stays with us considerably longer than that.”
County Durham-born Robson, an England international in his playing days with the Cottagers and West Brom, did stay at Portman Road for that hoped-for much longer period, eventually moving on to become England boss in the summer of 1982.
By the time he departed, the Blues had won the FA Cup in 1978, the UEFA Cup in 1981 and had finished second in the First Division on two occasions.
After ending 1972/73 fourth in the table, Town finished outside the top six of the First Division only once in nine seasons, the year in which they won the FA Cup.
As a consequence, the Blues became regulars in Europe with their UEFA Cup win augmented by memorable victories over the likes of Real Madrid, Lazio and Feyenoord, while Barcelona were twice defeated in first leg ties at Portman Road before eventually overcoming Town at Camp Nou.
In total Robson, who died aged 76 on 18th July 2009, managed the Blues for 704 competitive matches, 310 victories - 44.03 per cent - 172 draws and 222 defeats.
Robson, whose statue now stands on Portman Road, went on to take England to the World Cup semi-finals in 1990 before successful spells in club management overseas with PSV (twice), Sporting Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona and then finally back in the North-East with the club he supported as a boy, Newcastle United.