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Anyone there on October 1977 when he sat in the opposition dug out when we played them at Portman road? He must have had a fantastic reception just like Sir Bobby Robson did against Newcastle in 2001. But sadly I cannot find any information on it
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Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:08 - Dec 5 with 3111 views
I was there but a very young teenager. SAR received a very warm welcome but nothing like the one afforded to SBR. He was from a different age but I don't believe SAR endeared himself to the Portman Road faithful in the way SBR did.
His visit was just 15 years after he had won the league but was never spoken about in the same way we still do about the Robson years.
When he died I digged out an old WHU scarf that I had knocking about because it was a bit Englandy ( predominantly white with a few thin stripes of blue and claret)
I went down to FPR and hung it on the gates by the players entrance. Nothing else was there!
Anglia TV and BBC Look East both filmed it and called it "The Lone Tribute"
SAR at ITFC was before I was even born but I still struggle with the lack of respect and gratitude for him.
“Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh.”
Boris Johnson canvassing in Henley, 2005.
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:32 - Dec 5 by Illinoisblue
Interesting character, isn’t he? Polite but very prickly.
Rodney Marsh tells a great story of when he was in SAR's England squad.
RM: The last time I was picked by him for England we had a team talk before the game and Alf told me we all had to work harder. "Rodney you in particular," he said in his accent. Then he said: "if you don't work hard I'm going to pull you off at half time." And I said: "Christ, at Man City all we get is a cup of tea and an orange."
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:32 - Dec 5 by Illinoisblue
Interesting character, isn’t he? Polite but very prickly.
Interesting that he said he wouldn't manage a team again because he's to old. He would've only been 57. Amazing how perception of age and what 'old' is has changed over the decades. He's not that much older at that point than what I am now!
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:38 - Dec 5 by GlasgowBlue
Rodney Marsh tells a great story of when he was in SAR's England squad.
RM: The last time I was picked by him for England we had a team talk before the game and Alf told me we all had to work harder. "Rodney you in particular," he said in his accent. Then he said: "if you don't work hard I'm going to pull you off at half time." And I said: "Christ, at Man City all we get is a cup of tea and an orange."
Once after a game, Gordon Banks said "See you next match boss"
SAR replied to the best keeper in the world, "Well how do you know you will be picked"
“Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh.”
Boris Johnson canvassing in Henley, 2005.
From In Quest of Glory - Bobby Robson at Ipswich Town 1969-82
Sat 15.10.77 Birmingham City (Home) Football League Division One 3:00pm
5-2
In an entertaining match, Trevor Francis and Keith Bertschin struck up a good partnership for Birmingham. It was not until Malcolm Page conceded a penalty with an unnecessary handball that Ipswich began to relax. Following a collision with Eric Gates, referee Alan Turvey was forced to leave the field after 32 minutes, to be replaced by his senior linesman, Mr D Holland of Watford. Mr Turvey drove home believing he had suffered a calf muscle injury, but following an examination he was told he had broken his leg.
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:23 - Dec 5 by GlasgowBlue
I was there but a very young teenager. SAR received a very warm welcome but nothing like the one afforded to SBR. He was from a different age but I don't believe SAR endeared himself to the Portman Road faithful in the way SBR did.
His visit was just 15 years after he had won the league but was never spoken about in the same way we still do about the Robson years.
He was from a different age really and is largely forgotten now we are losing/have lost the generation of players that played for him. Just look at the mouldering state of his neglected statue.
He was quite a strange character from what I’ve read of him and hated the media. Goodness knows what he’d make of the circus now.
But when alls said and done, his achievements are off the scale. What he did here will never be surpassed and he won the World Cup. Enough said. A great man.
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Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 22:29 - Dec 5 with 2846 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 22:21 - Dec 5 by Churchman
He was from a different age really and is largely forgotten now we are losing/have lost the generation of players that played for him. Just look at the mouldering state of his neglected statue.
He was quite a strange character from what I’ve read of him and hated the media. Goodness knows what he’d make of the circus now.
But when alls said and done, his achievements are off the scale. What he did here will never be surpassed and he won the World Cup. Enough said. A great man.
I've just had a think.
As much as it is in my heart to defend him I reckon SAR was possibly a proper weirdo.
SBR reckons that they would often bump into each other whilst taking their dogs out. He reckons all SAR would do was politely nod or doff his cap. They never mixed and got involved in conversation, football or non football.
Weird as feck when you think about it.
“Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh.”
Boris Johnson canvassing in Henley, 2005.
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:37 - Dec 5 by Lord_Lucan
When men were men and also gentlemen.
When he died I digged out an old WHU scarf that I had knocking about because it was a bit Englandy ( predominantly white with a few thin stripes of blue and claret)
I went down to FPR and hung it on the gates by the players entrance. Nothing else was there!
Anglia TV and BBC Look East both filmed it and called it "The Lone Tribute"
SAR at ITFC was before I was even born but I still struggle with the lack of respect and gratitude for him.
Spot on and I think it's disgraceful as well. I find the giant face of Sir Bobby overshadowing his statue strange. I find the Sir Alf Ramsey Way road sign stuck behind a lamppost not in view strange.
Pound for pound he's the best ever manager this club and country has ever had. It's always been Sir Bobby constant, national media barely mention Sir Alf when they speak of us. A lot of fans seem to forget Sir Bobby was ready to walk out in 1977 to Everton had it not been leaked in the press.
Anyway, Sir Alf all day for me. But granted both a privilege to be associated with our club. I just find the club and fans never ever really acknowledge a genuine genius that Sir Alf was.
4
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 23:09 - Dec 5 with 2705 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 22:29 - Dec 5 by Lord_Lucan
I've just had a think.
As much as it is in my heart to defend him I reckon SAR was possibly a proper weirdo.
SBR reckons that they would often bump into each other whilst taking their dogs out. He reckons all SAR would do was politely nod or doff his cap. They never mixed and got involved in conversation, football or non football.
Weird as feck when you think about it.
Oh I think he was, especially judged by today’s standards. I mean, to go to elocution lessons to lose his accent. These days accents are prized! And actually interesting, I’m not sure how he got on with the Cobbolds either - I’ll have to re-read Mr John..
But when it came to it, he was protective of his players, innovative and achieved the impossible with us. He certainly knew how to build a team. Nobody comes close to him - even if he was plain odd.
2
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 23:21 - Dec 5 with 2675 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 22:59 - Dec 5 by DinnernotTea
Spot on and I think it's disgraceful as well. I find the giant face of Sir Bobby overshadowing his statue strange. I find the Sir Alf Ramsey Way road sign stuck behind a lamppost not in view strange.
Pound for pound he's the best ever manager this club and country has ever had. It's always been Sir Bobby constant, national media barely mention Sir Alf when they speak of us. A lot of fans seem to forget Sir Bobby was ready to walk out in 1977 to Everton had it not been leaked in the press.
Anyway, Sir Alf all day for me. But granted both a privilege to be associated with our club. I just find the club and fans never ever really acknowledge a genuine genius that Sir Alf was.
I get your points but I wasn't attempting to compare them, I just find it all a bit strange, especially re the media.
When SBR was under the cosh as England manager he was getting pelters from the press. He was also scooped by the press when they found he had an affair. In fact, he was very much public enemy number one.
Fast forward and he gets a massive SPOTY ovation - and rightly so!
But what about SAR? He won the World Cup for England only 13 years before SBR won the FA Cup. If you add those same 13 years to 1978 it takes us to 1991 when John Lyall took us from the Championship to the inaugural Premiership.
The time difference between things is smaller than people think
Are you with me?????????
SAR is underplayed and not fully appreciated!!!!!!
“Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh.”
Boris Johnson canvassing in Henley, 2005.
I was at the match but have no memory of Sir Alf managing Birmingham on that day or at all to be honest. I do remember Jasper Carrott being in the directors box, very sad that made a bigger impression on me than Sir Alf in the dugout assuming it was the same game.
0
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 07:51 - Dec 6 with 2425 views
Even though he was manager of Ipswich before my time, I have a lot of time for Sir Alf.
I don't think he was a weirdo. Instead, I think he was a shy and reserved person, with probably an inferiority complex, given the presumably upper class nature of the people in the upper echelons of football at that time. Indeed, the class system was alive and kicking in those days, and this may explain his elocution lessons.
As evidence of his reserve, the following video about 1 minute in, shows him saying "I feel fine" when asked how he feels about winning the championship, a quote that Stuart Watson humorously mimics.
At the end of the day, what really matters with a manager is not his public persona but the effect he had on his teams, and this is a nice interview with Bobby Charlton about him.
Finally, I remember my mum saying that she had been on the same bus as Sir Alf in Ipswich after he had retired, and that they had exchanged friendly glances, which suggests he was not as cold as he might appear.
[Post edited 6 Dec 2024 7:55]
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Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 07:56 - Dec 6 with 2390 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 07:51 - Dec 6 by DJR
Even though he was manager of Ipswich before my time, I have a lot of time for Sir Alf.
I don't think he was a weirdo. Instead, I think he was a shy and reserved person, with probably an inferiority complex, given the presumably upper class nature of the people in the upper echelons of football at that time. Indeed, the class system was alive and kicking in those days, and this may explain his elocution lessons.
As evidence of his reserve, the following video about 1 minute in, shows him saying "I feel fine" when asked how he feels about winning the championship, a quote that Stuart Watson humorously mimics.
At the end of the day, what really matters with a manager is not his public persona but the effect he had on his teams, and this is a nice interview with Bobby Charlton about him.
Finally, I remember my mum saying that she had been on the same bus as Sir Alf in Ipswich after he had retired, and that they had exchanged friendly glances, which suggests he was not as cold as he might appear.
[Post edited 6 Dec 2024 7:55]
Thanks for the links. I’ll read up on him.
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Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 08:34 - Dec 6 with 2322 views
I would be interested to know what you think, as I know the author and have had a conversation with him where he didn't mention Ipswich once ~ despite my repeated prompting.
I would be interested to know what you think, as I know the author and have had a conversation with him where he didn't mention Ipswich once ~ despite my repeated prompting.
Thank you. I’ll find and read that
0
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 08:53 - Dec 6 with 2285 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:37 - Dec 5 by Lord_Lucan
When men were men and also gentlemen.
When he died I digged out an old WHU scarf that I had knocking about because it was a bit Englandy ( predominantly white with a few thin stripes of blue and claret)
I went down to FPR and hung it on the gates by the players entrance. Nothing else was there!
Anglia TV and BBC Look East both filmed it and called it "The Lone Tribute"
SAR at ITFC was before I was even born but I still struggle with the lack of respect and gratitude for him.
Our next game after he died was away at Birmingham, which I attended.
I'm fairly sure there was nothing from either set of fans or Birmingham City to acknowledge his death which I thought was a bit odd given his involvement with both clubs.
As for his character, if you read his Wikipedia page he clearly came from humble origins and at certain points in his career wasn't allowed to forget it.
Our greatest ever manager.
3
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 10:43 - Dec 6 with 2178 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 08:53 - Dec 6 by soupytwist
Our next game after he died was away at Birmingham, which I attended.
I'm fairly sure there was nothing from either set of fans or Birmingham City to acknowledge his death which I thought was a bit odd given his involvement with both clubs.
As for his character, if you read his Wikipedia page he clearly came from humble origins and at certain points in his career wasn't allowed to forget it.
Our greatest ever manager.
I do remember a minute silence before the kick off at the Birmingham game but I cannot remember one at Portman Road in the following game against Sheffield United which truth be told was a pretty hectic day in itself, so it may have passed me by. However he was on the cover of the programme that day
0
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 11:14 - Dec 6 with 2128 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 21:37 - Dec 5 by Lord_Lucan
When men were men and also gentlemen.
When he died I digged out an old WHU scarf that I had knocking about because it was a bit Englandy ( predominantly white with a few thin stripes of blue and claret)
I went down to FPR and hung it on the gates by the players entrance. Nothing else was there!
Anglia TV and BBC Look East both filmed it and called it "The Lone Tribute"
SAR at ITFC was before I was even born but I still struggle with the lack of respect and gratitude for him.
My Dad feels the same way.
0
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 12:15 - Dec 6 with 2052 views
I always have to pinch myself that we have had 2 managers which were not only great but also incredibly innovative. I'm too young to remember either, but it's amazing the lasting impact Ramsey had on team formations and professionalism in the game. And then watching Robson's Ipswich teams play - something we can do more than Ramsey's for obvious reasons - it is incredible how ahead of his time he was. Gates plays a role very recognisable in the modern game and full-backs tucking in and making runs inside their wingers is again something heralded an "innovation" by Guardiola.
Two incredible football men, without either of which club would not have sustained itself at the top level ever since. I think the reason Ramsey is slightly less fondly remembered is because his era did not last too long (in the top flight, that is) and was soon followed by Robson, and also his personality being slightly different
2
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 12:46 - Dec 6 with 2009 views
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 07:51 - Dec 6 by DJR
Even though he was manager of Ipswich before my time, I have a lot of time for Sir Alf.
I don't think he was a weirdo. Instead, I think he was a shy and reserved person, with probably an inferiority complex, given the presumably upper class nature of the people in the upper echelons of football at that time. Indeed, the class system was alive and kicking in those days, and this may explain his elocution lessons.
As evidence of his reserve, the following video about 1 minute in, shows him saying "I feel fine" when asked how he feels about winning the championship, a quote that Stuart Watson humorously mimics.
At the end of the day, what really matters with a manager is not his public persona but the effect he had on his teams, and this is a nice interview with Bobby Charlton about him.
Finally, I remember my mum saying that she had been on the same bus as Sir Alf in Ipswich after he had retired, and that they had exchanged friendly glances, which suggests he was not as cold as he might appear.
[Post edited 6 Dec 2024 7:55]
Reading what John Cobbold had to say about Alf it seems there was the public version and the private version. He would always push his players to the forefront after success.
John Cobbold relates how after the Championship was won, the players and staff were celebrating but he wasn’t there. Mr John went to find him and there he was, sitting in the main stand completely on his own looking out on the empty stadium.
When JC sat down, Alf handed him his jacket, went down to the pitch and did his own lap of honour. Our Chairman proceeded to cheer him, on his own, all the way round. He describes it a very private moment and makes it clear in his book there was a very different man there to the one the public saw.
Attached is a Spectator article that’s worth a read.
The thing is that when we look at Sir Alf he appears as strange as can be through 2024 eyes. The attached article gives just a hint of the archaic world he worked in. An interesting man who I will do a lot more reading on.
[Post edited 6 Dec 2024 17:28]
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Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 15:37 - Dec 6 with 1906 views
SAR went to Bramford Rd Methodist church when I was there for Sunday school. Very quiet and reserved but used to say hello to people and was very polite.
Whatever you think of his old-fashioned personality his achievements within the game are staggering and well ahead of the time.
Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977 on 22:29 - Dec 5 by Lord_Lucan
I've just had a think.
As much as it is in my heart to defend him I reckon SAR was possibly a proper weirdo.
SBR reckons that they would often bump into each other whilst taking their dogs out. He reckons all SAR would do was politely nod or doff his cap. They never mixed and got involved in conversation, football or non football.
Weird as feck when you think about it.
Talking of dog walking , he always walked his dog past me as I waited for a lift to work , on the corner of Westwood Ave and Valley Rd , always said good morning in reply , got a right thrill out of that as a 15 yo back in 1971 , also years later when I became a rep , used to say hello if he was at Sadlers Builders as he was some kind of director I believe….lovely gentleman in the flesh .
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