Town fan Phil Coppeard is amongst those missing since the Christchurch earthquake on Tuesday. Phil, 41, had only recently emigrated to New Zealand with his wife Suzanne Craig.

Phil, originally from Newmarket, was travelling to Canterbury University for his second day studying economics there and was probably on a bus in the centre of Christchurch at the time of the quake. Family and friends have unsuccessfully tried to contact Phil via his phone ever since.

Suzanne has been visiting hospitals to try to find out if Phil has been registered by any of the emergency services but also so far without success. Some of those injured have been taken to hospitals elsewhere in New Zealand so it may be possible that Phil has been moved away from the area.

Jon Craig, the Supporters’ Club’s overseas branch co-ordinator, is a friend of Phil’s: “Phil was one of our regular gang and had a ten-year season ticket when the debentures were being sold in 2003.

“He moved from London to work in Dubai around five years ago and donated his season ticket - completely free of charge - to the North of England Branch.

“We sold the season ticket at a discount to our members and the sums raised from its sale were a major contributor towards funds used to sponsor Jordan Rhodes and thereafter Ronan Murray.

“Phil posted on TWTD many times, mainly around the period 1999 to 2006 under the name Cambridge8.”

Prior to moving to New Zealand for a career break, Phil worked as a chartered accountant at KPMG and then in aviation finance for Babcock Brown in London and Dubai for around 10 years. Phil’s wife Suzanne spoke to Radio New Zealand earlier in the week.

Photo: Action Images

SamWhiteUK added 12:41 - Feb 25 Best wishes to all those missing.
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joshuanelli added 13:07 - Feb 25 Fingers crossed he's found safe and well !!
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Ipswich24 added 13:13 - Feb 25 BEST WISHES HOPE FOUND SAFE AND WELL!!!!
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DiamondGezzer added 13:15 - Feb 25 Brings everything into perspective doesn't it ?
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KIWI78 added 13:22 - Feb 25 Please take some heart in the fact that people are still being found. I'm sure all supporters based in New Zealand will be heartened to hear of the support TWTD and ipswich fans have given.
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exeterblu added 14:09 - Feb 25 Hope he turns up safe and sound - best wishes and goodwill to all of New Zealand .
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:18 - Feb 25 here's hoping Phil,and many others are located safe and well amidst the chaos and tragedy in Christchurch.
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Sospiri added 15:03 - Feb 25 The hope is that he is unconscious and unidentified in a hospital somewhere, but that must be increasingly unlikely, and no-one has been pulled out of a wrecked building for two days. Amazing how his wife kept it together so well in the interview, and weird to hear the radio station I listen to every day fed through this website. Never imagined a town fan might be among the missing. Lets hope there's a good outcome.

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suffolkpoker added 15:51 - Feb 25 my thoughts are with everyone, i hope he is found safe and well.
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ThatMuhrenCross added 15:57 - Feb 25 Would happily see Town relegated in exchange for this man to be found safe and alive. Football is nothing when you compare it to a human tragedy such as this one.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 16:10 - Feb 25 we are a family club so our thoughts of course go out to the family and friends of Phil
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aeldun added 17:38 - Feb 25 My thoughts go out to Suzanne and all other family and friends with loved ones who are still missing. I don't usually wear my Ipswich Town scarf to work, but I did today, and Phil's well being is firmly in my mind as I look at the scarf.
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Stourbridgeblue added 17:43 - Feb 25 A v moving interview with Suzanne. I don't know how she managed to keep so calm. I was welling up just listening to her. Finggers crossed.
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eaglejez added 19:42 - Feb 25 Great to see Phil on TWTD ! He's going to love this when he sees it !! Phil is a great friend of mine and certainly the most passionate Ipswich fan I've ever met ! He took me and our two oldest boys to their first away match at Portman Road a few years back (late winner by Danny Butterfield..sorry !!) and Adam, Ross and Mark are looking forward to discussing Town's kind donation of 3 pts to us (ok - given our away record, 1 pt !!) with him on the 9th April !

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runaround added 20:26 - Feb 25 My thought are with Phil and his family
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Sospiri added 22:30 - Feb 25 For anyone who's ever been, you'll know that Christchurch is the most English of NZ cities, with lovely old buildings, big parks, and even an Avon riverwith boats for punting. Now, all the old buildings have fallen down, 10,000 people a day are leaving, most of the businesses are closed with little chance of reopening, roads are all buckled, houses are unlivable. Christchurch is f----d, and its such a shame.

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bluewall3 added 19:29 - Feb 26 best wishes to all the family
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Tractorog added 12:07 - Mar 7 The New Zealand embassy has set up an appeal to help all those who have suffered losses through the quake http://www.nzembassy.com/united-kingdom/news/christchurch-earthquake-appeal-dona
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