Ipswich star Lee Martin has revealed a link with one of the club’s greatest-ever players, League Championship-winning defender Billy Baxter, who was 70 when he died in 2009.

Martin’s best friend, Scott Fordham, is the grandson of Baxter, who clocked up 459 first team appearances and scored 22 goals between 1960 and 1971, when he left for Hull.

Many supporters who saw him in his prime rated Edinburgh-born Baxter so highly that they voted for him in polls to find the club’s greatest-ever player.

Martin said: “Scott has been my best pal for years and when Ipswich came in to sign me he was telling me I had to join them because his grandfather had played for them.

“I still see Scott regularly and he’s coming up to Ipswich next week for the Middlesbrough game to help me celebrate my 25th birthday.”

Scott’s mother, Elaine, is Billy and Dorothy’s only daughter. She was born in Ipswich and later lived with her parents in Scotland before moving to the London area.

Photo: Action Images

Wacko added 08:39 - Feb 4 Blimey, Martin just keeps on talking
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Karlosfandangal added 08:40 - Feb 4 Any more Lee Martin stories. Would like to see him play more games than Baxter for Town and hopefully get a League title too
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Dissboyitfc added 08:46 - Feb 4 i missed him by a season, started going to portman road in 1972, when i was ten, there's a challenge for you lee, make yourself a name in an ipswich shirt that is remembered in 40-50 years time ( footballing reasons ) ....coyb
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PiercingBlue added 09:35 - Feb 4 I remember us chanting "Billy Baxter, Billy Billy Baxter". Things were simpler back then.
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oldelsworthyfan added 09:41 - Feb 4 Billy Bater with his number 4 shirt helped to consolidate that great defence under Ramsey, although I don't think Bobby Robson was quite so happy with him!
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Bluetone added 09:45 - Feb 4 Billy was unfortunate in that his playing days coincided with Dave Mackay thus depriving him of a shed load of international caps.
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darkroonsitfc added 09:54 - Feb 4 Lee Martin, THIS is your life. LOL!
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Trimleytractor added 09:56 - Feb 4 Great to see Lee Martin playing so effectively, keep it going! For me, Billy Baxter was a wonderful player, I'm old enough to recall his time with Ipswich and I'd put him a close second behind Kevin Beattie as Town's greatest-ever player and it's almost unbelievable that Baxter never got to play for Scotland when others from Rangers and Celtic who weren't fit to lace his boots were regulars! Sadly Billy's career at Portman Road ended after an unsavoury clash with the great Sir Bobby Robson but these things can happen. Obviously Town have been lucky enough to have had a host of great players since Baxter and Beattie but third on my list, and I'm not forgetting Warky, Mariner, Mills, Hunter, Holland, Muhren and Thijssen, would be Marcus Stewart for what he did for us in the relatively short time he was here. R.I.P. Billy Baxter.

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alsagerblue added 10:40 - Feb 4 Billy Baxter was my favourite player throughout the 60's. He had a wonderful leap for such a short man.
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CornardBlue added 11:57 - Feb 4 Saw Bill Baxter play many times he was up there with Kevin Beattie and John Wark as the best players to wear the Town shirt. What we would do for a defender like him now.
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bobble added 12:15 - Feb 4 didnt he star in several westerns as well ?
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flyingdutchman added 13:01 - Feb 4 oldelsworthyfan i think u find he played in number 5
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JohnyJohnson added 13:05 - Feb 4 Does Phil fancy Lee? ;)
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Hegansheroes added 13:15 - Feb 4 I was lucky enough to see Baxter many times, he was a hard man great in the air for someone not so tall, wonder if the modern rules would have seen him picking up yellow cards all the time. He was good, pity he fell out with Sir Bob as did another great player Tommy Carroll.
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Scuzzer added 13:38 - Feb 4 Billy Baxter was the one that came to blows with Sir Bob I do believe.
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Steelmonkey added 13:55 - Feb 4 He was a fantastic header of the ball, can remember seeing him head the ball over the halfway line when clearing from the penalty area. No pussy footing around with him, but it's a totally different game these days, no longer a contact sport, most would be red carded if it was played like that today.
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TractorBeezer added 14:24 - Feb 4 flyingdutchman Billy was #4 originally. Andy Nelson, centre half was #5. Billy was serving national service and often didn't know until the Friday whether he could get back for a match. His training largely consisted of kicking a ball against the gym wall although I recall that he also represented the RAF team. Great player.
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Tedsleftfoot added 21:12 - Feb 4 Billy, like Kevin Beattie was a colossus, his lack of height was never a disadvantage, he was a superb header of the ball and very few players got the better of him. I saw him play many times and had the pleasure of shaking his hand a few years ago at Portman Road when players of the 1962 championship team were honoured, speaking to him at the time i remember how emotional he was as i believe it was his first return to the club since his fallout with Sir Bobby. Billy will always be a very important part of the history of Ipswich Town FC.

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legoman added 10:44 - Feb 5 He looked 70 years old when he was playing.
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Fatcatevans added 17:25 - Feb 5 Bill was right up there with Beattie and Muhren as the best ever town player. As Mr John famously pointed out when town where in the doldrums and other clubs were sniffing round 'We are pointless goalless and we cannot afford to be Baxterless. He was a terrific tackler, he would have adjusted to todays rules because he had a great football brain. He was great in the air for his size and often held the town together. He also played against world class players like Greaves Law Charlton and was never found wanting. Todays town defenders wouldnt be fit to lace his boots for him.

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s6blue added 17:31 - Feb 5
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TrueBlueFerret added 19:33 - Feb 5 Had distinguished career as editor of Blue Peter after ITFC.......
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TractorRoyNo1 added 21:36 - Feb 5 i probably saw every one of billy's home games from 67 until he left - sadly under a cloud - amazing how he could jump and win so many headers while not being particularly tall
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WickedBlue added 12:47 - Feb 6 I do find it funny people keep harping about Ipswich's greatest player instead of their own personal favourite. If you going going to pick the greatest player for the cub you have to look at what they honours they won while with the club. I am not just talking about FA Cups league Championships etc but personal honours like Player of the season. Taking all into account there is only one player who is miles out in front, ahead of Beattie, ahead of Baxter head and sholders above everyone and that is John Wark. The only player for us that won the 'Young European Player of the Year Award.' No one can top that.

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Fatcatevans added 17:24 - Feb 6 Good point but Franz Thyssen winning Footballer of the Year would also be a good shout
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