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Legend Crawford Had Tear in His Eye
Legend Crawford Had Tear in His Eye
Monday, 2nd Apr 2012 09:24

Town legend Ray Crawford admitted that he had a tear in his eye when the current Blues side came over to applaud him and his fellow 1961/62 First Division champions moments before the start of Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Barnsley. Crawford, Andy Nelson, Larry Carberry, John Compton, Doug Moran and Ted Phillips were in the directors’ box having renamed the South Stand the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand in honour of their mentor.

Crawford said: “I thought that was tremendous, I’ve never seen that done at any other club anywhere.

“The way they came over and applauded us six players that turned up was heart-warming and I had a little tear in my eye.”

The 77-year-old was also delighted by the reception he and his team-mates received from fans during their weekend back in Suffolk: “As an ex-player it's brilliant.

“When you meet people as we did at the wreath laying and signed some autographs for them, it brings it all back to you how much they appreciate us.

“And I think they do, the Ipswich Town supporters generally appreciate the older players coming back.”

Winning goalscorer Daryl Murphy revealed that the ovation was skipper Carlos Edwards’s idea: “Carlos told us at the start when we had the huddle that we were going to do that. It was a nice touch and they seemed to appreciate it.”

Manager Paul Jewell added: “It showed that we respect the history of this club. It was really nice and I thought it was commendable that the Barnsley bench clapped as well. I thought it was terrific.

“The players always have their little huddle and they said that after that they would go and show their appreciation of the 1961/62 team.

“I spoke to Ray Crawford before the game, I had a long chat with him. I think it’s great that the club is a really traditional club and always honours the people who have done well for it in the past.

“It’s a nice to gesture to rename the South Stand the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, which is great, and at least we got a victory. It may not have been the best game, but at least we’ve got a victory.”

Crawford felt the Blues should have won more the match more easily: “I thought Ipswich made it hard work for themselves by not taking the chances that were there and by playing the wrong pass.

“When the opportunity was on to go one way they’d go the other. They were sloppy, so sloppy with their passing.

“But, apart from that, they got the goal and were looking to score again and push on and wrap the game up.”

Having seen the Tykes in action recently the twice-capped England international had expected a comfortable Town victory: “I saw Barnsley a few weeks ago and I thought they were poor.

“I said to Paul Jewell before the game that you’ll win this one about 3-0 and he laughed. It was there for the taking for today, but they just made hard work of it.”

Blues wideman Jay Emmanuel-Thomas impressed the Portsmouth-born frontman: “I thought he was probably one of the best players on the park because his control and use of the ball was really good.

“He was probably our best forward. Michael Chopra wasn’t in the game, then Jason Scotland came on and he and Daryl Murphy looked useful up front, they looked like they could sort Barnsley out.”

Crawford said certain aspects of Emmanuel-Thomas’s game brought to mind one of his 1961/62 team-mates: “That shot he hit which hit the crossbar reminded me of Ted Phillips in my day.

“Ted used to do it regularly. Ted was a regular at hitting it that hard and I was there following in, saying ‘Thanks Ted, that’s another goal for me!’”


Photo: Action Images



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SouperJim added 09:46 - Apr 2
Was a really classy moment and nice to read that it was the captains idea, not something forced upon them by the club. Carlos showing his quality yet again, about time we had a real captain.
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Superfrans added 09:46 - Apr 2
The players' gesture was a fantastic one. it sparked a rousing round of applause, which really lifted the game at the start. I disagree with PJ, I thought it was a decent game, certainly at the start - and in the second half we could have had three or four.
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4EverWatchingBlue added 09:48 - Apr 2
Finally we have a decent club captain who is proud of playing for Ipswich an is loyal to the club. This team is coming together really well and I'm excited about next season.
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ozzydog added 10:02 - Apr 2
Excellent,that`s what IpswIch Town Football Club are all about.

Well done the Championship winning team and well done Carlos and the current team

COYB
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BillBlue added 10:18 - Apr 2
A lovely thing to happen and something for us all to cherish so well done Carlos and the whole team now, stick together, get a couple of holes bunged up and get us promoted next year. COYB
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Pessimistic added 13:20 - Apr 2
Yes, the fine traditions of this wonderful football club were once again personified by this splendid gesture of appreciation of the players of old. Carlos Edwards did what Clegg should have considered but then again action speaks louder than words and what a perfect time to register another home victory!
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Barkerman added 13:52 - Apr 2
Phillips and Crawford the greatest strike force in history if only my beloved Town could find a pair to match them. I saw Ipswitch beat the great Spurs double side. During this match Jimmy "Sticks" Ledbeater cross a ball from the left which Ted Phillips hit on the volley. Scotland international Bill Brown dived to left and got both hands to the ball. The force of the shot spun him around in the air and the ball continued into the net. Ted had hit the ball on the 18 yard box line, I also saw him in another match I think it was at home to Sheffield Utd strike a ball from thirty yards that from, where I was standing adjacent to the half way line in the what was known as the West Stand, went past the left hand post and hit the spectators. I and all those around me raised their arms and there was a loud oogh. Then what did we witness,celebrations, the spectators in what was known then as the "Portman Stand" were jumping up and down. The ball had crossed the goal line, hit the net without deviating, then the spectators, a goal a goal!!!! Yes Ray Crawford snaffled Thirty a season, maybe 40% from following up Ted Phillips shots. I have outstanding memorys.Andy Nelson who was the greatest centre half the Town, apart from Terry Butcher, have had. Andy Nelson, to me, is a outstanding chess player, he must be, when you watched him, the opponents would be mounting an attack and he would be movinng in another direction. You would say to yourself where the devil is Nelson going. 99 times out of a 100 the ball finished up on his head or on his foot.
Please remember these names:
Roy Bailey, Goalkeeper. would collect or save and within micro seconds deliver a throw that would set up an attack. His son went on to Man. Untd. and England he had a 1st class tutor.
John Elsworthy:
A tall Whelshman who would, despite his height shuffle across the field a great speed, deliver telling passes, and wore No.6. My number I watched him and kept it because he was second to none.
Sorry I could go on forever. 1954 was my first when under the management of Scott- Duncoln the Town were rd Div South Champs beat Leyton Orient 3.1.
Mills a great right back who moved to the left to make space for the great George Burley. We Town are the greatest team that ever played, I will have to concede to Aresenal, but relunctanly
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tractorboybig added 14:45 - Apr 2
My schoolboy hero was Ray.
Standing there thinking about town today would bring a tear to anyones eye.
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oldelsworthyfan added 14:48 - Apr 2
It was great to see these six players again from that wonderful 1961/62 side. They played 'as a team' each one knowing what he had to do. The strike force of Crawford and Phillips was simply awesome. Ted Phillips hit the ball harder than any other forward of his generation (a national newspaper of the time proved it!). Ray Crawford in front of goal was very clever and skillful in the way he deceived both defenders and goalkeepers alike. Town's defence was rock solid with experienced players who weren't ball watchers, but seemed to anticipate what was going to happen. John Elsworthy was a giant in every sense of the word and 'absolute class'. Jimmy Leadbetter could cross the ball so accurately I'm sure that from 50 yards he could drop it on an old sixpence if you asked. Roy Bailey (in many people's view) was a better keeper than his son....but then Roy wasn't playing for Man U! Andy Nelson was an inspirational and determined captain. Alf Ramsey was an absolute genius in managing the team. He always had a plan for what each player should do. Oh how we (who were fortunate enough to watch them)....miss them!
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DiamondGezzer added 15:13 - Apr 2
Barkerman and oldelsworthy fan, thanks for the memories. TWTD's !
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VanIsleBlue added 16:18 - Apr 2
Barkerman....I used to love sitting next to you in the North Stand and chat about good times. I love to hear about the days pre my first game in 1978.
I hope you are well, take care from Canada
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grumpyoldman added 18:33 - Apr 2
Ray Crawford wasn't the only one with a tear in his eye, memories flooded back, of going to Portman Road with my dad, with my hand knitted blue & white scarf
with my star badges pinned to it, (little blue plastic stars with a picture of an Ipswich player in the middle), standing on the old chicken run stand (now Cobbold), being passed over the heads of supporters so I could sit at the side of the pitch for a better view.
Just think as I lived nearer to Norwich I could have become a scummer,, thank god my dad knew something about football!
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fourth added 18:56 - Apr 2
Please let us not forget Tom Garneys, alongside Ted scoring 143 goals
I saw Tom play more than Ray Crawford.
Yes, I remember Ted crashing the crossbar with his penalties and goalkeepers flinching away. I can't actually remember him missing one.
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jas0999 added 19:51 - Apr 2
Crawford only understood attacking football - I doubt he therefore understood PJ's decision to play an isolated striker / one up front against an abysmal Barnsley side.
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alfromcol added 19:55 - Apr 2
jas0999

Take a break, your a sad bugger, stick to the topic instead of spouting the same old stuff. We all know your views, no need to keep repeating them.
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runaround added 20:30 - Apr 2
A nice touch by the current team to honour the players who achieved so much for our club all those years ago
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dannysigma added 20:31 - Apr 2
Carlos Edwards is fast becoming my favourite player. A proper captain, thus far.
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fourth added 22:35 - Apr 2
Yes, I am not in agreement with PJ on this. An on the field captain is essential. Carlos reads the game so well. So our current captaincy is about subtlety. Personally I would prefer it to be an iron glove. But with an understanding (for example) that for all his talent and apparent confidence, JET is fundamentally shy.
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bedsitfc added 07:26 - Apr 3
ffs jas

football has moved on since 61/62

at least with p.j he does have someone up front unlike negative keane.
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Gazelle added 08:03 - Apr 3
Ted could really hit the heavy ball provided he had enough time to get it under control. On the subject of penalties i remember one he took at Highbury in an FA Cup second replay against Luton in 1962. We had a gale of wind behind us and Ted smashed the spot kick straight down the middle with England B keeper Ron Baynham diving out of the way. If it had hit him it would have killed him. We won 5-1 in that match incredibly in front of 29,000 but lost to Norwich in the next round, the only disappointment of the season.
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itsonlyme added 09:40 - Apr 3
Even today, I don't think people realise what a miracle it was winning the First Division Championship - at the first attempt - still the only team to achieve it. To think we doubled the great Spurs team and scored loads of goals on the way to winning the title. A fantastic team with a Manager well ahead of his time. I stood on the North Stand and watched a team outsmart most of their opponents who could not handle Ray and Ted with Roy and 'Sticks' providing the amunition. Wonderful days never to be repeated.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 17:06 - Apr 3
top class well done to the current team and of course the REAL legends!
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