Trevor Whymark and Eric Gates were amongst those inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame at Friday night’s ex-players’ dinner. Also added were Sir Alf Ramsey’s coach Jimmy Forsyth and former player Basil Acres, who both picked up posthumous Special Merit Awards.

Whymark, who is currently an Academy coach at Playford Road, was a player with Town between 1969 and 1979, scoring 104 goals in 322 starts and 13 games from the bench. Now 61, Whymark won one full England cap in addition to seven at U23 level.

Gates, a member of Sir Bobby Robson’s UEFA Cup-winning side, joined the Blues in 1972 and went on to make 345 starts and 39 sub appearances, scoring 96 goals before moving on to Sunderland in the summer of 1985. The 56-year-old won two senior England caps.

Forsyth moved to Town from Millwall in 1950 and spent the next two decades at the club, most notably as trainer under Sir Alf Ramsey. He was also caretaker-manager between Jackie Milburn’s exit and Bill McGarry’s appointment in 1964. Forsyth died in 1982.

Brantham-born Basil Acres joined the club in 1951 and made 232 full appearances and scored six goals before retiring in 1960. The full-back subsequently worked in the club’s development office as well as other roles at Portman Road. He died at the age of 73 in 2000.

You can hear Whymark and Gates talking about their induction and time at the club on Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk here. The duo appear at around the 1hr 34min mark.

The likes of Mick Mills, Ray Crawford, Ted Phillips, Andy Nelson, Sir Alf’s secretary Pat Godbold, former club secretary David Rose, who worked at the club during the Blues’ 1961/62 Division One championship season, media men John Motson and Stuart Jarrold - a ballboy at Portman Road back in the early Sixties — and current chief executive Simon Clegg were also on the show.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

itsonlyme added 16:39 - Apr 2 Congratulations to all of them. I knew Trevor when he played right wing for Diss Town and was underated at PR. Gatesy was also underated but scored many vital goals. I met Basil Acres when I used to sell the Armchair Bingo for the club - what a very pleasant person he was. I could not believe he played at full back for the club with his charming nature but it guess it takes all sorts.

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Heathlander added 16:42 - Apr 2 @ itsonlyme I am not sure either Gates or Whymark were underated at Portman Road. You don't play over 300 games if you are not rated. Trevor Whymark was my boyhood hero. a great player.
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alfromcol added 16:48 - Apr 2 I played at Brantham when Basil coached the team - a real gentleman, with a sparkle in his eyes and a lovely smile.
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Karlosfandangal added 16:59 - Apr 2 Heathlander I agree with you, However why do so many fans slate Wright? Whymark and then Mariner were my hero's
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irishtim added 17:09 - Apr 2 All worthy
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Bluetone added 17:24 - Apr 2 Used to buy feed for dad's chickens from Basil's shop it was over the road from Coe's on Norwich Road. Good man.
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essexblues added 17:43 - Apr 2 FAO itsonlyme My dad worked with Basil Acres,Tommy Parker,Cathy Parker and Frank selling bingo armchair tickets,I just wondered if you knw my dad Bob Elmy?
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s6blue added 18:28 - Apr 2 well deserved
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Teds_left_foot added 19:04 - Apr 2 I must be getting old! My grand parents lived in Brantham,and Basil Acres used to push me around in my pram! Wasnt a bad full back either. Well done and well deserved by them all.
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Harling_Blue added 19:43 - Apr 2 I went to school with Trevor Whymarks 2 boys and had the honour of playing alongside him for a season for the village side Wortwell in his late playing years. It always amazed me how he could control the ball with his head or chest better than I could with my feet. Eric gates was one of my boyhood Heros and such a character of the game
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jabberjackson added 22:34 - Apr 2 I met Trevor Whymarkk as a very nervouss 10 year old Ipswich mad football fan as he waited for an appointment with the original Jabberjackson He said to me "Pleased to meet you" I couldn't believe that Trevor Whymark was pleased to meet ME
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NorthStandDan66 added 04:41 - Apr 3 Proud of my uncle Trev, really proud. :D
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Dissboyitfc added 08:08 - Apr 3 What a lovely set of memories to read, and all positive. Would love to add mine :) Back in the day when i lived in bury, my family never had a car. So my father and i persuaded our cousin to take us over to ixworth church to Trevor Whymarks Wedding. So there we are 2 adults in the front and 3 kids in the back of this mini van. When inside the church grounds, whilst the photos were being taken i spotted Laurie Sivell and Clive Woods chatting with a third player. So with Laurie being my Hero dad took me over to introduce me, remember him being so friendly along with Clive. I wanted to speak but somehow the words wouldnt come out of this little kids mouth. I remember i did nt wash my hand for days, oh happy days ....What a hero Laurie was 15 years (about) at ipswich and always played second fiddle, first to best then cooper..a successful team needs ...."unsung heroes".....coyb

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itsonlyme added 09:13 - Apr 3 fao Essexblues: i think I remember your dad. Its some 30 plus years since I sold them and the old memory is not what it was. I really liked Tom & Cathy Parker. All of the people that worked there were Good, Honest and Wonderful, I miss them all. I actually played 1 game with Trevor Whymark for Diss Town Reserves in the late 60's, where he played on the right wing. I then left Diss and played a couple of seasons for Burston F.C. alongside Trevor's brother Paul.

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fifeblue added 14:15 - Apr 3 Trevor Whymark 4 Lazio 0. Nuff said.
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jabberjackson added 14:40 - Apr 3 Trevor Whymark had an interesting nickname which I have never got to the 'bottom' of "Skid" I agree, neither Trevor Whymark or Gatesie, apart from earlier in his career (think he only became a reular in his mid twenties) were underrated.
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Toepunt added 15:53 - Apr 3 @Bluetone When I was a kid I used to buy peas for my pea shooter from Basil Acres' shop (big brown paper bag full for next to nothing!). Seem to remember buying gold fish from a tank that he kept on display in the front window too. Now those really were the days. Of course, that was back in the day when footballers earned sensible money and had to find a 'proper' job at the end of their football careers. Can't imagine any of the current crop flogging chicken feed and goldfish can you?

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grumpyoldman added 18:05 - Apr 3 Whymark not only scored 4 against Lazio, when Beattie went off injured at Villa Park in the FA Cup semi, he played centre back alongside Allan Hunter
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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:37 - Apr 3 Trevor Whymark was one hell of a player. Great in the air, tricky with his feet & a damn nice bloke too. He had a brief spell as player manager at Diss Town if i remember correctly & it was while he was there that he occasionally would take a bit of training on the newly installed astroturf pitch. Think us sunday league lads were a tad in awe of him though. Stumpy Gates was one of a kind who could be completely unmarkable & scored some pretty spectacular goals too. Well deserved honour gentlemen.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 08:26 - Apr 4 where can i find a list of all those so far honoured?
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