Former Blues manager and coach Bobby Ferguson has died aged 80, Town have announced.

County Durham-born Ferguson (pictured above right with Bobby Robson and Paul Cooper) was a full-back during his playing career with Newcastle United, Cardiff City, Barry Town and Newport County.

It was from Newport, where he had briefly been player-manager, that he joined Bobby Robson’s coaching staff in 1970.

Ferguson worked with the reserves as the likes of Kevin Beattie, John Wark, George Burley, Terry Butcher and Russell Osman progressed through from the youth system before taking over from Cyril Lea as first-team coach in the summer of 1978.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Town manager Bobby Ferguson at the age of 80.

The thoughts of everybody at #itfc are with Bobby’s family and friends at this very difficult time. pic.twitter.com/oXapr2NOd4– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) March 28, 2018

Famously Ferguson came up with the idea of playing Eric Gates in the hole behind main strike pair Paul Mariner and Alan Brazil, a role he had previously tried with Johnny Miller in the reserves.

After Robson’s departure for England in 1982, Ferguson took over as Blues boss. He remained in the role following Town’s relegation to the Second Division in 1986 but his contract wasn’t renewed a year later when the Blues failed to make their return to the top flight via the play-offs.

Ferguson on far right

He later worked with Butcher during his spell as manager at Sunderland and in recent years continued to watch the Blues on a regular basis.

Ferguson leaves a wife Ann and a son and a daughter, Keith and Kim. Town have confirmed that the players will wear black armbands during Monday's match against Millwall, while there will be a minute’s applause prior to kick-off.

Photo: Action Images

Razor added 10:28 - Mar 28 Very sad news---another of the old guard gone. R.I.P Bobby
19

trncbluearmy added 10:30 - Mar 28 RIP Bobby and thanks
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blueboy1981 added 10:31 - Mar 28 R.I.P. Bobby Ferguson. Another 'true blue' passed on too soon. Condolences to Family and Friends.
11

arc added 10:33 - Mar 28 One of my favourite Town moments, the last five seconds of this video: Deepest condolences to all of Bobby's family.
20

itsonlyme added 10:47 - Mar 28 RIP Bobby and thanks for the memories
10

ChrisR added 10:47 - Mar 28 Bobby Ferguson had a hard shift , a transition period losing the great players after 1982, but could have gone with B R to England ? So thanks for the memories of those great years , never to be equalled , well played Bobby !
20

rfretwell added 10:55 - Mar 28 Ferguson persuaded Sir Bobby to let the team go to Phantasialand amusement park the day b4 Cologne away to relax them after playing 2 games in 48 hours. History shows it certainly helped. R I.P. Bobby.
14

Lightningboy added 11:00 - Mar 28 No doubt now stood alongside Sir Bobby up there in footy heaven. R.I.P. Bobby.
16

WestSussexBlue added 11:01 - Mar 28 Part of the Golden Era at Portman Road. Thanks for the memories Bobby.
11

docsavage52 added 11:02 - Mar 28 R.I.P., condolences to the family. Thanks for all you did for the club.
12

grumpyoldman added 11:14 - Mar 28 Those really were the days! RIP to a town legend, great coach & great man.
14

BillyBaxterwasbest added 11:19 - Mar 28 A great Town servant, condolences to the family, he will not be forgotten.
9

MicksZzzTactics added 11:20 - Mar 28 R.I.P. Bobby F. & thanks for all them wonderful 'Golden Era' memories, be that as Youth Coach, 1st Team Coach or Manager.
11

Southamptonblue added 11:22 - Mar 28 This makes me very sad :( My condolences to his family and friends.
12

runningout added 11:25 - Mar 28 Never to be forgot
8

floridablue added 11:37 - Mar 28 He certainly played his part in shaping Town into one of the best Teams in Europe under Sir Bobby which i was fortunate enough to witness. Condolences to his family.
10

OCCOLD335 added 11:41 - Mar 28 A really nice man. I don't think he was cut out to be a manager. I had a conversation once with Charlie Woods who was concerned about him and said he was always happiest as a coach. One little amendment to he article I am pretty sure that he was born in Dudley, Northumberland...same village where I was born.
6

lightingblue added 11:41 - Mar 28 Just like Sir Bobby Robson. Mr Ferguson was a very well educated clever mas, who unlike many present managers conducted himself very well and was a very respectful and well respected. He had a certain level of class.
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corfu72 added 11:43 - Mar 28 Exceptional servant to the club and also a great ambassador.Will be sadly missed by all.My very best wishes to all the family.
8

Radlett_blue added 12:23 - Mar 28 Who's the player with the tache on the bench? Looks like Kevin O'Callaghan far left. Probably an away fixture in Europe.
0

parhamblue added 12:23 - Mar 28 Regards to all Bobby's family. He gave freely of his time when we were compiling and he did signings for our book on Town in Europe. A highly innovative coach, I believe that his style of play was much more akin to the Premier League today than it was to the slower continental style of the 70s and early 80s. You could see the difference still further when he became Manager. As he said in his no-nonsense way when a younger fan asked how good the 1981 team were :"Best team in Europe".

7

itfchorry added 12:27 - Mar 28 Very sad news - absolute Gentleman -
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BlueandTruesince82 added 12:28 - Mar 28 RIP Bobby. Sad day
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December1963 added 12:41 - Mar 28 Radlettblue. Think the answer to your question is Robin Turner. A squad player but scored 2 goals in the 2-2 draw at Bristol Rovers on the way to winning the cup in 1978.
4

bobbyrobsonisgod added 12:44 - Mar 28 Another gentleman gone. Part of our glory years and the time when it was fantastic to be a town fan - not just because of the football we played but the way the club was run - the Cobbolds, Robson and Ferguson was a fantastic relationship that made the club so fantastic to support. RIP Bobby, go grab a glass and enjoy a drink with SBR and JC
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