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Former Blues Boss Ferguson Dies
Wednesday, 28th Mar 2018 10:22

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.

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



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BlueArrow added 12:51 - Mar 28
Always a sad day to lose a blue. RIP Bobby and thanks for some great memories.
9

BlueArrow added 12:53 - Mar 28
Radlett blue. It's Robin Turner.
4

pazzy added 13:06 - Mar 28
unsung hero rip bobby a great era
4

RoyalAscotBlue added 13:06 - Mar 28
Manager of ITFC when I first fell in love with the game and the club. RIP Bobby & Thank-you.
8

runaround added 13:10 - Mar 28
RIP Bobby
7

Bluetone added 13:20 - Mar 28
Another one from the golden era gone but not forgotten.
R.I.P Bobby
8

muhrensleftfoot added 13:49 - Mar 28
Brilliant coach. Had a tough time when Robson's team was dismantled to pay for the Pioneer stand.
13

PSGBlue added 13:55 - Mar 28
RIP Bobby. I will always remember Bobby walking his dog up Bucklesham Road. It seemed a million miles away from when he was in the hot seat! Thanks for your commitment to the club!
6

Westy added 14:10 - Mar 28
Remember him well. Considering he had no money to spend (a reoccurring theme) he did okay and did bring some younger players through.
8

warktheline added 14:21 - Mar 28
What a double act! My heart melts watching 'their moment' when big Tel scores against Cologne!
7

horsehollerer added 14:22 - Mar 28
RIP Bobby. Thanks for helping to create the most magical period in the history of our club. And thanks especially for persuading SBR to play Eric in the hole, giving him license to thrill this particular Town-obsessed kid on a weekly basis for most of his childhood. History has added some necessary and highly deserved context to your spell in charge of Town, and by now It is clear to us all that you did a fine job under near-impossible circumstances.
12

dirtydingusmagee added 14:22 - Mar 28
RIP Bobby .
6

tractorrollson added 14:28 - Mar 28
RIP Top Man, a great part of our history
6

Jamiebed added 14:33 - Mar 28
Bobby negotiated a seat in the Director's Box on leaving in the mid-80s. Ever since was a regular, still there for Leeds and Sheffield United games in last 2 months. Legend. RIP.
8

therein61 added 14:42 - Mar 28
R.I.P Bobby another great coach leaves us sympathy to all you have left behind.
5

bluerico added 14:55 - Mar 28
He had a hard job following SBR especially after losing players. I always thought he was a better coach than manager, but did a reasonable job in the circumstances. RIP Bobby.
8

Swn98 added 15:21 - Mar 28
Radlett blue it was Robin Turner on the Bench under rated player thoroughly nice bloke had many an enjoyable evening in the company of him and Beat in the Belstead Arms.
Good to see that clip of the Cologne game what a brilliant night that was.
thanks Bobby along with SBR for giving us all those great memories RIP.
5

Seasider added 15:27 - Mar 28
Another of Ipswich's glorious past has sadly left us,condolences to his family.A great coach and assistant to the great Sir Bobby Robson in a golden era for the club.Most of us could still remember winning the League under Sir Alf;as it was only just over decade previously.

Sadly the younger fans will not remember Town being in the 1st Div,going to great grounds like Anfield,Highbury,Villa Park,Elland Rd,Maine Rd,The Bridge,White Hart Lane; and the biggest then of all 'The Theatre of Dreams in Trafford Park.Also playing Barca and Real in Europe. I was privileged to go to all of them.Sometimes by coach but more memorably on the 'Blue Arrow' Trains,complete with bar.I used to start off with a coffee at 7.30 in the morning,but recall the bar was open once we left Ipswich Station.There was piped radio as well.Happy Days.

RIP Bobby Ferguson.
11

howdonblue added 15:45 - Mar 28
Rip bobby thank you for help making our club great back then !

I wish we had people of your calibre now
9

TR11BLU added 15:48 - Mar 28
Gone but never forgotten.

RIP
5

muhrensweet4thijssen added 15:58 - Mar 28
Wow. So sad, he was my first Town manager. He really did have a tough act to follow in following the great man. However, it can not be under estimated how much of an influence he was. He came from being reserve manager and I'm think I'm right in saying that he was the brains behind playing Gates in that between the lines position. He was also a massive influence on Butcher coming through. In Butch's book he sites the stick Ferguson would give him and single him out due to his actual belief in big Tel.
All my very sincere condolences to his family and thank you Bobby for all you did for my club
7

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 16:17 - Mar 28
RIP Bobby.

My god I miss the two Bobby's years.
8

TimmyH added 16:45 - Mar 28
Sad day for the club...another part of this once great club disintegrates.

RIP Bobby and thoughts are with his family.
3

Pendejo added 20:42 - Mar 28
R.I.P. Bobby Ferguson

Part of the Glory Years of the Robson Era and he used to take Cup Games seriously!!!! Got the sh1t end of the stick when it came to the timing of taking over from SBR and the club being unable to maintain the funding that SBR enjoyed.

Gave Dozzy his debut, signed Kevin Wilson, Romeo Zondervan, brought the likes of Brennan and Cranson into the first team... at the time his reign seemed a disaster, hindsight shows there was worse to come.

Also I believe he really cared about his job @ ITFC to the extent that he fronted up to one of the "Ferguson Outers" outside the ground and made a convincing case that he cared.

1

trncbluearmy added 07:04 - Mar 29
howdonblue
Rip bobby thank you for help making our club great back then !
I wish we had people of your calibre now

This comment really resonates with me.
When you compare to what we had to the jokers that run the club now(excluding academy)

RIP Bobby, proper bloke
1


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