Kevin Beattie, widely viewed as the greatest player in Town’s history, died in the early hours of this morning, aged 64. The former England international centre-half suffered a suspected heart attack in his sleep.

Carlisle-born Beattie joined the club as a 15-year-old in 1970 - having almost joined Liverpool - and came through the youth ranks at Portman Road, making his debut at Manchester United in August 1972.

He won the 1973/74 PFA Young Player of the Year award and was in the Town team which was victorious in the 1978 FA Cup final. He missed the final of the 1981 UEFA Cup final but was later given a medal in 2008.

Injuries limited his England career to only nine caps, scoring one goal, and also curtailed his Blues career which ended in December 1981 after 296 starts plus 11 as sub and 32 goals.

He subsequently represented Colchester, Middlesbrough, Harwich and Parkeston, Sandvikens in Sweden, Kongsberg IF and Nybergsund IL-Trysil in Norway, and Clacton Town.

Following his career, Beattie continued to live in Chantry and was a full-time carer for his wife Maggie, who was diagnosed with MS in the 1990s and with whom he had three daughters.

In March 1991 he was seriously ill with pancreatitis but made a recovery, despite a priest having administered the last rites.

For the last few years Beattie has been the legend-in-residence on BBC Suffolk’s weekly pre-match, Life’s a Pitch, and made his final appearance on yesterday's show.

Town will hold a minute's applause prior to Tuesday's game against Brentford at Portman Road.

Photo: Action Images

ThaiBlue added 19:36 - Sep 16 Legend R.I.P Kevin.
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Elizabeth added 19:40 - Sep 16 Such wonderful memories of Kevin .. too many to mention but one that comes to mind is the play off final at Wembley when we beat Barnsley .. he was shouting and cheering from the hospitality section of the ground ! A true legend with great allegiance to our football club .. R.I.P Kevin x
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NBVJohn added 19:43 - Sep 16 I had the pleasure of watching Beattie play on many occasions. What a player he was, at a time when we were a truly great club. TWTD - unlikely to ever be repeated though it saddens me to say. If you're too young to remember him, go on to YouTube an search on Ipswich vs WBA 1976 and watch something very special - a superb team including Beattie at its devastating best. I was there with my Dad. A very sad loss - a player that we always talked about at bus stop on our way to Beyton school on a Monday morning. What a player - nothing more to be said.

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stevelincsexile added 19:43 - Sep 16 Always made my day when he was named in the team. RIP Kevin
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Bluewelshman added 19:49 - Sep 16 Rest in peace...absolute legend he will be sorely missed
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busterjames1 added 19:51 - Sep 16 RIP A real diamond .
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Taricco_Fan added 20:08 - Sep 16 I'm not old enough to have seen Beattie play nor have I met him but it's abundantly clear that a part of the club's fabric died today. Regarded as one of our best ever and a good man who loved this club. Thank you for playing a huge role in putting Ipswich Town on the footballing map. Rest in Peace.
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Foreverdon_Blue added 20:10 - Sep 16 Oh how very sad - I can't quite believe it! I still remember that goal he scored against Leeds - a free kick inside his own half! A wonderful player and great times! RIP Beat!
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cat added 20:10 - Sep 16 Although to young to hop on a train to Suffolk during the Beatie years, I remember him from the odd TV game and as others have mentioned, particularly that long range free kick against Leeds, Harvey being their rather embarrassed keeper from memory. True ITFC legend and a proper reality check that none of us are immortal. R.I.P
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MBG added 20:11 - Sep 16 Growiing up in Australia, I began following ITFC in the mid 70's when all of my fans went for the big clubs. Needless to say, Kevin Beattie was one of my idols. He was a powerhouse. I still remember how he soared to score against WBA in that 7-0 rout in 1976. Bobby Robson once said that of all the players he coached with England, Barcelona and other clubs, Kevin Beattie was perhaps the best. The word legend is often overused but not in the case of Kevin Beattie.

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TimmyH added 20:14 - Sep 16 RIP Kevin, a Town legend and would have certainly been a great England player if not hampered by his knee injuries which cut his career short at 28. They don't make em like him anymore (certainly not at this club). Sad day :)
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WeWereZombies added 20:14 - Sep 16 Spring 1972 and I am with my best mate as he visits his grandad on Station Road. The old man is grumbling about the new lodger next door because the football club wants him well looked after, this lad from Carlisle. I can't say that digs overlooking the dogs and becoming a regular in The Salutation fit my idea of being pampered but then Beattie was different and in his own way fully appreciative of what Ipswich had to offer. Our roughest of rough diamonds but wasn't he the Town's Koh-i-Noor?

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BrazilItAint added 20:15 - Sep 16 A Ipswich legend as a player and as a man. The greatest ever ITFX player. RIP The Beat
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JCBLUE added 20:15 - Sep 16 Legend, RIP.
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WeWereZombies added 20:17 - Sep 16 sorry, didn't spot the unhelpful autocorrect before I added the comment above, should be digs overlooking the docks!
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oldegold added 20:21 - Sep 16 The greatest...superb player..the reason I fell in love with Ipswich Town. RIP Kevin..had the pleasure to meet you a few times and a real gentlemen and Ipswich through and through
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poldark added 20:23 - Sep 16 Saw his debut at Old Trafford the greatest player to put on an Town shirt and a true gent RIP beat
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TimmyH added 20:27 - Sep 16 sorry that should be :( (can't even control my fingers at the moment)
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Lower_North added 20:27 - Sep 16 Absolutely devasted to hear this . At least I got to see him in a Town shirt.Wembley 78. Sir Bob, Sir Kev..
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legoman added 20:31 - Sep 16 Havent read any posts yet as this is is very personal to us all in very individual ways. The best attacking central defender EVER. And alongside BIG Al, the best central defensive partnership EVER. As a man, didn't know him well enough, as a sportsman, EPIC.
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cobboldblue added 20:35 - Sep 16 Only started watching the town in the seventies so post Ramsey, Crawford et all. For me the Beat was the best player ever for ITFC (in my era) and I am humbled to have had the honour of meeting him, no airs and graces just a genuine guy who was proud and honoured to achieve what he did at ITFC with Sir Bobby and the Cobbolds. One minutes applause on Tuesday night is not enough! Sad, sad day but so many good memories too.

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Steelmonkey added 20:45 - Sep 16 I feel so privalidged to have seen this guy play in a town side, such a powerhouse of a player and a true legend. I'm virtually in tears at the loss of this man. No words are available to describe what a player he was.
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bluelad7 added 20:50 - Sep 16 We were having a lovely long weekend in Devon and then heard / read this. Absolutely lost for words, loved this man. To his family, take it from us he was up there with SBR as a part of the history we WILL reclaim. COYB, God bless you “the beat”, SBR get ready to look after this wonderful man.
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cobboldblue added 20:54 - Sep 16 I so remember that chant too ‘Beattie is back, Beattie is back'. Let's have a minute's applause on 64 mins too and not just this game but every game home and away for the rest of the season, winning losing or drawing - the man should have nothing less.
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warktheline added 20:57 - Sep 16 Slowly but surely 'our greatest era' is ebbing and eroding away! Yeah for sure we ( us lucky ones ) have memories embedded within the memory bank but losing the 'individual/individuals' that 'lit up Portman Rd and Suffolk' somehow 'seperates and isolates' the past to present! I guess our current 'circumstances' only compounds the sadness! A very emotional evening to say the least !

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