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

therein61 added 07:17 - Sep 17 R.I.P Kevin you gave so much to all us Town fans you played for so long in pain as you truly loved what you were doing I feel honoured to have watched so many of your games in a blue shirt, a true legend, respect and wishes to all you leave behind
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DiamondGezzer added 07:53 - Sep 17 I'm shocked and sadened by this news. Our greatest beyond question. My condolences to his family.
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Warkys_Tash added 08:05 - Sep 17 Stunned, shocked and saddened. Had the pleasure to meet the man on a few occasions - never the measure to see him play live. But wow what a player and wow what a nice man. He had time for everyone, loved the Town and the people. He had blue running through his veins. RIP THE Beat. Truly a dark day for Ipswich Town.
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pedrail added 08:39 - Sep 17 Those of us lucky enough to see him play through the glory years of the '70s know that Kevin was a giant amongst footballers. I believe that he was the best defender that Britain has ever produced, who could have walked into any team in the world. He was the spirit of Bobby Robson's team and is etched into our individual and collective memories. Who can forget those rangy runs out of defence, blond hair flowing like some demigod, glancing up for an incisive pass, but often just choosing to just keep going, slicing through the opposition like a knife through butter. The excitement in the crowd was palpable, We used to sing 'Kevin Beattie walks on water', and sometimes it seemed that way. He was powerful yet graceful, and in complete control. 64 is much too young to die. As someone of his generation, I hope that that the outpouring of affection and admiration seen on this message-board for this humble legend will be absorbed and passed onto future generations, because his contribution to the happiness of so many Town supporters deserves to live on.

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Orraman added 09:13 - Sep 17 Give The Legend the send off he deserves as we all spur on the team to six points this week.
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bluearmy4life added 09:28 - Sep 17 RIP the Beat! So sad 😞. My thoughts are with his family at this time.
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ivegottheblues added 09:30 - Sep 17 The best British player of all time bar none. Thanks Beat - RIP
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:52 - Sep 17 very very sad news. Legend is an understatement, gave everything for the shirt .Part of a great team,the likes of which I doubt will ever be repeated. A smashing bloke too. RIP Kev. Condolences to family .
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TimmyH added 09:52 - Sep 17 I wonder if you'll see him in the obituary section in today's or tomorrows papers?...I very much doubt it as he didn't play for Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea etc but deserves to be.
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mickeyjb added 10:02 - Sep 17 RIP, a role model for any hard working CB. Sad news indeed
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statto added 10:09 - Sep 17 In shock, like all of us - not the headline I expected. RIP number 6. What a player we had - so lucky I grew up watching the Beat. A very sad day!
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ArnieM added 10:53 - Sep 17 Where at PR can we leave scarves / flowers / tributes ? Outside the ground I thin near the SBR statue would be the most approapriate because he was Sor Bobby' s protege
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Razor added 11:09 - Sep 17 OK the word is over used but absolutely no doubt this guy is a LEGEND. Met his dad and talk about a chip off the old block!! Fantastic memories---just 2 spring immediately to mind-----waltzing through 5 Derby defenders as if they wernt there and his bllit free kich versus Bohemians Prague which in the end got us through. Minutes applause is great but hope somebody is organising a memorial service.

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chalky added 11:28 - Sep 17 If the present team have any respect for the traditions of the club and for the memory of the truly great Kevin Beattie, they will go out and beat the pants off Brentford. But why do I have a niggling doubt ? If Hurst can't motivate the team to play their butts off tomorrow, then he has no place here as manager.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 12:02 - Sep 17 6 foot 2, Eyes of blue Kevin Beattie's after you... We can never chant that again. Sir Bobby will be there to applaud him in.
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vesuviusblue added 12:06 - Sep 17 RIP The Beat. Very sad news. Let's build a statue outside the ground in his honour - we have for our greatest managers, let's do it for our greatest player too.
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BobbyBell added 12:12 - Sep 17 So many wonderful memories of a truly awesome player and wonderful man. I watched him jump so high that his waste was shoulder high to all around him. I watched him chased down Malcom MacDonald from 5 yards behind and take the ball from big Mac with such ease. I can still see MacDonald standing there hands on hips wondering what the hell just happened. The Beat was by far the best player I ever watched and I we all have so much to thank him for. RIP you true legend of football.

3

dubblue added 12:31 - Sep 17 Very sad news, he and big Al Hunter were such legends when I first started to support the Town in the 1970s. Condolences to his family may he rest in peace.
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bugledog123 added 13:42 - Sep 17 An absolute legend. Very sad news.
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sotd78 added 14:06 - Sep 17 I was able to see many of Kevin Beattie's games - he was truly a collossus - a very fine footballer indeed. My words fail really in trying to explain how important he was to us and what a shame his career was curtailed by injuries. My abiding memory is at Everton in the FA Cup - we were outplayed and lost 2-1 and were indeed 2-0 down until latein the game. Beattie scored from a towering header - how he got so high defies belief. It was the first time a really raucous Goodison went quiet and then some politely applauded a piece of talent we all could admire.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:32 - Sep 17 Watched the BBC World sports spot this morning - just in case. Wasn't expecting much. Did he get a mention? Of course not. Instead, we heard about Ronaldo scoring a couple of goals and some player spitting at another in the Italian league. I doubt Kevin will ever get the national and international recognition he so richly deserves, but we at least should see that he is remembered properly. A clapping session on 64 ok, but hardly sufficient. (Anyway, it always strikes me that this idea was thought up because the powers that be couldn't be certain yobbos, usually from the opposition, would keep quiet for a minute's silence. Personally, I don't really get clapping someone's demise.) Anyone any more ideas for how Kevin's ITFC career can be properly celebrated?

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Pessimistic added 15:19 - Sep 17 In more than fifty years of supporting Town, I cannot think of a sadder day. He was arguably the best player ever to don an Ipswich shirt and I had the pleasure of watching him on numerous occasions at his peak. He was a blue through and through and if you have to go so suddenly at such an early age that passing away in your sleep is perhaps the most appropriate. I loved Kevin Beattie both on and off the field and I agree with Steve clapping someone's sad demise, is not a fitting tribute to the great man himself.

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ihatecanaries added 15:26 - Sep 17 LEGEND. RIP KEV
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corfu72 added 15:40 - Sep 17 This must be one of the saddest days in the history of Ipswich Town apart from the great Sir Bobby.I can remember Kevin turning up at the club on his very first day off the train from Carlisle with just his boots wrapped in brown paper. What a wonderful player and asset to our great club was Kevin.In 66 years of watching football he is without doubt one of the greatest English footballers I have had the privilege to watch and grow into a wonderful talented footballer. Tomorrow night will be very sad and I'm sure quite a few tears will be shed,I know I will.Lets all make this a wonderful occasion for our beloved Keven and do him proud. My sincere condolences to all of Kevin's family and close friends. God Bless you Kevin.

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Carberry added 15:46 - Sep 17 My hero. For all the stuff that's talked about training, coaching, mental awareness etc etc, some, albeit very few, just have it, whatever 'it' is? He was a one off, the like of which we will never see again at Portman Road.
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