Former Town assistant manager Sammy Chung died on Sunday, aged 90.

Manager Bill McGarry brought Chung to Ipswich in the summer of 1965 having previously worked with him at Watford.

The duo saw Town to the 1967/68 Second Division title but soon after promotion left Portman Road for Wolverhampton Wanderers, where they won the 1974 League Cup having been 1972 UEFA Cup finalists, losing to Spurs.

After McGarry’s departure in 1976, Chung took over as manager at Molineux and in his first season saw them to the Second Division title and then kept them in the top flight the following year, before moving on in November 1978.

Born to an English mother and Chinese father, Chung, whose given name was Cyril but was always known as Sammy, was Britain’s second Anglo-Chinese professional footballer after England wartime international Frank Soo.

A wing-half or centre-forward, Chung started his career with hometown club Abingdon Town, before moving on to Headington United, Reading, Norwich City and Watford.

Following a spell working in the UAE, he spent five years as former Blues skipper Mick Mills’s assistant manager at Stoke City from 1985, then later had stints in charge at Tamworth and Doncaster, as well as a period as director of football in Barbados and a stint on the coaching staff at Minehead.

Chung worked in a children’s home having retired from football and latterly lived on the Somerset coast.

He died in his sleep in a nursing home on Sunday following a long illness.

Photo: Matchday Images

Linkboy13 added 16:34 - Aug 30 Member Sammy when i just started supporting Town as a 10 year old. The crowd chanted Sammy Chung's Chinese take away which i never thought was very nice. Perhaps we should wear the all black kit at the next home game RIP Sammy.
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bluesteal74 added 16:48 - Aug 30 R.i.P Chung
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poeticblue added 17:04 - Aug 30 So farewell Assistant Manager Sammy Chung From this mortal coil you have been respectively flung Even though a Blue a long time ago We all offer our collective sorrow.
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ringwoodblue added 17:13 - Aug 30 This was a bit before my time but I recognise the club has a long and illustrious history before I became a supporter and Chung is part of that history so this is sad news.
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PJH added 17:21 - Aug 30 R.I.P. Sammy. He worked well with Bill McGarry and helped get us back to the top division leading to what followed in the 1970's and early 1980's.
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therein61 added 17:49 - Aug 30 He was a great foil for the "verbose" McGarry and helped us to promotion he was always a quiet man in the background until after the whistle v Blackburn at home when we were crowned champions when his emotions overflowed on the touchline. R.I.P Sammy.
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itfchorry added 17:55 - Aug 30 Very sad news - Thoughts with family and friends. 💙
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itfchorry added 17:55 - Aug 30 Very sad news - Thoughts with family and friends. 💙
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dangerous30 added 18:23 - Aug 30 R.I.P. thoughts with family and friends
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bingboast added 18:43 - Aug 30 RIP Sammy, a true town servant.
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TractorfactorSteve added 19:12 - Aug 30 I wonder how much he had to do with infamous McGarry fitness regime? Memories of the resurgence of our beloved club. A shame he was associated with McGarry's hasty departure. Yet another who saw a 'big' club as more attractive. Mind you without that, no Robson.
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jontysnut added 19:38 - Aug 30 A great servant of the game - committee men in blazers have picked up gongs for less.
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blueboy1981 added 20:21 - Aug 30 Remember him so well. R.I.P. Sammy Chung.
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pegasus added 10:08 - Aug 31 A sad day. Good to see that Sammy gets a proper obituary in this report. A very old friend played with Sammy in the Reading days, and remembered his as reliable and witty, just the sort of guy you'd want on your team, he said. It's clear that Sammy put a huge amount into the game and was continuing to work with and for youngsters until illness took hold. R.I.P. Sammy
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