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Reply | 1961-62 season formation
at 21:50 20 May 2025
Of course, scouts were sent everywhere, as a matter of course, with any football club, and there was much exchange of information as a result. I was just making the point that nowadays analysis is instant, thanks to TV and media's modern and tenacious grasp on our lives. Not so in yesteryear; it was a completely different world.
Also, the gambling rules were very different then. It was illegal to place any bet on football. (There was an exception, I believe, for the cup final.) Bookies were strictly for horses and greyhounds only. For most, there was the "pools". Nearly every working man would fill in a pools coupon in the 60s. A few, very few, fortunes were made - but it was great fun to be just a draw away from a win!
Glad you find us old'uns' reminiscences a good read, Thanks. TWTD indeed. |
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Reply | 1961-62 season formation
at 14:37 20 May 2025
From what I remember as a very young lad, our full backs were very much needed for our defence in those days because every team had two wingers. (I was lucky enough to see Stanley Matthews playing for Stoke at Portman Road in those days!)
In those far-off days the only game on TV (mind you, we didn't have one until 1966, like most families) was the FA Cup final. Remember too that telephones were uncommon. There was a telephone in only one house in my street (Lacey Street) I recall! So, it's no wonder that the passing of information could be slow in those days. However, the importance of newspapers was paramount then - more than most youngsters today can imagine I would guess.
In those days it was common to play teams twice in a few days: one team at the start of the season, one around Xmas and one around Easter. We played Burnley away and drew, I recall, then beat them 62 at Portman Road. Burnley were a top team then having won the league in 1960 and runners-up the previous season. Tottenham and Burnley were red hot favourites to win both league and cup in 1961-2. |
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Reply | 1961-62 season formation
at 13:52 20 May 2025
Bailey in goal was a solid shot-stopper and commanding the the box, unafraid of diving at opposing forward's feet.
The two central defenders were Andy Nelson - hard-as-nails and an a commanding presence - and Billy Baxter, short for a centre back but he could out-jump many a tall attacker - tough too, he would never shirk a tackle.
Carberry, a Liverpudlian, was an efficient right back. Compton, on the left, was quick and skilful. I believe that Sir Alf converted him from a winger to a full back?
Elsworthy was one of the best midfield players Town have ever had. A brilliant passer of the ball, he dominated the middle of the park during most matches that year. He was backed up bu Doug Moran, also talented. These two players were the engine room of the midfiels. On the right was Roy Stephenson, far more of a conventional winger than a midfield player. On the left was Leadbetter, a withdrawn winger. Opposing right backs were confused by having nobody to mark. (In those days there was no TV and it took a whole season for other teams to work out Sir Alf's tactics)
Upfront, Ted Phillips and Ray Crawford worked in tandem. It's true Phillips had the hardest shot. I will never forget standing behind the goal in the Churchmans end when a shot from Phillips went straight through the net, hitting the top of the small wall behind with an almighty thwack! Phillips used to shoot often and many of Crawford's goals were scored by him following up on the goalie. |
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Reply | Is this the worst season in our history then?
at 12:32 13 May 2025
We senior fans remember some awful results from 63-64:
Town 2 Manchester United 7 (actually a great game to watch - plenty of exciting football from both sides, believe it or not!)
Fulham 10 Town 1 (but we beat them 4-2 in the return match a few days later)
Stoke City 9 Town 1
Bolton 6 Town 0 (Bolton were relegated with us that season)
Arsenal 6 Town 0
Liverpool 6 Town 0
Tottenham 6 Town 3
But there were some entertaining games at Portman Road including 4-3 wins over both Aston Villa and Blackpool. So, definitely our worst ever season as regards goals against - 121 goals! But we managed 50+ goals ourselves. Those were indeed the days!! |
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Reply | Just a stat & not a dig.
at 18:50 19 Jan 2025
Ipswich 2 Manchester United 7. I was there, near the front of Churchmans Stand. I remember it well (though I was only 10) especially the warm-up when Law and Charlton passed to each other with back-spin - trying to get the ball to come back to them - and having a right laugh at their efforts. That game was, to my young eyes, incredibly exciting. And Ipswich played well for much of the game. The home crowd also admirably cheered the United goals as our opposition that day played with such genuine flair and skill. What a game it was! |
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Reply | Love this interview of Sir Alf when he was Birmingham manager in 1977
at 16:35 6 Dec 2024
When I was about 15 years old, I caught a train from Liverpool Street to Ipswich (in a 2nd class carriage, of course) and found myself sitting opposite Sir Alf in an otherwise unoccupied compartment. After a while I couldn't resist trying to engage him in conversation, so I plucked up courage and said something like: "I'd love to talk to you, but I promise I won't talk about football, if you like."
What followed was an absolutely delightful conversation about his travels in Europe and South America - the culture, the people, the travel and the unique feel of strange countries. He was great company, ending most sentences with "most certainly" in an unforgettably posh accent. There were some football diversions, mostly about how proud he was of his players. Overall, he came across as an interesting, thoughtful, pleasant and thoroughly kind man. It was a privilege to catch such a glimpse of his private persona. We will not see his like again. |
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Thread | Why not "Towen TV" ?
at 22:03 17 Jul 2024
Calling our online service "Town TV" seems rather generic.
Why should we not be more individual and celebrate being unique? We are a very special club after all! Let's call ourselves, for online matches, a distinctive "Towen TV". Why not?
Time for a re-brand? It would certainly give us an extra special identity and maybe help to preserve our fast disappearing (alas!) "Suffik" accent. |
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Thread | Tottenham v A.C.Milan
at 22:23 8 Mar 2023
The BT live match commentary tonight stressed that only Man.Utd. have beaten A.C.Milan in European competitions in England. Not so!
Sad that they forgot a wonderful night when ITFC beat A.C.Milan 2-1 at Portman Road in November 1962. Blackwood - a forgotten player nowadays - scored the winning goal I think.
Ah! Those were the days! I remember them well! |
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Reply | Totally random, hopeful request....
at 22:16 18 Nov 2022
Don't panic! Assuming your Sax teacher can't find a copy of the accompaniment, your candidate can always play on his/her own, without a piano, if need be, for the actual exam.
I reply as as ABRSM examiner of 35+ years experience!! Good luck with the exam! |
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Reply | Roy Bailey
at 13:57 4 Sep 2021
The '62 team's performances declined rapidly in the two seasons that followed. Most importantly, this process was exacerbated by other teams countering our (then) unique team formation and our tactics generally. As regards our defence, I do remember reading, one snowy Christmas time in the Green 'Un, sitting at home, how Bailey scored an own goal from a punch on the ball as he tried to steer it to safety from a cross. (We famously lost that game 10-1) However, in his heyday he was undoubtedly one of our best ever keepers.
Although I saw Roy Bailey many times I was too young to appreciate or appraise him properly, but he clearly seemed a commanding presence. There were many excellent saves that swirl as bygone ghosts though my earliest Portman Road recollections. I remember my father didn't take me to our final match against Aston Villa (2-0) when we clinched the League Championship because he thought the crowd would be too large and boisterous. I was 7 years old - so he had a point, alas.
Incidentally, in those far-off days, the players were allowed to take the trophy home with them for a day to show it to their friends and family. My grandmother (in Tuddenham Avenue) happened to live next to one of the players (I have forgotten who) and I was able to hold the lid aloft and boyishly cheer - but the trophy itself was far too heavy for me to lift.
But I digress. Roy Bailey was most certainly the equal of, if not better than, all our other goalkeepers. But true comparisons are impossible. |
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