Nearly 35 years ago ITFC embarked on an epic season. I am going to put together a few reminders for everyone to see just what went on that season. All in all there were 66 games played, I played every one and Johnny Wark only missed one game. We had to play 7 games in December, including playing on Boxing Day beating Norwich 2-0 and the next day playing Arsenal at Highbury and getting a 1-1 draw there. You also have to remember that only one substitute was allowed in those days for league games . In January we played another 7 games, 5 in February, 7 more in March and 6 in April not including the UEFA Cup semi finals against Cologne. So that would make it 8 games in April. Looking at the fixtures from the programme it also states at the bottom that games against Aston Villa and Southampton were still to be arranged,, ha ha when!! It really was a back log of fixtures to the end of the season, not only was it mad at Christmas, with two games in two days, but it was similar at Easter if I remember correctly, with games on Saturday, Easter Monday, Wednesday in Cologne and back in time for a game on Saturday again. All through the season the one thing that kept everyone going was the team spirit, it was fun, the lads liked a laugh, played hard and worked even harder. And that went for the whole squad, not just these three pictured with me here in Ploand, in early December, prior to the Widzew Lodz second leg game in Poland. That was the night we played on the flattened snow with red lines for the markings! The fixture list came from this programme; Inside the programme it appears that the Youth Team were doing quite well also. This picture could surprise a few of them!! Quite a few of these lads soon made it into the first team squad, Frankie, Irvine, Mich, Trevor, Colin, Ian and Kevin. Apologies if I have missed anyone out.
6 Comments
Tone
10/3/2016 11:37:36 pm
Looking through the fixtures, so reminding me of being a kid BUT more than that aprreciating some excellent football at Portman Road! TWTD, thanks for the memories Russell and for the eagerness of recalling the memories but not just ITFC ones now, everything on the RO blog, must be a maturity thing!!! I didn't mean me 'growing up' as much as 'getting old' and appreciating more!
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Russell Osman
11/3/2016 09:08:05 am
Cheers Tone, see you next week
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Nick Morris
11/3/2016 10:32:22 am
Top read, great stuff Russ. You lot were the real deal back in the day! None of this fatigue nonsense, real men!
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Russell Osman
11/3/2016 05:11:16 pm
Thanks Nick, hope you are well!
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Malcolm Brabant
11/3/2016 06:42:16 pm
So how do you think that side would fair against today's Leicester City Russell?
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Hi Malcolm
11/3/2016 06:56:06 pm
I think the 81 Ipswich side would struggle against the pace of the current Leicester team,, it would be great if they could win the title, and it would be even better if Ipswich could just get back into the top flight before it becomes totally impossible!!!
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AuthorRussell Osman is a former England & Ipswich Footballer, 4 Handicap Golfer and Father of 3. Archives
April 2018
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