Who R Ya – Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town was formed as an amateur football club in 1878. The club first played at Broom Hill, moving to Portman Road nine years later, where it has remained ever since. It was not until 1936 that Ipswich finally became a professional club, being elected to the Football League on 30 May 1938. In 1953-54, under manager Scott Duncan, Ipswich won the first of many trophies – the Third Division (South) title – and with it promotion to the Second Division.

In 1955, Ipswich appointed Alf Ramsey as their manager and in his eight-year reign, the club won both the Second Division and First Division titles and qualified for the European Cup for the first time in their history. Other notable managers have included Jackie Milburn, Bobby Robson (1969-1982), George Burley (1994-2002) and Joe Royle (2002-2006). Their current manager, Jim Magilton, was appointed on 5th June 2006.

Since the late 1980s, Ipswich has led a somewhat chequered existence having experienced both relegation from, and promotion to, the First Division/Premier League, on numerous occasions. In 2000, Ipswich won promotion to the Premier League where they stayed until 2002. Despite several seasons since then when they have finished in the top six in Division One/Coca Cola Championship, Ipswich still have not made it back to the Premier League.

During the 2008/09 close season, Jim Magilton was very busy in the transfer market, bringing in players of the calibre of Richard Wright (from West Ham), Ivan Campo (from Bolton) and Ben Thatcher (from Charlton). He also signed the Dutch defender Pim Balkestein and Kevin Lisbie from Colchester, and brought Moritz Volz in on loan from Fulham and Jon Stead (on loan from Sheffield United). However, the Ipswich squad has been pared back with the sale, during the summer, of players like Nick Colgan, Gary Roberts, Fabian Wilnis and Alan Lee; as well as several players having been loaned out to other clubs.

After the first 14 games of 2008/9, Ipswich lies in 13th place with 18 points. Of their 7 home games, Ipswich has only won 2, drawing 3 and losing the other 2. They have scored 10 goals at home but have conceded 8! Their away form is equally “up-and-down” (2 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses). Although Ipswich will have home advantage on Saturday, it is clear that, at least this season, that does not guarantee them a home win against an Ainsworth-inspired Queens Park Rangers!

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