Ipswich Town: Let’s give Kevin Beattie a 60th birthday tribute to remember

Let’s give Kevin Beattie, Ipswich Town’s greatest player, a rip-roaring 60th birthday tribute at Portman Road on Saturday.

We’re calling for the whole crowd to give Beattie a minute’s applause, in the 60th minute, to recognise his landmark birthday, which he celebrated earlier this week.

Beattie will be at the game against Watford, and a tribute from Town fans will be the best possible birthday gift – it will mean a huge amount to him.

The idea was launched on Twitter last night, and has already been enthusiastically welcomed by many Town supporters.

EADT/Star editor Terry Hunt, a Town fan of 45 years who watched Beattie play, said: “This is the perfect opportunity to show The Beat just how much he still means to us. Town supporters have regularly voted him our best-ever player, and those of us lucky enough to have seen him in action agree 100pc with that.

“As we all know, his career was cut short by injury, and he’s had a few ups and downs since being forced to retire, but he has settled in Ipswich and still takes a passionate interest in the fortunes of his beloved Blues. Let’s show him how much we still love him.’’

We’re asking all Town fans at the game to join in – and please help us to promote the idea. Use #Beattie60 on Twitter.

There will be a special 60th birthday tribute to Beattie on Mark Murphy’s Life’s A Pitch show on BBC Radio Suffolk on Saturday.

Mark will be joined by Beattie’s former team-mates Alan Brazil, Eric Gates, Arnold Muhren and Franz Thijssen, who will pay their own personal tributes to Ipswich Town’s greatest-ever player.

Life’s A Pitch is on BBC Radio Suffolk between noon and 2pm on Saturday.