You may not think it at the moment, but Ipswich Town have a rich history of fielding some fantastic players.
But who are the best to have ever pulled on boots for the Blues?
In the first of a new daily series, lifetime Ipswich fan TERRY HUNT starts his countdown of Town’s top 100 players of all time, starting with big Canadian keeper Craig Forrest.
100: Craig Forrest
Giant Canadian keeper Forrest was one of only 13 foreign players who turned out on the opening day of the Premier League season in 1992. How times change! Forrest is, unfortunately, probably best known as the keeper who conceded nine goals against Man Utd – still a Premier League record. But he was a good last line of defence for Town, playing more than 250 games.
99: Darren Ambrose
He formed a partnership with the other “Dazza”, – Darren Bent – in their early days at Ipswich. Ambrose was sold for a bargain-basement fee to Bobby Robson at Newcastle when Town were in financially dire straits. Spells at Charlton and Crystal Palace followed, and he twice came back to Portman Road. That bright early promise was never really fulfilled.
98: Gerry Baker
Gerard (to use his proper name) Baker is unlucky not to have more profile in the history of Ipswich Town. He scored 66 goals in 151 games, which is certainly not shabby! But he played during the “in between years’’ – between Ramsey and Robson. Our photo shows a 1966 forward line: Joe Broadfoot, Danny Hegan, Ray Crawford, Gerry Baker and Frank Brogan. Not at all bad!
97: Frank Yallop
Canadian Yallop played nearly 400 times for Town, with his Portman Road career including one promotion and two relegations. He is most fondly remembered for a cracking goal against Man Utd at Portman Road - and he repeated the feat a few days later against Spurs at White Hart Lane.
96: Neil Thompson
The left-back is always described as a “former nappy salesman”, which probably gets on his nerves just a little. Solid member of John Lyall’s 1992 promotion-winning line-up, and weighed in with some pretty memorable goals with that hammer of a left foot.
95: Tommy Carroll
The Irish full-back is best remembered for falling out spectacularly with Bobby Robson - the two of them fighting in the changing room - but Carroll played a big part in Bill McGarry’s 1968 Second Division title-winning team.
94: Frank Clarke
The older brother of Allan “Sniffer’’ Clarke, Frank is included in the top 100 not because he was a great player, but because of the part he played in rescuing Town. He joined in March 1970, with Jimmy Robertson, with Ipswich facing relegation. Those two staved off the drop - and changed the club’s history forever.
93: David Linighan
Nowhere in the same class as a centre-half as the likes of Beattie, Hunter, Butcher and Osman, but Linighan was an important part of John Lyall’s team which won promotion to the new Premiership in 1992.
92: Ian Collard
Collard came to Ipswich from West Brom as part of the deal which saw Danny Hegan go the other way. Showed he was a classy player at Ipswich, but injury blighted his career.
91 Ken Malcolm
Scottish full-back who was an important part of Alf Ramsey’s early Ipswich teams. By the time promotion to the top flight came along, Ken had lost his place but he did have the honour of captaining the side against AC Milan in Town’s first foray into Europe.
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