IPSWICH Town legend Ray Crawford today warned his former club to beware of a possible FA Cup embarrassment when the Blues play League Two Chesterfield or non-league Droylsden in the third round on January 3.

Elvin King

IPSWICH Town legend Ray Crawford today warned his former club to beware of a possible FA Cup embarrassment when the Blues play League Two Chesterfield or non-league Droylsden in the third round on January 3.

And the former England striker should know having scored twice in one of the biggest upsets in cup history.

Crawford, who helped Town win the First Division title in 1961/62 and twice helped them win promotion to the top flight, was in the Colchester United side that beat the then mighty Leeds United 3-2 at Layer Road in the fourth round of the 1970/71 competition.

“Ipswich cannot afford to take it easy,” said Crawford. “Leeds players were laughing and larking around in the warm-up.

“They did not look as though they were taking it that seriously.

“Don Revie was manager and we were watched in our previous league game against Darlington, and I don't think they thought they had too much to beat.

“But they were caught out because we had six or seven old 'uns in our team, and we had our pride at stake.

“We raised our game and gave more effort. And I scored two typical Ray Crawford goals - a header and another while sitting on my backside.”

Leeds, who entertain Colchester at Elland Road tomorrow in a League One fixture, are not the side they were by any means, but the FA Cup continues to throw up upsets and the Yorkshire club lost 1-0 to non-league Histon in the second round last month.

Crawford has seen the other side of the coin, being part of an Ipswich side that lost to non-league Peterborough.

“No FA Cup match can be taken for granted and whether it is Chesterfield or Droylsden that visits Portman Road, Ipswich will have to be on top of their game. Any cracks and the opposition will notice.”

Crawford will be at Portman Road tomorrow to watch the Coca-Cola Championship game against Cardiff, and this will bring back memories.

“My former strike partner Ted Phillips scored a wonder goal at Ninian Park, netting with an absolute screamer from 40 yards,” recalled Crawford. “And our manager Alf Ramsey asked him afterwards why he had not passed?”

The legendary partnership will be renewed with Phillips joining Crawford, and hopefully Mick Mills, for a book-signing session at the Planet Blue store at Portman Road tomorrow from 11am to 12.30pm.

Crawford has already donated £4,000 to charity from the proceeds of his autobiography 'Curse of the Jungle Boy', which will be available tomorrow.

Crawford was at a signing session in his native Portsmouth last night after writing a foreword on a book of facts and figures on Pompey.

“I am featured highly because of the day when I married Eileen and played at Fratton Park on the same day,” added the free-scoring Crawford.

“Portsmouth were short of players through injury and with my wedding at 1pm I was asked to get to the ground by 2.15pm. Eileen was a big Pompey fans so she didn't mind.”

Last weekend Crawford was a guest at another of his former clubs West Brom when they played Portsmouth. “I was doing a question and answer session in the sponsors' lounge, but looking over the heads to a TV screen showing the Ipswich versus Norwich game on TV,” he said.