ONLY a handful of players have been brave enough to ply their trade on both sides of the Waveney Valley.

ONLY a handful of players have been brave enough to ply their trade on both sides of the Waveney Valley. In fact, Alan Lee will become only the 13th (interesting number) to wear both the blue and white of Town and the yellow and green of Norwich.

Here are the others:

1. John Roy, Norwich 1934-36, Ipswich 1946-47. Unfortunately, we have failed to locate anyone who remembers Mr Roy's glittering career.

2. Allenby Driver, Norwich 1947-50, Ipswich 1950-52. Ditto Allenby Driver. The only contribution was from the office wag who said: “His name sounds like a power tool.''

3. Peter Morris, Ipswich 1968-74, Norwich 1971-72. Nicknamed “Diesel,'' midfielder Morris was signed by Bill McGarry to strengthen the 1968 promotion-winning team. Morris stayed at Town long enough to play in Europe and was part of the team which won the Texaco Cup - against Norwich. Played only one season for Norwich in the twilight of his career.

4. Bobby Bell, Ipswich 1968-72, Norwich 1972. Bell was a quarter of a disastrous Town defence which also included such luminaries as Geoff Hammond and Derek “Chopper'' Jefferson. (Sincere apologies to Mick Mills, who was entirely blameless). Bell left Ipswich as part of the deal which brought the legendary Allan Hunter to Portman Road. Later played a few games for the Canaries. He hadn't improved.

5. John Miller, Ipswich 1968-73, Norwich 1974-76. This was the ultimate kick in the teeth. Ipswich boy Miller left for Norwich after never establishing himself with his home town team. He then promptly returned to Portman Road to score the two goals which knocked the Blues out of the League Cup. He did nothing else for the Canaries.

6. Clive Woods, Ipswich 1969-80, Norwich 1980-82. Tricky winger Woods was a Norfolk lad, but his glory years were spent at Ipswich. Who will forget his man of the match performance at Wembley in the 1978 cup final? Ended his career with the Canaries, but his best days had gone.

7. Keith Bertschin, Ipswich 1975-77, Norwich 1981-85. Unusual in that he had better times for Norwich than with Ipswich. Scored with his first touch for Ipswich, at Arsenal, but never stood a chance once Mariner joined. Did well for three or four years up the road.

8. Clive Baker, Norwich 1977-81, Ipswich 1992-95. Another Norfolk boy, started his career with the Canaries and ended it with Town. Played very few games for Town, being kept out by Craig Forrest.

9. John Deehan, Norwich 1981-86, Ipswich 1986-88. A legend north of the border, Deehan's best goalscoring days were behind him by the time he joined Town.

10. Trevor Putney, Ipswich 1982-86, Norwich 1986-89. Putney was one of the players who never stood a chance at Town. Who would, trying to replace the likes of the Muhren, Thijssen and Wark? Eventually defected to the yellow and green.

11. Louis Donowa, Norwich 1982-83, Ipswich 1989-90. Donowa's career was the wrong way round. An Ipswich boy, he somehow escaped the net and ended up at Carrow Road. Eventually joined his home town club, but didn't exactly set the world on fire.

12. Andy Marshall, Norwich 1994-2001, Ipswich 2001-03. Marshall was good for the Canaries - apart from his awful kicking. Joined Town for the disastrous 2001-02 relegation season, when he vied with Sereni for the jersey. Always on to a hiding to nothing. Two pretty unhappy seasons with Town.

13. Alan Lee, Ipswich 2005-2008, Norwich 2009-? A crowd favourite at Portman Road. Never the most sophisticated, but always likely to surprise everyone with a goal. Rather injury-prone, which begs the question - will he be fit for the East Anglian derby? If he is, will we hear the Norwich fans singing his anthem: Alan Lee - Goal! (To the tune of Spandau Ballet's “Gold.'')

14. (Nearly - but not quite) Ian Crook, Norwich 1986-87, Ipswich for about five minutes. Happily posed with a Town shirt after we thought he'd signed from Norwich. But he didn't. He changed his mind and went back over the Waveney. A figure of ridicule for Town fans ever since.