ROGER Osborne, the man who scored Ipswich Town's most famous goal, was an interested spectator at Tuesday's Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup final at Portman Road.

Elvin King

ROGER Osborne, the man who scored Ipswich Town's most famous goal, was an interested spectator at Tuesday's Touchline Sports Suffolk Senior Cup final at Portman Road.

And it was interesting to hear Roger say that he played in the final of this competition for Westerfield United in 1969.

It is common knowledge that Roger played for the Swans in the Metaltec SIL before playing for Ipswich and being a member of the Blues 1978 FA Cup-winning side.

But he confirmed that he was on the books of Westerfield for a number of years.

“I think I was 19 when I had my first taste of Portman Road,” said Roger, who now manages Rushmere Sports Club.

“After scoring a goal and looking like it was going to be a great night, Hadleigh equalised and then went on to win 3-2.”

Roger's brother David was training at Portman Road in those days and Rogers used to accompany him to the evening sessions eventually joining in and doing enough to play on a part-time basis before going full time.

“I was 21 years old when I signed for Ipswich on a full-time basis, and this came just after Ben Abbott got in touch asking me to transfer to Waterside Works who were then one of the better teams in the Essex and Suffolk Border League.”

Roger returned to Westerfield after his Ipswich Town days were over, and the Swans use the Rushmere Sports Club ground and his sons Robert and Carl are both involved.

Clive Woods, a team mate of Roger's at Wembley when they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the 1978 FA Cup final, was also back at Portman Road on Tuesday.

His son Andy was in the Beccles Town side that beat Crane Sports 1-0 in the Senior Cup.