LIKE a phoenix from the ashes, Whitton United Football Club are on the rise once more.The Ipswich-based club, who stunned the non-league world when their first team pulled out of the Ridgeons League last season, have re-grouped, re-assessed their position and are bringing pride back into the famous Whitton green shirt.

Mike Bacon

By Mike Bacon

LIKE a phoenix from the ashes, Whitton United Football Club are on the rise once more.

The Ipswich-based club, who stunned the non-league world when their first team pulled out of the Ridgeons League last season, have re-grouped, re-assessed their position and are bringing pride back into the famous Whitton green shirt.

Much of that credit must go to manager Ian Brown who, along with assistant Alan Dilloway, has helped turn the club's fortunes around.

And although it is not all sweetness and light on the pitch as yet, a cautious Brown knows things are doing fine.

“I suppose if it was a mid-term report, I would say we are doing OK,” Brown, who made almost 40 professional League appearances for Bristol City and Northampton Town, said.

“But I don't try to get emotional about good runs or bad runs to be honest.

“The committee and people here at Whitton have given both myself and Alan (Dilloway) wonderful support, but I like to take each part of the season as it comes, and right now I'm only looking as far ahead as Christmas.”

Whitton were criticised in some quarters last season after they pulled out of the Ridgeons League, with clubs who had already played them and beaten them, losing points.

It was a messy time for the club, but they have pulled through and now only look forward.

“It helped I wasn't around at the club when all these things happened last season,” Brown said.

“I didn't have any pre-conceived ideas about what happened and all we have tried to do is build things up again.

“In June we only had about three or four players, today we have 30 at training. I want players to be proud once more to wear the Whitton jersey.”

Tomorrow Whitton entertain Team Bury at King George V Playing Fields, in what should be an intriguing game.

Whitton have already beaten Team Bury at the start of the season and both sit mid-table but within striking distance of a top-three place.

Not that Brown is thinking that way just yet.

“We are miles away from being back in the Premier Division,” he said.

“Don't get me wrong, we are going in the right direction, but when I think back to the start of the season, there were many who didn't think we'd even win a game.”

Ian Brown's Whitton United are on the way back.

And for non-league football in Ipswich that can only be a good thing.

mike.bacon@archant.co.uk

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Whitton United factfile

Ground: King George V Playing Field, Ipswich

Formed: 1926

Nickname: The Greens

Floodlight lux: 150

Biggest League win this season: Swaffham 0 Whitton 7

Biggest League defeat this season: Whitton 1 Diss 8