History of Ipswich Town F.C.

Ipswich Town F.C. is an English association football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk and formed in 1878. The side played amateur football until 1936 when the club turned professional and was elected into the Southern League. Ipswich Town were elected into Division Three of the Football League in place of Gillingham F.C. on 30 May, 1938.

The club experienced league success during the early 1960s, winning the Football League Championship in 1961–62, one season after winning promotion from the Second Division. A decade later, under the guidance of Bobby Robson, the club achieved success both in the FA Cup and in European competition, winning the UEFA Cup in 1981.

Ipswich Town have made a contribution to the history of the England national football team; both Robson and Sir Alf Ramsey moved on from Ipswich to manage England. Robson and Ramsey presided over England's best results in the World Cup: fourth place in 1990 and world champions in 1966.

Foundation to professionalism: 1878–1936

The club was founded in 1878 as an amateur side known as Ipswich A.F.C., under the presidency of local MP Thomas Cobbold who had played football at Charterhouse School.Cite web
url = http://www.cobboldfht.com/features/feature1.php
title = Cobbolds and Ipswich Town Football Club
publisher = The Cobbold Family History Trust
accessdate = 2008-02-13] Ipswich A.F.C.'s first match was a 6–1 home victory over Stoke Wanderers at the Broom Hill ground on 2 November, 1878. This was followed by a 2–0 victory over Harwich in the club's first away match. Losing only one game in 17 in its second season, the club was able to build enough interest to enrol players for a second team. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1870.htm
title = A Potted Club History - by Decade - The 1870's
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] Ipswich recorded their biggest ever victory during the 1880–81 season, a 15–0 defeat of East Stamford with one player, John Knights, registering a treble hat-trick; both achievements remain club records. The team moved to Portman Road, the current ground, in 1884, and would share, until 1936, the facilities with the East Suffolk Cricket Club who had played there since 1855.Cite web
url = http://homepage.ntlworld.com/derek.j.bloomfield/about_us.html
title = About us - The Early Years ...
publisher = Ipswich and East Suffolk Cricket Club
accessdate = 2008-02-04] The Cobbold family involvement continued when, in 1885, Nathanael Fromanteel Cobbold was elected as a vice-president of the club. Following his sudden death the following year, the position was then held by his nephew John Dupuis Cobbold.

The club won their first trophy in the 1886–87 season, triumphing 2–1 against a team representing Ipswich School in the final of the Suffolk Challenge Cup.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/honours-by-season.htm
title = Honours by season
accessdate = 2007-03-20
publisher = Pride Of Anglia] In 1888 the club merged with Ipswich Rugby Club to form Ipswich Town F.C.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1880.htm
title = A Potted Club History - by Decade - The 1880's
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2007-03-26] In 1890, the club entered the qualifying rounds of the FA Cup for the first time and was knocked out in the final qualifying round by the 93rd Highlanders.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1890.htm
title = A Potted Club History - by Decade - The 1890's
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] The club experienced scant success in the Cup during the 1890s but won a number of local cup competitions, including the Suffolk Senior Cup and the Ipswich Charity Cup. Having received invitations to join from both the Southern League and the Norfolk and Suffolk League, Ipswich joined the latter in the 1899–1900 season, finishing fourth in their first league season.

In 1907, Ipswich became founder members of the Southern Amateur League.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1900.htm
title = A Potted Club History - by Decade - The 1900's
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] The club narrowly avoided relegation in many of the following seasons, and suffered a club record 15–1 defeat at the hands of the Corinthians at Portman Road on New Year's Day, 1910. The outbreak of the First World War and the commandeering of Portman Road by the Army curtailed the 1914–15 season and organised football did not return until the 1920–21 season.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1910.htm
title = A Potted Club History - by Decade - The 1910's
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] Just one year later, Ipswich Town became champions of the Southern Amateur League, clinching the title on the last day of the season.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1920.htm
title = A Potted Club History - by Decade - The 1920's
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] Cite web
url = http://www.salarchives.co.uk/clubipswichtown.asp
title = Southern Amateur League archives - Ipswich Town
accessdate = 2007-03-20
publisher = Southern Amateur League] The club won the league a further three times, in 1929–30, 1932–33 and 1933–34, before becoming founder members of the Eastern Counties Football League at the end of the 1934–35 season.

Early Football League: 1936–1955

In 1936, local businessman Leonard P. Thompson threatened to lead a breakaway from the amateur club to create an entirely separate professional club, Ipswich United. John Murray Cobbold, the club President, called together rival factions for a meeting at the Town Hall on 1 May, 1936, at which it was agreed that Ipswich Town should turn professional. The club was unanimously elected to the Southern League for the 1936–37 season and former Irish international footballer Mick O'Brien was appointed as the club's first professional manager.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1930.htm
title = A Potted Club History - The Thirties
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04]

The club's first professional game at Portman Road resulted in a 4–1 win against Tunbridge Wells Rangers and the club went on to win the Southern League in their debut season. O'Brien left after just one season following the death of his wife. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=1
title = Mick OBrien
accessdate = 2008-02-04] Ipswich Town were managerless until 10 November, 1936 when the club appointed Scott Duncan, who had left recently relegated Manchester United.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=3
title = A Scott Duncan
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] He led Ipswich to third place in the 1937–38 season. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=3
title = A. Scott Duncan
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-12]

Ipswich Town F.C. were elected to The Football League on 30 May, 1938 by a margin of just two votes, at the expense of Gillingham F.C., initially playing in Division Three (South). The club's last competitive match before the league was suspended due to the Second World War was a 1–1 draw with local rivals, Norwich City. Both John Murray Cobbold and director Robert Nevill Cobbold were killed during the war, the position of director being filled by John Cavendish Cobbold in 1948. Despite the interruption due to the war, Duncan managed the club for over 500 games between 1937 and 1955. Following three successive top-eight finishes, the 1949–50 season ended with Ipswich in 17th position in Division Three (South), the club's lowest ever league finish. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1940.htm
title = A Potted Club History - The Forties
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04]

During the early 1950s striker Tom Garneys finished as club top-scorer for four seasons in a row, and became the first professional Ipswich player to score four times in a game. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/6446151.stm
title = Ipswich great Garneys passes away
publisher = BBC Sport
accessdate = 2008-02-04
date = 2007-03-12] During this period, Ipswich won the title and promotion to the Second Division in the 1953–54 season, during which eight consecutive wins were recorded. The club was relegated back to Division Three (South) the following year at the end of a poor season, the highlight of which was progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup, a run ended by First Division Preston North End.Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=83
publisher = Soccerbase
title = Ipswich 1953/1954 results and fixtures
accessdate = 2008-02-05 Ipswich won eight matches in a row from 23 September 1953 to 31 October 1953.] Duncan resigned but stayed on at the club in a secretarial role for a further three years. His replacement was a managerial novice, former England international and double Championship winner at Tottenham Hotspur, Alf Ramsey.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=4
title = Alf Ramsey
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/332701.stm
title = Sport: Football - Sir Alf Ramsey factfile
accessdate = 2008-02-05
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 1999-04-30]

Ramsey and champions of England: 1955–69

Alf Ramsey's appointment led Billy Wright to comment, "In appointing Alf to become their manager Ipswich Town paid a tremendous tribute to intelligent football — and footballers who think!" In Ramsey's first season at the club, Ipswich scored 106 goals in 46 games and finished third in Division Three (South). [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=85
title = Final 1955/1956 English Division 3 South Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2008-02-11] The following season, 1956–57, the club won the Division Three (South) title for the second time and saw the emergence of local striker Ted Phillips who scored 46 times during the season; this remains the highest number of goals scored by an Ipswich player in a season. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/all-time-leading-scorers.phtml
title = All-Time Leading Scorers since 1936
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-06] During the same season, Ipswich played under floodlights for the first time, at Coventry City in September 1956.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1930.htm
title = A Potted Club History - The Thirties
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-04] At the end of that season that John Cavendish Cobbold was appointed as the club's Chairman. Three seasons of mid-table finishes followed as Ipswich established themselves in Division Two, along with moderate success in the FA Cup, most notably reaching the fifth round in the 1958–59 season.Cite web
url = http://www.fchd.info/IPSWICHT.HTM
title = Ipswich Town
publisher = fchd.info
work = Football Club History Database
accessdate = 2008-02-05]

Ipswich had their most successful season to that point in 1960–61, winning the Second Division and promotion to the top level of English football,Cite web
url = http://web.archive.org/web/20051227034454/www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/HistoryDetail/0,,10272~342496,00.html
title = Club History
publisher = Ipswich Town F.C.
accessdate = 2007-03-16] ahead of Sheffield United and Liverpool. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=90
title = Final 1960/1961 English Division 2 (old) Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2008-02-05] In the top flight, Ipswich became champions of the Football League at the first attempt in 1961–62, with Ray Crawford joint English and European top scorer with Derek Kevan of West Bromwich Albion. [Cite web
url = http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/beforegboot.html
title = European Topscorers before 1967/68
publisher = rsssf.com
work = The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
accessdate = 2008-02-05] Matt Busby described the title-winners as "...one of the First Division's most attractive sides...". As English league champions, Ipswich qualified for European football for the first time. They met Maltese side Floriana in the European Cup, defeating them 14–1 on aggregate in the first round before losing to AC Milan in the second round; it would be another 11 years before the club would qualify for Europe again. Ramsey quit the club in April 1963 to take charge of the England national football team, [Cite web
url = http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamMgr/Mgr_Ramsey.html
title = England's Coaches/Managers - Alf Ramsey
accessdate = 2008-02-05
publisher = England Football Online] and Ipswich finished only four places above relegation in the 1962–63 season. To commemorate Ramsey's success at the club, a statue of him was unveiled outside Portman Road in 2000 by Ray Crawford. [Cite web
url = http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10272~346104,00.html
title = Statue of Sir Alf Ramsey unveiled - Part One
publisher = Ipswich Town F.C.
accessdate = 2008-02-12]

Ramsey was replaced by Jackie Milburn, under whose leadership fortunes on the pitch declined. Two years after winning the league title, Ipswich dropped into the Second Division in 1963–64, conceding 121 league goals in 42 games, still the highest number of goals conceded by Ipswich in a season. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=5&seasonid=93
title = Final 1963/1964 English Division 1 (old) Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2007-03-16] Patrick Mark Cobbold, John's brother, joined the board of directors in 1964 and their mother, Lady Blanche Cobbold, became honorary president of the club. Milburn quit after just one full season and was replaced by Bill McGarry early in the 1964–65 season. The club remained in the Second Division for four years until McGarry guided Ipswich to promotion in the 1967–68 season, winning the division by a single point ahead of Queens Park Rangers. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?competitionid=6&seasonid=97
title = Final 1967/1968 English Division 2 (old) Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2007-03-16] McGarry left to manage Wolves and was replaced by Bobby Robson in January 1969.

Robson and Europe: 1969–82

Bobby Robson's appointment followed a chance encounter with Ipswich director Murray Sangster while scouting at Portman Road for Chelsea manager Dave Sexton. [cite book
last = Robson
first = Bobby
publisher = Hodder & Stoughton
year = 2005
chapter = Going underground
isbn = 034582347X
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p72
chapter = The Last Corinthians] Robson had some experience of management from his time at Fulham, although he had been sacked after failing to avoid relegation from Division Two. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p66] Robson's sides finished 18th and 19th in his first two seasons at Ipswich, but he kept the team in the top division, before finding greater success. Robson led the club to fourth place in the First Division and success in the Texaco Cup, beating local rivals Norwich City 4–2, in the 1972–73 season.Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=9
title = Bobby Robson
accessdate = 2008-02-05
publisher = Pride of Anglia.com]

The fourth place finish meant Ipswich qualified for the 1973–74 UEFA Cup. In the first round, they were drawn against six-time European champions Real Madrid. Following a 1–0 victory at Portman Road, Ipswich needed to defend their slim lead. Ipswich captain Mick Mills was reported in the Spanish press suggesting that "El Real no es invincible" ("Real are not invincible") and a 0–0 draw at the Bernabéu secured Ipswich's shock passage into the second round. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/slooze/photos.php?RollID=RealMadrid&FrameID=1973-10-03+Spanish+newspaper
title = Real Madrid v Town 1973
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-05] [Cite web
url = http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/history/season=1973/intro.html
title = Feyenoord enjoy European revival
publisher = UEFA
accessdate = 2008-02-05
date = 2006-01-01] The club fell at the quarter final stage but fourth place in the league enabled Ipswich to return to the tournament in the following season. [Cite web
url = http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10272~343381,00.html
title = Ipswich in Europe
accessdate = 2008-01-29
date = 2007-05-16
publisher = Ipswich Town F.C.]

In the 1974–75 season, Ipswich finished third in the First Division and were losing semi-finalists in the FA Cup. Suffering from cancer and becoming less able to carry out his duties as Chairman, John Cobbold swapped roles with director Patrick Cobbold in 1976. In the 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons Ipswich finished in the top six of the league and in 1977, they signed Paul Mariner from Plymouth for a club record £220,000. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/history/timeline-1970.htm
title = A Potted Club History - by Decade - The 1970's
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-06] Mariner's efforts (including seven goals in the tournament) helped the club to the second major honour in its history; [Cite web | url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/players/AppsBySeason.phtml?season=1977-78 | title = Player appearances by season - 1977–78 | publisher = Pride of Anglia| accessdate = 2008-02-12] Roger Osborne scored the winning goal in a 1–0 victory over Arsenal in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321993.stm
title = 1978 - Osbourne's year
date = 2001-05-10
accessdate = 2008-02-05
publisher = BBC Sport] The club's league fortunes dipped dramatically during the season finishing 18th, just three points above the relegation places, [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=107
title = Final 1977/1978 English Division 1 (old) Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2008-02-05] but the Cup success secured qualification for the following season's European Cup Winners' Cup. Over the next two seasons Robson brought Dutchmen Arnold Mühren and Frans Thijssen to the club while the team achieved two further top six finishes in the First Division. However, it was the 1980–81 season which, in Robson's words, "... helped put Ipswich on the map ...". [Cite web
url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20011209/ai_n14538923
title = Football: I know Toon can't finish top.. and I pray Town beat the
accessdate = 2008-02-06
date = 2001-12-09
publisher = Sunday Mirror
author = Brian McNally] The club finished second in the league once more and were losing semi-finalists in the FA Cup, but the real success of the season was victory in the UEFA Cup. Beating Michel Platini's AS Saint-Étienne 4–1 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in the quarter-finals and a 2–0 aggregate victory over 1. FC Koln in the semi-final led Ipswich to the club's first European final, played over two legs against AZ 67 Alkmaar. A 3–0 victory at Portman Road was followed by a 4–2 defeat at Alkmaar's Alkmaarderhout stadium, resulting in a 5–4 aggregate victory over the Dutch side. [Cite web
url = http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/history/season=1980/intro.html
date = 2006-01-02
accessdate = 2007-08-17
title = Ipswich thankful for Thijssen
publisher = UEFA]

Ipswich therefore began the 1981–82 UEFA Cup campaign as holders, but lost in the first round to Scottish opponents Aberdeen. Domestically, the club had continued success, finishing second in the First Division yet again, this time four points behind Liverpool. [This was the season in which three points for league victories was introduced.] [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=111
title = Final 1981/1982 English Division 1 (old) Table
accessdate = 2008-02-06
publisher = Soccerbase]

Robson's achievements with Ipswich earned him an offer from the Football Association to become the England national coach; he declined an offer of a ten-year contract extension from Ipswich director Patrick Cobbold. [cite book
last = Robson
title = Farewell but Not Goodbye
pages = p102
chapter = A town awakes] On 7 July, 1982, two days after England were knocked out of the 1982 World Cup, Bobby Robson left Ipswich to succeed Ron Greenwood as coach of England. [Cite web
url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/manager?id=31
title = Sir Bobby Robson
publisher = ESPN
accessdate = 2008-02-06] During his 13-year tenure at Ipswich, Robson brought in only 14 players from other clubs, relying instead on players developed through the club's youth programmes.Cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/sport/2005/02/28/bobby_facts.shtml
title = Sir Bobby : Ten Facts
publisher = BBC Tyne
accessdate = 2007-05-15] In 2002, in recognition of Robson's achievements with the club, a life-size statue of him was unveiled opposite the Cobbold Stand at Portman Road. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2130373.stm
title = Sir Bobby Robson statue unveiled
date = 2002-07-16
accessdate = 2007-05-14
publisher = BBC Sport] On 7 July, 2006, Robson was named as honorary president of Ipswich Town Football Club, the first since Lady Blanche Cobbold who had died in 1987.Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/5156006.stm
title = Ipswich president role for Robson
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-07-06
accessdate =2007-05-13]

After Robson: 1982–1995

Bobby Robson was replaced at Ipswich by his chief coach, Bobby Ferguson. Ferguson made the transition from coach to manager in July 1982, but some success in the various cup competitions was offset by an end to the high league positions the club had enjoyed under Robson. In the three seasons from 1982–83 to 1984–85, Ipswich reached the FA Cup quarter-final and League Cup semi-final in 1985, but declined in the league, finishing 9th, 12th and 17th. In the following season, the team's league form was even poorer, resulting in a 20th place finish and relegation to the Second Division. [There were 22 clubs in the division at that time, as shown in the referenced link.] [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=111
title = Final 1985/1986 English Division 1 (old) Table
accessdate = 2008-02-06
publisher = Soccerbase] Ipswich finished fifth in the Second Division in the 1986–87 season to qualify for the play-offs, [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=111
title = Final 1986/1987 English Division 2 (old) Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2008-02-06] but Ferguson resigned after losing to 2–1 on aggregate to Charlton Athletic. [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=10
title = Bobby Ferguson
accessdate = 2008-02-06
publisher = Pride of Anglia]

From 1987 to 1990, Ipswich Town were managed by John Duncan, but achieved only mid-table finishes each season with the club gaining a reputation as a "competent Second Division side".Cite book
title = The Who's Who of Ipswich Town
first = Dean
last = Hayes
publisher = Breedon Books
year = 2006
pages = p174
isbn = 1859835155] Duncan was sacked in June 1990 and was replaced by John Lyall, whose 14-year reign as West Ham United manager had ended the previous summer. During that time the Hammers had won the FA Cup twice and finished third in the league. [Cite web
url = http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-ham-legends-pay-tribute-to-john-lyall-their-greatest-manager-and-a-lasting-influence-474831.html
title = West Ham legends pay tribute to John Lyall, their greatest manager and a lasting influence
accessdate = 2008-02-07
publisher = The Independent
date = 2006-04-20] Lyall guided Ipswich to a mid-table finish in the 1990–91 season but a considerable improvement the following season led to winning the Second Division championship. The team was promoted to join the inaugural season of the FA Premier League. [Cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2006/05/05/john_lyall_funeral_feature.shtml
title = John Lyall
publisher = BBC Suffolk
accessdate = 2008-02-07]

After a good start to the season, Ipswich were in fourth place in the league in January 1993, but a dip in form during the final weeks of the season saw the club finish 16th. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=122
title = Final 1992/1993 English Premier Table
accessdate = 2008-02-07
publisher = Soccerbase] The next season was almost a mirror of the previous; Ipswich again made a good start, followed by a late slump in results. The club only avoided relegation when Sheffield United suffered a last-gasp 3–2 defeat at Chelsea on the final day of the season. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=123
title = Final 1993/1994 English Premier Table
accessdate = 2008-02-07
publisher = Soccerbase] Lyall was sacked as Ipswich manager in December 1994 with the club at the bottom of the Premiership. His successor George Burley was unable to turn things around and Ipswich suffered a "humiliating" 9–0 defeat at Manchester United in early March, [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/815723.stm
title = A nightmare revisited
publisher = BBC Sport
accessdate = 2008-02-07
date = 2000-07-03] the biggest margin in a Premiership match. [Cite web
url = http://www.premierleague.com/page/1994/95Season
title = Premier League history - Season 1994/95
publisher = FA Premier League
accessdate = 2008-02-07] Relegation was confirmed soon afterwards and Ipswich ended the season having conceded 93 goals in 42 league games. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=122
title = Final 1994/1995 English Premier Table
accessdate = 2008-02-07
publisher = Soccerbase] Patrick Cobbold had left his role as club Chairman in 1991, handing his position to John Kerr. His brother had died in 1983 and Patrick died suddenly in 1994, but the Cobbold connection continued when Patrick and John's nephew Major Philip William Hope-Cobbold joined the board in 1995.

Europe and administration: 1995–present

Having served on the board of directors since 1986, David Sheepshanks was appointed as club Chairman in 1995. [Cite web
url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010415/ai_n14381860
title = Football: Interview David Sheepshanks - Dynamo driving the Tractor
publisher = The Independent
accessdate = 2008-02-13
date = 2001-04-15] The next four seasons brought near-misses as the club flirted with promotion; in 1995–96, Ipswich fell one place short of the First Division play-off zone, and the ensuing three seasons brought successive semi-final play-off defeats.Cite book
title = The Who's Who of Ipswich Town
first = Dean
last = Hayes
publisher = Breedon Books
year = 2006
pages = p175
isbn = 1859835155] In 2000, Ipswich qualified for the Division One play-off final, the last such match at Wembley Stadium before the stadium was to be redeveloped. [Cite web
url = http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/championship-playoff-final-the-mowbray-method--softly-softly-450544.html
title = Championship Play-Off Final: The Mowbray method - softly, softly
accessdate = 2008-02-07
date = 2007-05-27
publisher = The Independent] They beat Barnsley 4–2 securing their return to the Premiership after an absence of five years. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/768682.stm
title = Ipswich triumph at last
accessdate = 2008-02-07
date = 2000-05-29
publisher = BBC News]

Ipswich made only one major signing during the off-season, buying Hermann Hreiðarsson from Wimbledon F.C. for a club record £4m two days before the season commenced. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/885695.stm
title = Hreidarsson joins Ipswich
accessdate = 2008-02-08
date = 2000-08-18
publisher = BBC Sport] Most observers expected Ipswich to suffer relegation from the Premiership in their first season back at this level; The Times reported "Miracle Sought in Deepest East Anglia" suggesting a bottom place finish, [Cite web
url = http://www.times-premiership.co.uk/ipswich1.html
title = Ipswich - Miracle Sought in Deepest East Anglia
publisher = The Times
author = Bill Edgar
accessdate =2008-02-08] while television pundits Rodney Marsh and Mark Lawrenson both agreed relegation would be the obvious outcome. [Cite book
title = Ipswich Town - The Inside Story
first = Philip
last = Ham
publisher = Milo Books
year = 2001
pages = p211
isbn = 1-903-85404-0] Ipswich surprised the doubters; they sustained a high league position and narrowly missed out on qualification for the UEFA Champions League, when the team failed to win on the last day of the season against Derby County. The fifth place finish gained the club a UEFA Cup place and earned George Burley the title of FA Premier League Manager of the Year, an award that has, in every other season, been given to the manager of the Premier League champions.Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7203623.stm
title = Burley set for his biggest test
date = 2008-01-24
accessdate = 2008-02-08
publisher = BBC Sport]

Matteo Sereni and Finidi George arrived before the 2001–02 season to boost the squad for its foray into Europe. The club's league form was poor, and 18 games into the campaign, Ipswich were bottom of the table with just one league victory. However, there was some relief in the UEFA Cup with a victory over Inter Milan 1–0 at home in the third round, despite which the tie was lost over two legs after a 4–1 defeat at the San Siro. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/uefa_cup/1693221.stm
title = Vieri stuns Ipswich
publisher = BBC Sport
accessdate = 2008-02-08
date = 2001-12-06] From bottom of the table at Christmas, [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/1726331.stm
title = The curse of Christmas past
accessdate = 2008-02-08
date = 2001-12-23
publisher = BBC Sport] a run of seven wins from eight fixtures appeared to have secured the team's league status, [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/results2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=131
title = Ipswich 2001/2002 results and fixtures
accessdate = 2008-02-08
publisher = Soccerbase] but another decline set in and relegation was confirmed on the final day of the season with a 5–0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1978521.stm
title = Rampant Reds sink Ipswich
accessdate = 2008-02-08
date = 2002-05-11] The loss of income due to relegation to the Championship contributed to the club going into financial administration, resulting in the sale of a number of players including Jamie Clapham, [Cite web
url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030211/ai_n12675287
title = Football: Ipswich are forced into administration by debts
date = 2003-02-11
accessdate =2008-02-08
publisher = The Independent
author = Kieran Daley] Darren Ambrose, [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/2882977.stm
title = Ambrose signs for Magpies
accessdate = 2008-02-08
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2003-03-25] and club captain Matt Holland. [Cite web
url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=271998&root=england&cc=5739
title = Charlton Athletic Season Guide
author = Dominic Raynor
date = 2003-08-09
accessdate = 2008-02-08] Ipswich had the consolation of again qualifying for the UEFA Cup, through UEFA's Fair Play system, losing in the second round to Czech side Slovan Liberec. [Cite web
url = http://football.guardian.co.uk/UEFA_Cup/Story/0,,840558,00.html
title = Ipswich pay a heavy penalty
publisher = The Guardian
date = 2002-11-15
accessdate = 2008-02-08
author = Gerry Cox] A poor start to the domestic season, leaving the club 19th in the table by mid-October, resulted in George Burley being sacked after nearly eight years as manager. [Cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/sport/features/football/itfc/burley/burley_facts.shtml
title = George Burley fact file
publisher = BBC Suffolk
accessdate = 2008-02-08]

First team coach Tony Mowbray was in charge for four games as caretaker manager, winning once, [Cite web
url = http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/managers/profile.phtml?&managerid=16
title = Tony Mowbray (caretaker)
publisher = Pride of Anglia
accessdate = 2008-02-08] but he was replaced as manager by the permanent appointment of former Oldham Athletic, Everton and Manchester City manager Joe Royle, whose managerial career had previously yielded four promotions and one FA Cup victory; [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/2363793.stm
title = Royle eyes promotion
accessdate = 2008-02-08
date = 2002-10-28
publisher = BBC Sport] as a player, he had been named player of the year in his only full season at Ipswich's local rivals Norwich City. [Cite web | url = http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/Content/Sport/CanaryCentenary/asp/GreatPlayers8.asp | title = Canary centenary | accessdate = 2008-02-13| publisher = Norwich Evening News]

When Royle became Ipswich manager, the club was struggling near the Division One relegation zone, but the change in management sparked a revival and Ipswich narrowly failed to reach the 2002–03 play-offs. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=132
title = Final 2002/2003 Football League Championship Table
accessdate = 2008-02-08
publisher = Soccerbase] The club came out of administration during the 2003–04 season, [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/2950192.stm
title = Ipswich exit administration
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2003-05-30
accessdate = 2008-02-08] and continued to challenge for promotion back to the Premier League. Ipswich finished that season in fifth place, but were beaten in the play-off semi finals by West Ham United 2–1 on aggregate. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/3713951.stm
title = West Ham reach final
accessdate = 2008-02-08
date = 2004-05-18
publisher = BBC Sport] Ipswich missed automatic promotion in the 2004–05 season, finishing third, only two points behind second-placed Wigan Athletic. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=134
title = Final 2004/2005 Football League Championship Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2008-02-08] Again, they lost to West Ham United in the play off semi-finals, this time by a 4–2 aggregate score. [Cite web
url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4537109.stm
title =Ipswich 0-2 West Ham
accessdate = 2008-02-08
publisher =BBC Sport
date = 2005-05-18] Although they had been pre-season promotion favourites for the 2005–06 season, Ipswich finished 15th, the club's lowest finish since 1966,cite web | title=Pride Of Anglia | work= Plymouth 2 - 1 Ipswich (April 30 2006 match report) | url= http://www.tmwmtt.com/sql/match_report.phtml?day=30&month=4&year=2006&sequence=0 | accessdate=2006-08-29] and Joe Royle resigned on 11 May, 2006. [Cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2006/05/12/itfc_joe_royle_departure_first_feature.shtml
title = Who will succeed Joe Royle?
publisher = BBC Suffolk
accessdate = 2008-02-05]

At a press conference held on 5 June, 2006, Jim Magilton was officially named as the new manager and former academy director Bryan Klug was appointed as first team coach. [Cite web
url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/content/articles/2006/06/05/jim_magilton_appointed_feature.shtml
title = Magilton is new Ipswich boss
accessdate = 2008-02-04
publisher = BBC Suffolk] In Magilton's first season, the club reached a final placing of 14th place in the table. [Cite web
url = http://www.soccerbase.com/league2.sd?teamid=1372&seasonid=136
title = Final 2006/2007 Football League Championship Table
publisher = Soccerbase
accessdate = 2008-02-04] In October 2007, Ipswich agreed to sell a £44m stake in the club to British businessman Marcus Evans who became the majority owner and shareholder. [Cite web
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/ipswich_town/7070904.stm
title = Ipswich agree to sell £44m stake
accessdate = 2008-02-08
date = 2007-10-31
publisher = BBC Sport] 2007–08 brought further progress for Magilton and his side, who finished eighth in the final table. [Cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7368621.stm |title = Ipswich 1-0 Hull City | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 2008-05-04 | accessdate = 2008-05-05]

References

External links

* [http://www.itfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10272~342496,00.html Club History] at itfc.co.uk