In an extraordinary move, new Ipswich boss Paul Lambert has gone back to the future today, by inviting some of Town former stars to join him at Playford Road.
Now we know that Lambert has a fond recollection of our former years and the players that helped mould our wonderful success story in the seventies and eighties but to see John Wark, George Burley and Terry Butcher share a photo-shoot with him, was a remarkable P.R. exercise at the very least.
The trio discussed all things Ipswich Town over lunch with Lambert and his coaching staff and they were quizzed over what they thought needed to be done to make Ipswich Town great again? George Burley explained on the club website that they really do believe that the manager has the very best interests of the club at heart and said proudly, ” We all appreciated Paul asking us down and wanting to get our thoughts. It was a good conversation. We all want the very best for Ipswich Town.”
All three players found the experience rewarding and it rather seems that the feeling was mutual, as they spent quite a few hours in the company of the new man at the helm and their advice could be invaluable to the manager as well. John Wark was also very upbeat about this unexpected invitation and said, “It was great to be invited down. It’s the first time a manager has asked me to go and have a chat and some lunch as well and I really appreciated it.”
Former Ipswich and England captain Terry Butcher summed the whole day up when he said, “He’s very good, he wants to get a few of the older boys together and talk about our opinions and things like that. He’s doing all the right things. He’s meeting people, he’s talking to people, he’s getting information, he’s doing everything right.”
Certainly, this reunion of Town’s three musketeers would have even more complete if it has not been for the sad departure recently of the fourth musketeer, and arguably Town greatest ever player. I feel sure Kevin Beattie would have been there in spirit too this afternoon, and he would surely have applauded the ingenuity of this eventful gathering when Town went back to the future.
This kind of thing gets the fans onside too and Paul’s Canary days are nothing more than a very hazy memory now thankfully. Once again, I like what he is doing and although I am not convinced that our performance was anywhere near as good as some people are suggesting last Saturday, at least Lambert has got the full support of the Town faithful and this alone is a good reason to feel cheerful.
F.W. editor of Vital Ipswich
