As David McGoldrick makes his international bow with Ireland against the U.S.tonight, perhaps it is time to ask who was Town’s best ever striker?
The fascinating opinion polls conducted recently by The East Anglian Daily Times have provoked me into making one of my own!
Who in your view was Ipswich Town`s best ever striker? We all have our favourites of course and much depends I suppose on when you were born but for me it has to be Paul Mariner, without a shadow of doubt!
He began his football life with Chorley in Lancashire before moving to Plymouth Argyle. Ipswich bought him under Sir Bobby Robson for 220,000 in 1976 after he choose the blues ahead of both West Ham and West Brom apparently.
He was very much a traditional centre forward but his attributes were not restricted just to his heading ability.
In many ways he was the complete centre forward because he was two footed, could find the perfect pass and his hold up play was immense. He was also a very intelligent footballer and always seemed to know when a pass or a shot was the best option, which is rare even today.
Now before my time (makes me feel almost young!) there was Ray Crawford of course and those people who followed the Town when we won the first division title with him and Ted Philips up front 1962 will argue that he was the one!
Mariner scored just 96 goals in over 260 appearances for Town which does not sound a lot but he did so much more than just score.
Between the years 1958 to 1963 Ray Crawford amassed a staggering 143 goals in just 197 appearances but of course the bulk of those goals were scored in the then second division.
It would not be fair not to mention too the likes of Darren Bent, Alex Mathie, Trevor Whymark, Marcus Stewart or perhaps even David Johnson mark two and we still wait with bated breath to see what happens to our current strike force of Irish internationals Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick?
Could they reach the Town striker hall of fame in the future is or is that a bridge too far?
Now then, who was your favourite Town striker and why?
Surely the quiet folk of Suffolk have opinions too so I am patiently waiting to hear from you!
