Thanks, No Thanks – Ipswich Town

Courtesy Graham Burrell

Ipswich Town are not a side we’ve had a lot of transfer dealing with, and for good reason.

We’ve mostly shopped in very different markets, with them predominately a top two tier team, whilst we’ve always been the basement boys. Up until a certain pair of Essex boys came to the club, we didn’t have any direct transfer between us for a good two or three decades.

Much changed in the 2016/17 season, including our links to the Tractor Boys. I remember exactly where I was when their name came out of the hat for the FA Cup third-round tie; the Travis Perkins suite. First ball out; Ipswich Town. Second ball out; Lincoln City.

Ring any bells? It’s much the same as the draw for this year’s first round, which has led to this article. In our usual ‘thanks, no thanks’ piece, I’ve managed to select a few reasons to say thank you, and even a couple not to. Let’s start with a big thanks, shall we?

Thanks – 2017

2016/17 was a season that will live long in the memory. It brought a generation of fans back to the Bank and it all started against Oldham in the FA Cup Second Round.

If we’d then been pumped 6-0 at Portman Road, maybe the dream would have died quickly. Those new and returning fans might not have got the taste of joy that captures us and keeps us coming back time and again. The 4,000 that went to Portman Road, some coming back for the very first time, might have gone away upset at an inept display. Instead, Theo Robinson bagged a brace in a game we should have won.

The return leg is a night listed by many (including me) as one of the greatest Sincil Bank has ever seen. When Nathan Arnold rounded the keeper after Adam Marriott sumptuous through ball, I could have cried. I may have cried. Ipswich Town; thank you for playing a part in Lincoln City history, even if you weren’t entirely willing to do so.

Courtesy Graham Burrell

3 Comments

  1. I fancy Oldham was the second round, once we had got past Altrincham, wasn’t it? And didn’t we have to come through the fourth qualifying round as well? I’m splitting hairs, I know but then I always was a pedant as well as a peasant!

  2. It was a crying shame James Wilson didn’t get a chance to play centre half regularly at city as I thought he looked a talented player at the time and the injury at Cambridge? Put him at the back of the queue unfortunately.
    I think he has a good future ahead and I hope it works out for him at Ipswich. After Saturday of course!
    Michael Appleton has a good cup record no?

  3. Guisely(x2)Altrincham,Oldham and then Ipswich
    I think!
    I always thought we took over 5000 to Portman road,Cup fever and hope had really gripped the city again.Sadly only a 1000+ this time. What odds on a draw saturday and another replay win?

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