Match Twenty-Two – Ipswich 2 – Middlesbrough 0
At one point, I thought I might miss this match.
But as luck would have it, I was on the 13:00 rather than the 13:30 train out of London, so the delay induced by signalling problems in the Shenfield area only meant I missed the first ten minutes or so of the match.
I’ll put in this quote from the Middlesbrough manager; Aitor Karanka, as it sums up what happened well.
Ipswich wanted it more than us. Murphy was first to the rebound for their first goal, Teddy Bishop at 18 years old was the best player on the pitch and Jay Tabb, at 5ft 5ins, scored with his head.
With a bit of luck, we’d have had a third, but a two-nil victory keeps us near the top of the Championship.
Match Twenty-One – Bolton 0 – Ipswich 0
The Reebok stadium is one of the shortest walks to the ground from the nearest rail station of Horwich Parkway.
Walking To The Reebok Stadium From Horwich Parkway Station
It was a bitterly cold day and I don’t think we saw either team playing at their best, so we got a goalless draw.
Serious Faces And Hats In The Cold
I also think, Ipswich were missing Stephen Hunt’s left-footed delivery from free kicks and corners.
After the match the trains into Manchester gave a superb demonstration of why the line needs to be electrified and the Ordsall Chord built.
One totally inadquate two carriage trained turned up after twenty minutes in the cold. At least it was followed by an eight-carriage one going to Manchester Piccadilly.
Have The Ipswich Players Seen A Future They Might Like?
According to this article in the Daily Mail, the average salary in the Premier League is £43,717 a week.
Ipswich’s team cost just £10,000, which was what Mick McCarthy paid Chippenham Town for the raw talent of Tyrone Mings. But having met several of the players, they don’t seem to fit the stereotype of thick idiots, who can kick a ball a bit.
The players do contain, some players like Daryl Murphy, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hunt and Christophe Berra, who’ve had experience of the top level, but have never really established themselves there.
There are also quite a few players, who are best described as taking a second or even a last chance. Players like Tommy Smith, Paul Anderson, Alex Henshall, Kevin Bru and David McGoldrick could be in this category.
Add in a few competent players from a variety of sources and you get what Mick McCarthy repeatedly calls a great bunch of blokes.
So has someone like the eloquent Murphy, explained to the others that if they can keep this form together and get the team into the Premier League, they all might get at least one year of a good salary, that will set them up for life, if they don’t succumb to the temptations.
You might also credit Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor, who took Wolves into the Premier League and saw it all go wrong! They probably don’t want a thunderstorm to strike twice.
If Mick has a problem, it is what to do in the January transfer window. Does he do a bit of dealing to improve the team, but possibly disrupt the spirit? Or does he just pick up some more injury cover like Noel Hunt from high level discards and basically sit tight?
Whatever is happening, it’ll certainly be an exciting ride to the end of the season.
Match Twenty – Ipswich 4 – Leeds 1
On the 19th November 1966, when I was a student at Liverpool University, Liverpool beat Leeds United at Anfield by five goals to nil.
A friend of mine;Ian Brown, had gone and was euphoric when he came home. Not only Ian, but the whole red half of the city was on cloud nine. Even nearly fifty years ago, most fans relished their team beating Leeds.
Today, on the train up to Ipswich, several Leeds fans were optimistic of a win, especially if the team kept up their good form of late.
But after scoring a very early goal, Leeds faded and got well beaten 4-1.
The 1960s match at Liverpool and the one at Ipswich today, illustrate one of the big changes in football in that fifty years. Ian had wanted to go to the biggest match of the day and he just turned up and bought a ticket, something I did many times before the 1980s.
A Different Class Of Footballer
Every few years or so, a footballer breaks through, who is at a totally different level to all his peers, both on the field and off.
In my sixty years of watching football, both live or on the television, I’ve seen just a few players like this; Franz Beckenbauer, Danny Blanchflower, Bobby Charlton, Johann Cruyf, Emlyn Hughes, Kevin Keegan and Jurgen Klinsmann. In a few years time some others like David Beckham, Lucas Radebe and Sol Campbell might be added to this list.
Of the players I’ve named, some like Beckham and Keegan would never be in the same class as the others, but they both possess an intelligence that enables them to make best use of what they’ve got.
Tyrone Mings is an unusual footballer, in that after being discarded by Southampton, he got a football scholarship at Millfield School. Here’s the first two paragraphs from the report in the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald.
Tyrone Mings, son of Bluebirds boss Adie Mings, has begun a football scholarship at the prestigious Millfield School and is still dreaming of becoming a professional player.
The former Sheldon School pupil, 16, had been on the books at Southampton FC but was released the financially-troubled club in December after their youth budget was slashed.
Then by way of unfashionable clubs like Yate Town and Chippenham Town, he got transferred to Ipswich for the sum of £10,000, to realise his dream.
So just like Beckham and Keegan, he probably has this will to get to the top.
On the BBC web site today, Mick McCarthy talks about a possible bid for Mings from Arsenal. The article says this.
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has said he is pleased that Arsenal are keeping tabs on defender Tyrone Mings.
It then goes on to say this under a heading of The Generosity Of Mings.
1. In March 2013, Mings provided two tickets to a supporter who had said on Twitter that he was too “skint” to go to a game.
2. Last year he spent part of Christmas Day feeding homeless people. “We spent a couple of hours helping to prepare the food and talking to the people there.”
3. After his squad number changed from 15 to three in the summer, he arranged for two fans with the old number to receive new shirts.
So he’s certainly got the intelligence and character, so let’s hope he doesn’t waste it.
But has he got the football skills? He reminds me in a way of Cyril Knowles, who I saw many times playing for Spurs in the 1960s and 1970s. He’s also certainly got speed to rival most players and the instinct of turning up in the opponent’s penalty area like Liverpool favourite Chris Lawler. Only in a couple of years time, will we know how good Mings really is.
Match Nineteen – Charlton 0 – Ipswich 1
Unlike Bournemouth, Charlton was only a short trip across the Thames. I actually crossed on the Emirates Air Line.
On The Emirates Air Line
It was then a short ride on a 486 bus to Charlton station.
As I set out, I thought we might have had a chance of a win, but hopes were beginning to fade as a close fought match, which had produced 40 shots according to the BBC, was coming to the end.
But then substitute, Noel Hunt playing his first match for Ipswich, came on and a few minutes after suffering a blood injury, he managed to drill home his first goal for nearly two years.
We certainly all celebrated long after the match.
Getting home everything seemed to be locked solid, so I walked to Woolwich and got the ferry to my side of the River.
On The Woolwich Ferry
I wonder how many people have flown to a football match and then taking a ferry home.
At least, when I got home around five, I had the pleasure of knowing that Ipswich are now up to second in the Championship.
I also looked at the map after I got home.
The O2 To The Valley
Note the O2 in the top left, with North Greenwich station just below and The Valley in the bottom right, with Charlton station close by.
I would estimate that next time, I get stuck there, it will take about half-an-hour to walk to North Greenwich station for the Jubilee line.
Improving Walking Routes To Football Stadia
I’m using football stadia as an example, but it could equally be any other important building, like a hospital or a museum, or any number of sporting venues.
The problem was brilliantly illustrated yesterday at Bournemouth, where I walked the obvious route to Dean Court, that I’d used twice before. But after seeing Bournemouth fans at Pokesdown station turning the other way, I thought there must be a better route. Stewards gave me directions to one, that was the other two sides of a quadrilateral, that was five minutes shorter.
A few signs are all that are needed, with perhaps a few metres of asphalt to make the walking easier.
At Ipswich, you come out of the station and you can see the ground. But there are also maps everywhere for the lost, although for visiting fans there isn’t any indication of where they should go. In this map, away fans go to the bottom right corner of the ground, which is the area of the ground you get to first as you walk up Portman Road.
Ipswich Station And Portman Road
Since this map was produced, the biggest improvement has been putting the Sir Bobby Robson Bridge across the river. This provides an important walking route between the south western parts of the town and the centre and the football ground.
Note that in this map, the station is indicated by the red arrow symbol, as they are in all the other maps.
There are a few groups in the Premier League and Championship that have their own stops or are less than fifteen minutes from a rail, tube, tram or metro stop.
Arsenal – This has three stations at Arsenal, Finsbury Park and Highbury and Islington.
Aston Villa – The stations are Aston and Witton
Chelsea – Take your pick from Fulham Broadway, Imperial Wharf and West Brompton
Crystal Palace – Norwood Junction is five minutes away.
Everton – Sandhills station and then the Soccerbus.
Hull City – There is a walking route from Hull station.
Liverpool – Sandhills station and then the Soccerbus.
Manchester City – Take the Metrolink to Etihad Campus.
So could the walking routes to other grounds in the top two divisions, particularly from the nearest rail station, be improved?
Birmingham City
The walking route from Bordesley station isn’t very long or difficult, as this map shows.
Bordesley Station And Birmingham City
But it’s just downright dangerous, as there is no pedestrian route around Bordesley Circus. I wrote about it in this post; A Pedestrian Crossing From Hell.
I have heard from Birmingham City Council, who say that something is being done.
If you look at the map, you’ll see the Camp Hill Line passing at the side of the ground. If Birmingham City are ever successful and need to rebuild the ground, if feasible planning permission should include a station at the new stadium.
It is a long term aspiration of Birmingham City Council to open this line to passenger traffic. The way the tide is turning in favour of rail, I wouldn’t bet against this happening.
Blackburn
Ewood Park is a tricky ground to get to, as you have two stations in the town; Blackburn and Mill Hill.
I usually go to the ground by Blackburn, as I usually change trains for the area in Manchester, so that I can get a meal if I need one.
To get between the station and the ground, I normally use a bus, which isn’t as easy as it could be, as the information is rudimentary.
Mill Hill is nearer to the ground and walk-able, as this map shows.
Mill Hill Station And Ewood Park
But I think there are two problems with using Mill Hill.
To return to the station would be a walk up the hill.
But the main reason, I would not go to Mill Hill, is that I can’t get a direct train to that station from Manchester. As you have to change trains in Blackburn, I might. just as well get out there and catch a bus.
Cardiff
The preferred route to get to the ground is to take a train to Grangetown station, but Ninian Park station is nearer, but the trains aren’t so good.
Grangetown And Ninian Park Stations, And Cardiff City Stadium
All this might change when the local lines around Cardiff are electrified, as they seem to be improving stations.
Derby
Derby is an easy walk between Derby station and Pride Park, as the map shows.
Derby Station And Pride Park
I did get lost though, so I think a few more signposts would help, as would another light-controlled crossing on Derwent Parade.
Leicester
I wasn’t sorry when Leicester City got promoted, as the walk to get to the stadium is not a short one.
Leicester Station And Stadia
I think it would be helped with some better signs. I generally take the road opposite the station and aim for Welford Road, I pass the rugby ground and you can see the King Power stadium.
Nottingham
This map shows Nottingham station and the two Nottingham football grounds; Meadow Lane and the City Ground.
Nottingham Station And The Football Grounds
I have walked between the station and the City Ground probably a dozen times and it’s flat and not a route that has many opportunities to get lost. But as the map shows, you walk alongside a waterway and surely access to this would make the walk more pleasant. It would also help if some improvements could be implemented at both ends of the route.
One thing that I’ve never had explained to me, is why are there no plans to serve the two football grounds and the cricket ground using the Nottingham tram.
Wigan
I’ve always thought that getting from Wigan North Western station to the DW Stadium was very difficult, so I generally take a taxi. I’ve just looked at the map.
Wigan North Western And The DW Stadium
The distance isn’t great but it doesn’t appear to be signposted at all. Note that there is a canal and Wigan Pier, that could be on the route,so it could bring visitors to an area that the council is developing, into the Wigan Pier Quarter.
Match Eighteen – Bournemouth 2 – Ipswich 2
Bournemouth would have been a long way to go and come back with nothing!
I wasn’t optimistic as I sat having brunch in Carluccio’s in Waterloo station and nothing on the way down did anything to convince me that we wouldn’t lose.
But lose we didn’t and I was one of a group of fellow Ipswich supporters, who took the train back to London.
I won’t talk about the two Bournemouth goals, but I will say that our first equaliser was surprising and the second was well-taken.
Teddy Bishop‘s first goal for Ipswich was surprising, in that instead of being from a long range effort, he appeared in the box to side foot a low Tyrone Mings cross past the keeper.
On the other hand, Daryl Murphy’s goal was typical of what he has been scoring in the last twelve months. It is best described as a well-taken looping header from a superbly taken free kick from Paul Anderson.
As to Bournemouth, they were the best team we’ve faced at season and I think that pundits underrate them at their peril. Make sure you get your ticket for the return match at Portman Road on Friday, April 3rd, early.
Walking To Dean Court
Dean Court is not too far away from Pokesdown station. But the route between the two does need to be better signposted and it isn’t all tarmac
The shortest route through the park was not easy in the dark for someone with dodgy eyesight. Luckily, I was guided by a group of Bournemouth fans. This map shows the area.
Pokesdown And AFC Bournemouth
Come out of the station, turn left and then left again into Clarence Park Road. When you get to the park and the cemetery, you should be able to see the ground. There are paths through the park to the ground.
The great advantage of this route is that it brings you to the corner of the ground, where the away fans enter to take their seats. It also avoids having to walk past the Ukip shop.
It took me about seventeen minutes to walk back to the station after the match. Ipswich station takes about ten minutes from the ground.
Match Seventeen – Ipswich 1 – Watford 0
This was a another cracking game, where Ipswich got their third win on the bounce.
The goal was a long range effort for Tommy Smith from just outside the six ysrd box, after Kevin Bru’s shot started to play pinball.
Kevin Bru is coming on and I think we could see a lot of him this season. He certainly is better than a free transfer.
Oxford Takes A Leaf Out Of Cambridge’s Book
When I visited all of the 92 football clubs in England, Oxford was one of the most difficult to get to. I said this.
Oxford, must surely be one of the most difficult stadia to get to from the town centre, even if you have a car. And if you do, you have to actually drive along the by-pass where there are queues of traffic. Of all the taxis I have taken to get to and from grounds, Oxford was by far the most expensive.
But from 2020, it’ll all be different.
According to the BBC, Chiltern Trains are opening up the Cowley branch to passenger trains, which will stop at the Science and Business Parks. Some reports say this will also handle the football ground.
But it is good to see Oxford following Cambridge and having a station at the Spence Park.
The Anonymous Widower 