Wednesday 15th July (Friendly):
Brentford 1-3 Ipswich Town
By Tim Edwards
First game of preseason and a chance to ease ourselves in gently. The
travelling isn't so bad, to West London. The facilities were a bit League 1,
and a reminder of how far Nardge have fallen.
It really wasn't all that competitive. Just a relaxation of muscles unused
for so long, and an opportunity to get the team dynamic working again.
It didn't work all that smoothly. The teamwork was lacking at first.
Cos we managed to split the branch between several different pubs. The
Magpie and Crown was excellent, with a decent strong ale, brilliantly
powerful crisps and a chiche-ridden if not flea-bitten Jack Russell terror
asleep on his master's lap, chin on the bar.
The football ? No tackles much. An early goal from Lee Martin who looked a
class above what we are used to. A worry when we conceded as their one-trick
left winger got a cross in and a central defence of Devosnayloresque
missingness gave Shane Supple no chance with the eventual shot. Connor
Wickham scored with a smart bit of play shortly before the break.
Halftime heralded a chat with several old mates, and a forage to the burger
stand. Burgers were above acceptable though lack of onions a bit of a
downer.
We moved from seats to standing for the second half. Town made a load of
subs. We gave Lewis Price a decent reception in their goal - good on him for
taking the drop down a league to rekickstart his career.
The game meandered on. Garvs "will be disappointed with himself at missing
that one". Late on, Jordan Rhodes scored from a super header from a great
cross provided by the decidedly undisappointed OG.
And we said our goodbyes. Plodded 100 yards to the Griffin. Had a beer with
a dozen or so branch mates. Met Tony Storton (branch webmaster and
responsible for getting this online). And Phil Loy, congratulating him yet
again on that great darts cup win. And Horry. Who hasn't changed at all -
thank goodness.
So. A gentle intro to a long season. Will it end with an England win in
Joburg, with a London Branch flag proudly displayed to the world ?
And we got to remember just why London Branch is so brilliant.
To close.
We might wonder why some of the Town support started singing "no noise from
the cockney boys" - (they need a lesson in geography once term restarts).
and expect a future rant if they manage to maintain the "Ten German Bombers"
song beyond verse 5 next time.
Friday 17th July (Friendly):
Waterford 0 - 3 Ipswich Town
By Tim Edwards
Waterford 0 ITFC 3 - Friday 11th July. A warm evening. A few pints of Beamish at the pub owned by the Chair of the Waterford Supporters Club,
who also organised a coach to take us the mile or so to the stadium. A full house of around 3000 and a gentle run-out against weak but
enthusiastic opposition. Shame about the section 6-ers, who, for all their enthusiasm and excellent Roy Keane banner, embarrassed us hugely
with their usual repetoire of abusive songs, including swearing and "adult themes", quite apart from a wholly tasteless rendition of Nardge going off
to see the Pope - guys, this is Waterford, it's a family crowd with loads of young kids out with their parents, and you really need to learn when to
dish it out.
Waterford's a lovely town, really friendly. A tiny airport (flight from Luton with Aer Arann). And a place we really hope to go back to, time and time
again. After the game, we nipped down to Norris's Bar again, and after a few quiet pints, went to leave to wind our way down the hill to our hotel. It
was just afer 1.30am. We were locked in. That is what a good preseason is all about.
Sunday 19th July (Friendly)
Cork City 2 - 0 Ipswich Town
By Tim Edwards
A whole weekend away in Ireland, and I only had a single pint of Guinness the whole time we were away. Because the South-East of Ireland is the
home of Beamish (brewed in Cork itself), and it is - imho - the best of the three big branded stouts. We looked forward to the Cork game - nice
weather, a friendly pub full of Town fans, and a likely Town win against a club in big financial trouble, who had just sold two of their midfielders to
Hartlepool. [addendum - CoOlin Healy has sinced joined Town after we hijacked the deal, and is looking like a decent player]. Unfortunately for us,
Cork played as if they were all in with a chance of a lucrative contract with Town (surely not - Roy Keane sign an Irishman ???). While we played
like we already all had lucrative contracts and a guaranteed first-team place. They won 2-0. We were awful.
After the game, we caught up with the team at the airport. No laughing or joking - they had clearly been listening to a few quiet words from the boss
- followed by many noisy ones. They sat slumped in ones and twos, not saying a word. I had a short chat with David Norris, who said it had been a
wake-up call, that the players were aware of what they have to do - and that they will get it right. Roy Keane said as much to Liz, his eyes flashing
as he promised her that "it will be sorted". She claims she told him that the performance was unacceptable - I don't believe her.
Wednesday 22nd July (Friendly):
Southend United 0 - 2 Ipswich Town
By Tim Edwards
Southend away, Wednesday 22nd July. A short trip out of London to darkest Essex, and around 300 town fans watching a game that was
supposed to correct all that was wrong about the performance at Cork a few days before. We weren't great, but we were good enough to run out
comfortable 2-0 winners, a brace from Liam Trotter doing the business. The game will not live long in the memory, though.
Tuesday 28th July (Friendly):
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Ipswich Town
By Sandra Cunningham
There was another defeat for Ipswich at The Valley, where we have had a recent run of very poor performances and results. However, this was a very different team and situation to the previous visits, as we sat in a crowd of around 5,000 at a club more geared up to and used to playing Premiership football, but now preparing for life in League One. There were also no former Ipswich players in the opposition.
Ipswich started with a very inexperienced and I guess experimental team, with Ed Upson, Reggie Lambe, Tommy Smith and Connor Wickham all players who are more used to the Academy than the first team, Shane O’Connor fresh from the Anfield Academy and Colin Healy from the Irish League. With this in mind, it was no real surprise that a full strength Charlton side were more than a match for us and went into a two-nil lead before half-time, courtesy of two penalties. The first one given was pretty cut and dried, with O’Connor bringing their man down in the penalty area, but the second one, given against Shumi is one I’d be furious about being given in a competitive and heaven forbid important game. It was very much ball to arm, yes not even hand and not much that Shumi could do about it. Up stepped Deon Burton twice to put both penalties away to record a brace, one less than the hat trick he scored against the last East Anglian visitors to The Valley
The second half was much better and saw the usual flurry of subs, but this time to strengthen, not weaken the team as is usually the case in these type of games, with Garvan, Norris, Walters and Stead all coming into the game, and giving us more strength and shape. We immediately pulled a goal back through yet another penalty. Up stepped Wickham whose shot was saved, but Norris deftly put in the rebound to give the scoreline a more realistic and respectable look.
A game of almost two Ipswich teams and three penalties sees us nearing the end of our pre-season and it is still hard to call how the season will pan out. It looks like Keane will give youth a chance, he looks to be keen on the central striker role and to be grooming Healy for the holding role, but who really knows. I expect Friday will hold more clues and would not be surprised to see another couple of additions to the squad before
9th August kick-off. One thing you can be sure of though, we will give our all and all the players will be geared up and pumping under Roy Keane, who was more animated and expressive than his usual pose leaning against the dugout with his arms folded...
Tuesday 28th July (Friendly):
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Ipswich Town
By Tim Edwards
A tiny "crowd" at the Valley, though we had maybe 300 or so there. A few beers in the Rake beforehand were a good start to the evening
(both above 7% abv so a little challenging). We timed our arrival perfectly for kickoff, a full Charlton side facing a Town team that saw several first-teamers rested / not risked.
It was not a great game. Charlton went 2-0 up through two penalties. In the second half we strengthened the side, Norris notably adding energy and class, with a two-thirds strength side bossing the second half, pulling one back with a Norris strike after Wickham's penalty was saved. A draw would have been fair, but the match showed that we do lack a bit of strength in depth.
The evening finished in the Market Porter. A good way to end a gentle night out. Shame we won't be playing there in the league this season.
Saturday 2nd August (Friendly):
Lowestoft Town 1-1 Ipswich Town XI
By Tim Edwards
The best way to get a football fix this weekend was to pootle up the coast to see a Town team of yoofs and triallists at Lowestoft, who have secured
a bit of a reputation in recent years with successive championships and an FA Vase Final Billed as the Trawler Boys v the Tractor Boys (and they
wear blue too !), it was hardly a pulsating encounter, with barely a foul and a pitch that was bumpier than that used by Lea Valley FC (you'll be
hearing more about them later in the season). Lowestoft have finally achieved Ryman League status, despite their ground (which is inadequate
enough to have halted their elevation for some years). Shame. It's the kind of place to enjoy a preseason game, with one stand (covered, proper
wooden seats), the chance to walk right round the ground, and a bar at one end with the unusual opportunity to sup beer while watching the game.
They had a "section 6" equivalent, contributing little to atmosphere.
The match itself was largely unmemorable, though the young Town side did well enough against a well-organised Lowestoft who are likely to do
very well at Ryman level this season. Apparently we requested the game, and it was good judgment as they gave us a real test. Their best striker
was apparently missing as he's on holiday. I wondered about Pablo and Lisbie.
A 1-1 draw. Goal from a triallist who might be Dutch, and is a shorter and squatter Rud Gullit. Their goal was a peach of a chip. The ground has a
chip shop next door.
If you are in their neck of the woods and there's a game on, then do pop in. Crowds vary from 500 - 1500 (for the Big One v Yarmouth or
Gorleston), and it's a friendly place.
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