On the Map - Sir Bobby Robson, the Ipswich Town Years Book

On The Map is Ipswich Town supporter Nick Fuller's account of Sir Bobby Robson's incredible 13 year tenure at Portman Road - a period during which he turned an unfashionable provincial side into one of the best teams in Europe. It was the springboard to Robson's many later successes at international and European club level that have made him today one of football's universal heroes. Robson arrived in 1969 to a mixed reception from fans and players alike. The early years were a fight to earn respect during which he overcame player revolt and early bad results by doing things his way.He developed a policy of blooding young homegrown players supplied via one of the best scouting set ups in the country that produced players of the calibre of Kevin Beattie, John Wark, Terry Butcher and Alan Brazil. He proved to be an equally shrewd operator in the transfer market. The likes of Allan Hunter, Paul Mariner, David Johnson and Bryan Hamilton all arrived for relatively modest fees. His innovation was exemplified by the Dutch signings of Frans Thijssen and Arnold Murhren - two of the earliest and most successful European imports that changed the English game. The Robson years were a period of unprecedented success for Ipswich Town. A decade of consistency created regular European football and culminated in FA Cup and UEFA Cup wins. Off the pitch, Robson and the legendary Cobbold brothers bought a sense of 'joie de vivre' to proceedings that made the period truly unique.It was an incredible time. For fans of a blue and white persuasion it may be one that they'll never see again.Read More