Heroes & Villains – Ipswich Town
Hero – John Wark
Wark had three separate spells at Portman Road, playing 679 times and scoring 179 goals. He is Ipswich’s third highest goalscorer of all-time and is in the Ipswich Town Hall of Fame.
He made his way through the ranks before making his first-team debut in 1975, in a victory over a Leeds United side that were about to reach the European Cup Final.
He became an established first team regular in the 1976/77 season and was part of the Ipswich side that won the FA Cup the following season. Wark scored one of Ipswich’s three goals in their semi final win over West Bromwich Albion and played in the win over Arsenal in the Final.
Wark was instrumental in Ipswich’s UEFA Cup win, contributing with 14 goals in the 1980/81 Cup run. This was a competition record at the time.
He was an established Scotland international and played 29 times for his country, scoring 7 times.
He left for Liverpool in 1984, returning ‘home’ to Portman Road in 1988. His second spell at Ipswich wasn’t a happy one, despite winning back to back Player of the Year awards and left to join Middlesbrough.
After a year at Ayresome Park, he returned to Ipswich for a third and final time. He helped Ipswich to the Second Divsion title and again was awarded the Player of the Year.
He would play out the rest of his career at Portman Road and was 39 years old when he made his last appearance against Tranmere Rovers on 30th November 1996.
Villains – The starting line-up against Manchester United on 4th March 1995
Ipswich were going through an awful 1994/95 season when they faced current Double winners Manchester United at Old Trafford.
A daunting prospect at the best of times, Ipswich must have been pleased to only go in at half-time 3-0 down.
However, a rampant Manchester United side came out in the second half and hit another six goals past Craig Forrest to win the game 9-0 and set a record victory that still stands to this day.
Andy Cole scored five goals for United, Mark Hughes grabbed a double and Roy Keane and Paul Ince completed the scoring.
The Ipswich Town line-up that day was: Craig Forrest, Frank Yallop, John Wark, David Linighan, Neil Thompson, Steve Palmer, Geraint Williams, Steve Sedgley, Stuart Slater, Lee Chapman (Ian Marshall), Alex Mathie.
Ipswich ended the season rock bottom of the table with only seven wins from 42 games.
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