Synopsis
Ipswich Town FC are back in Europe after years of struggle. Now author Phil Ham lays bare the inside story of the dramatic past decade at the club. With exclusive access to current and former players, managers and club personnel, Ipswich Town: The Inside Story tells how the former League contenders and European campaigners slumped from the Premier League to hit rock bottom in the mid-90s, their plight symbolised by a managerial merry-go-round and by an infamous 9-0 thrashing at Manchester United. Then came the turning point - the appointment in 1994 of former playing star George Burley as manager, soon followed by new chairman David Sheepshanks. Author Phil Ham reveals how they rid the club of debt, cleared dead wood from the playing squad and reached three play-offs in a row before finally returning to the Premier League in 2000. Tipped for instant relegation, the Blues surprised everyone by clinching a place in Europe for the 2001-2 season, while George Burley was named Manager of the Year. Packed with interviews with former players and managers including Paul Mariner, Russell Osman, George Burley, Jason Dozzell, Bobby Robson, John Lyall, John Wark and Bobby Ferguson, The Inside Story is a fascinating, fly-on-the-wall account of life in the modern, high-pressure era of top-level soccer.
About the Author
The author, Philip Ham, was born in Ipswich and has been watching Town play since 1979. He has edited the fanzine Those Were The Days since 1995 and is a long-standing columnist for the Evening Star newspaper in Ipswich.
