Written in 2018

As supporters of Ipswich Town, we’re no strangers to the lows. In fact, we probably endure them more than most. That’s why we savour our moments of success longer than fans of other clubs—perhaps only Liverpool fans cling to the past more tightly.

Some will say our greatest achievement came just 17 years after turning professional, when we won the league championship. But since I wasn’t alive to witness that, I’ve always looked to what I consider our second-greatest moment—the 1981 UEFA Cup triumph.

Much has been written about that glorious season—our run through Europe, our second-place league finish, and the FA Cup journey. But this piece isn’t about the highs. It’s about what came next. The breakup of that incredible side and the eventual replacements for the eleven players who started both legs of the UEFA Cup Final.

Let’s remind ourselves of the eleven:

1. Paul Cooper
2. Steve McCall
3. Mick Mills
4. Frans Thijssen
5. Russell Osman
6. Terry Butcher
7. John Wark
8. Arnold Mühren
9. Paul Mariner
10. Alan Brazil
11. Eric Gates

They bowed out of the FA Cup in the fifth round to Shrewsbury that same season. But five of them—Mills, Butcher, Wark, Mariner, and Brazil—were selected for the England squad at the 1982 World Cup. George Burley was also included. Sadly, Mühren and Thijssen missed out, as the Netherlands failed to qualify.

Although the 1981 season is rightly hailed as a high watermark, the following season was no disaster either. We were runners-up in the league again, and we reached the League Cup semi-finals—losing to Liverpool over two legs. Our European campaign, however, ended early with a first-round exit to a young Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen.

What caused the decline? You could trace it back to England’s World Cup exit. If we’d beaten West Germany or Spain in the second group stage, maybe Bobby Robson wouldn’t have been offered the England job. Or maybe, if the FA had chosen Brian Clough instead, Robson would have stayed. But fate intervened.

The Departures Begin

Robson, having been offered a 10-year deal by the Cobbold family, left for the national job. One of his final duties was informing club captain Mick Mills that he wouldn’t be offered a new contract. Mills moved to Southampton and became a key part of Lawrie McMenemy’s side. The fee? Just £40,000.

Soon after, Arnold Mühren was poached by Manchester United, lured by Big Ron. Six months later, Frans Thijssen followed suit—joining Nottingham Forest. Neither move earned Town a penny. In the space of months, we lost the captain and two of the finest Dutch imports the league had seen.

Then came Alan Brazil, who moved to Spurs. At least this time we got paid: £425,000.

The most painful exits, however, came in 1984. John Wark left for Liverpool (£450,000), and Paul Mariner moved to Arsenal for just £150,000.

By 1985, Osman and Gates were gone—Osman to Leicester for £270,000 and Gates to Sunderland, his boyhood club, for £150,000.

Relegation followed in 1986. Terry Butcher joined Rangers for £725,000. Paul Cooper went to Leicester on a free. Steve McCall, the final member of the XI, departed for Sheffield Wednesday for £300,000.

The Cost of a Golden Generation

In total, the 11 players were sold for a combined fee of £2.51 million, which adjusts to roughly £7.5 million in 2018 terms. A paltry sum for a side that once competed with the best in Europe.

Who Replaced Them?

This is speculative, based on who replaced them in the squad for an extended period. Some were already at the club; some were not direct successors. But here’s how the team changed:

• Paul Cooper → Jon Hallworth
• Steve McCall → Frank Yallop
• Mick Mills → David Barnes
• Frans Thijssen → Romeo Zondervan
• Russell Osman → Ian Cranson
• Terry Butcher → Tony Humes
• John Wark → Trevor Putney
• Arnold Mühren → Mark Brennan
• Paul Mariner → Alan Sunderland
• Alan Brazil → Mich D’Avray
• Eric Gates → Kevin Wilson

Of the replacements, six came through the youth system, four arrived on free transfers, and only Kevin Wilson cost a fee—£150,000.

Why Did It All Fall Apart?

There’s plenty to debate over a pint. Losing the manager certainly hurt. So did the board’s decision to prioritise stadium upgrades over squad rebuilding. Some players, reportedly, became difficult with contract demands (Wark and Mariner). Replacing Robson with Bobby Ferguson—talented, but not a natural leader—was a costly mistake.

And what about Robson himself? A genius, yes—but did we have enough depth beyond the starting eleven? It’s often noted he only signed 14 players during his entire tenure. Beyond the starting eleven, there wasn’t much. Beattie, Hunter, and Osborne were past their best. Burley and O’Callaghan were good players, but our depth dropped off fast. After that, you had Kevin Steggles, Robin Turner, Irvin Gernon, Tony Kinsella—players who weren’t in the same class.

(Side note: Kevin Steggles made 50 appearances for the club and is a genuinely nice bloke.)

Final Thoughts

There are many reasons why it went wrong. But none of them can erase what came before. Ipswich Town, a small, unfashionable club from rural Suffolk, dared to challenge the best in Europe—and for a brief moment, we became the best team in the world.

Our history may not rival the giants of English football, but it’s a history our nearest rivals could only dream of.

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Disclaimer: Some of the dates and transfer fees in this article may differ slightly from the official records. Corrections are welcome.

I hope you enjoyed reading one of the most gloriously pointless things I’ve ever written. I certainly did.

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