View from the Opposition – Ipswich 17 November 2012
Foxes Trust Exclusive:
Ipswich legend John Wark talks to us about the game on Saturday ……
Having played 509 games in three spells and scoring 135 goals in the same period, there could only be one person best qualified to talk to us about the Ipswich game of Saturday …….
A bit about you:
Name: John Wark
Current home town: Ipswich
Birthplace: Glasgow
How long have you supported your team? Since I first was a youth player there in 1974
Overview of your club:
Favourite thing about your home ground: The renaming of the North Stand (which I’d scored many goals into) the Sir Bobby Robson stand.
Favourite match played by your team & why: Whilst for some it could have been the UEFA Cup Final double header win in 1981, for me it was the 1-0 ‘massacre’ of Arsenal in the 1978 FA Cup Final. As a young 21 year old playing in a side that were massive underdogs that meant so much to me.
Favourite player of all time who played for your club: Any of the 1981 team
About our forthcoming match against you:
Your favourite current player in your squad and why? Hard to say, especially with 8 loan players presently in the squad, but if I was picking out anyone it would be left back Aaron Cresswell
Player in your squad we should most fear and why? Presently it would be DJ ‘scoring for fun’ Campbell
Player in our squad you most fear and why? David Nugent – another one who can score goals for fun
Up and coming prospect in your squad? Defender Jack Ainsley
Where do you think you’ll finish this season? Given our start to the season, the first aim is fourth from bottom, but after that it has to be as far up the table as possible.
How do you think you’ll do against us? I think it will be another draw – I’d take a point against you
Any other comments? I made my first team debut at Filbert Street on 27 March 1975 in the FA Cup 6th round (3rd replay) against Leeds United – I have fond memories of our 3-2 win there.
And Finally: Having won the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup with Ipswich, twice won the League with Liverpool in addition to 29 caps and 7 goals for Scotland and numerous runner up accolades, an obvious final indulgence in our interview was to ask John a favourite football question of ours … namely:
What three things would you change in modern football if you were given the chance? John’s (excellent) response was:
- The balance between foreign and British players within our leagues
- Strengthen the links between players and the community, especially the fans and especially in the Premiership
- Diving and too much simulation in general
Whilst John did not ask us to say this ………
Wark On: The Autobiography of John Wark is available in all good bookshops.