Here you can chat about everything and anything related to ITFC and other football issues. This forum also hosts the now Internationally famous TB.com ITFC match previews which contain insightful pre-match thoughts, previous highlights, news links relating to Town, form guides and other bits and pieces. Feel free to discuss meet ups/travel plans in here as well.
Moderators: Charnwood, Bluemike
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marko69
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by marko69 » Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:18 am
ashfordblue wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 12:13 am
marko69 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 02, 2025 10:39 pm
Ashford is going to stop by:
Portman Road vs Old Etonians...., 1897
Cheeky sod
The first match I was taken to was in August 1951 season 3rd division South. I think Scott Duncan was the manager ??. We played Southend Utd, and I think we won 4-1. It's a pretty vague memory as I was only 10. I know Tom Garneys scored; he was a super centre forward. I only went to a few games when my Uncle was available, which wasn't that often because we used to go to the Witches Speedway more than football. But as they say, once a blue always a blue

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The Odious Mr Rossi
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by The Odious Mr Rossi » Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:27 am
hallamblue wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 11:13 pm
I think there was an error in his post because I've met him in person, and there's no way he looks THAT old !!
No error Liz - I was born in 1955 and my first game at PR was Boxing Day 1959.
It's true - I'm an old man, although there is many a good tune to be got out of an old fiddle.
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Charnwood
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by Charnwood » Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:35 pm
I went to reserve games first in what was the old Combination League, I also remember going to a few games in the old 3rd Div South but don’t remember much about the opposition or results. The first game I can actually remember was our first home game of the season in 1958/59. I think it was against Leyton Orient and I think it was Ray Crawfords debut match. I know we won and I was hooked on football and ITFC and hardly missed a game for years and years apart from when I was playing or moved away. Even then I had a season ticket when I was living in Chelmsford and Colchester.
This discussion is almost worthy of its own thread. Very interesting.
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ashfordblue
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by ashfordblue » Wed Feb 05, 2025 12:52 am
Charnwood wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 9:35 pm
I went to reserve games first in what was the old Combination League, I also remember going to a few games in the old 3rd Div South but don’t remember much about the opposition or results. The first game I can actually remember was our first home game of the season in 1958/59. I think it was against Leyton Orient and I think it was Ray Crawfords debut match. I know we won and I was hooked on football and ITFC and hardly missed a game for years and years apart from when I was playing or moved away. Even then I had a season ticket when I was living in Chelmsford and Colchester.
This discussion is almost worthy of its own thread. Very interesting.
I'll bet you enjoyed the Ted Phillips and Ray Crawford combo GOALS Galore, Phillips hits a thunderbolt shot Goalie can't hold it and Crawford follows up to finish Phillips had the hardest shot and broke the back of the net on one occasion the ref disallowed the goal until Phillips showed the ref the hole in the net, most old fans know this famous Ted Phillips goal,
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hallamblue
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by hallamblue » Wed Feb 05, 2025 7:54 am
My uncle who is 96 yrs old now , used to stand in the Churchman’s stand behind the goal, said, he used to watch Phillips take aim and shoot, and watch the keeper literally duck out of the way of the shot because it was so hard

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ashfordblue
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by ashfordblue » Thu Feb 06, 2025 12:06 am
hallamblue wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 7:54 am
My uncle who is 96 yrs old now , used to stand in the Churchman’s stand behind the goal, said, he used to watch Phillips take aim and shoot and watch the keeper literally duck out of the way of the shot because it was so hard
Oh, Liz If we had someone now with a Ted bullet shot even from the halfway line they couldn't hold them and another Ray Crawford, perhaps we could build up Delap to strengthen his leg muscles he does have a hard shot on him just needs more development and maybe Chaplin, Broadhead, or Hirst following up.
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hallamblue
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by hallamblue » Thu Feb 06, 2025 1:17 pm
Ash m Ill be honest with you Delap has a monster of a shot on him . He hits that ball so hard , so hes probably the hardest striker of the ball we have at the club right now ...