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Tried maybe an hour ago to submit this and something went wrong and lost all the work. Couldn't retrieve it but point being today is the 40 year anniversary of the 6 - 0 Manchester United victory at Portman Road. Those of a certain age will recall and memories maybe vivid but what an occasion it was and the time around it. Cobbolds as owners, Robson as manager and the great team we had assembled.

Actually finished behind them in the league that year albeit by one place in third and they got some payback 15 years thereafter in that infamous game in our relegation year but the irony is we could have had nine ourselves back in 1980 if not for their goalkeeper.

Amid all the garbage and uncertainty of present time it was good to look back on an occasion and era that may never be repeated. Tried loading game highlights but it wouldn't work but easy enough to find your own coverage if needs be. Wish I could have been there that day to take in the atmosphere, I wonder for those in attendance that a year on from then we would be within spitting distance of a unique treble achievement.

An an aside and not totally related but relevant nonetheless one William Ralph "Dixie" Dean passed away on this very day in 1980 also. Wanted to give it a mention. As a forward and goal getter there have been few and far between in the time since, he was immense.

Yep, remember it well, great day. Dickie Davis announcing the 3-0 HT, then the 6-0 after the wrestling...... and RIP Dixie......

But, Saint? Wales? What’s with that?

Edit: It’s ok...... St Dave. Got it.

For those too young to remember.....this was the day Town beat Manchester United 6-0 and missed 3 penalties saved my Gary Bailey who was the son of Roy Bailey who kept goal for Town in the season when we won the Division 1 Championship.

It was on this day in 1980 that United made the trip to East Anglia, with an even encounter widely anticipated. After all, the visitors sat in second spot, while Bobby Robson's hosts were five only points adrift in third.

Yet, from the moment that Ipswich centre-forward Alan Brazil beat the United offside trap to put his side in front, it was anything but a close contest.

Brazil then turned provider soon after when he rolled the ball into the path of Paul Mariner, who fired a low shot inside Gary Bailey's near post.

The home side continued to attack and in the 27th minute, it was 3-0. The United rearguard failed to clear a cross from Eric Gates and Paul Mariner was on hand to slam in his second goal of the game.

There was to be plenty more drama before the half was brought to a close, as United goalkeeper Bailey, the son of former Ipswich custodian Roy, took centre stage.

The South Africa-born stopper denied Frans Thijssen from the penalty spot, only for Ipswich to win themselves another penalty soon after.

The responsibility on this occasion was handed to Kevin Beattie, but he was also thwarted by Bailey. The Ipswich defender was given a second bite of the cherry, though, with the referee having judged that some United players had encroached before the ball had been struck.

Would it be third time lucky for Ipswich? Bailey had other ideas, diving to his left to hold Beattie's second tame attempt to keep the scoreline at 3-0 to the hosts.

Despite his heroics during the first half, Bailey was powerless to prevent his side from suffering a hammering after the restart as the Ipswich onslaught continued.

Alan Brazil claimed his second goal of the encounter as he bounced a shot in from close range, before Frans Thijssen slammed the ball in following some slack defending by the away side.

The scoring was completed five minutes from time as United winger Steve Coppell's pass was intercepted by Eric Gates. He rolled the ball across the face of goal for Paul Mariner, who had a simple finish to score his hat-trick.

Ipswich: Cooper; Osman, Butcher, Mills, Burley; Beattie, Gates, Muhren, Thijssen; Mariner, Brazil

Man United: Bailey; Houston, McQueen, Buchan, Nicholl; Sloan, Macari, McIlroy, Coppell; Jordan, Grimes

True fact (that in 1983 following the first Brighton game) Bailey (after conceding seven goals in his first three Wembley Finals for Manchester United) consulted with a Witch Doctor who suggested he tie a red and white ribbon to the goal frame and clasp a padlock to the net. United won 4- 0 in the replayed game and Bailey went on to keep clean sheets in his next two Finals.

Holy or Norris perhaps follow these actions and see what occurs. Might be something in it. A potential play-off Final remains possible after all.

Present day, Tomas Holy: “Can I attach a padlock to the net?”
Spokesman for the Health & safety executive: “Well let’s see, Mr Holy. If you open this book to section 18, heading 17, sub heading 42, point 102, sub point 14, section (h), errrr, no you can’t. Padlocks behind the goal line area clause. Heavy and dangerous. Not allowed.”
“What about the cheap and nasty Screwfix version?”
“Err, no Tomas. Just concentrate on being a much better goalkeeper. Forget Screwfix. Forget padlocks ok.”