SUMMARY OF 2007/08 WITH ITISC
June of another year, another football season been & gone – how do you sum it all up? I will have to start with how my profile has blossomed; the internet has helped but by far, has the Ipswich Town Independent Supporter’s Club. And of course Radio Suffolk too, who I am having a break from between the football seasons but will return to next season, with Rob Chandler. I really want to concentrate on ITISC & Malcolm Thompson (“There’s only one Malcolm Thompson”). Through the season, most of you watched your football & I would like to think Ipswich Town FC especially but take a moment to think of Malcolm & Caroline Thompson who did too but spent the season (and longer) preparing for the run (a marathon, and half another one too) from Ipswich to Haverhill – in the name of the Beattie’s, as well as the football last season. Maggie and I can’t thank you enough for what you have done for the MS Society, who have been a rock to our family for the twelve years plus that multiple sclerosis has been part of our life now. It’s not too late to donate if you haven’t, thank you if you have! In that time too there was also a campaign to get a UEFA Cup Winners Medal for myself, which was through an on-line petition, organised through my Biographer (the author of my latest book “The Greatest Footballer England Never Had”, Rob Finch) – I am sure many of you voted for that and thank you for that – as you will know it was successful, the 27years was worth waiting for. On my last show on Mark Murphy’s ‘Breakfast Show’ on Radio Suffolk I took in the medal, which Malcolm got to see, I thought he was there in some capacity to do with having just completed his run. Wow, what a surprise I got when I realised he had a letter from The Boss, Sir Bobby Robson himself, - it was presented by Malcolm, (& I MAY have images to come of the presentation), on behalf of Sir Bobby, and then read out by Mark Murphy, as it was an emotional moment, captured live ‘on air’. I want to wish you all a great summer break, but before I go, here’s a chance to win a signed Kevin Beattie T-Shirt – (Limited edition as only 3 made). Recently ITFC held their 30th Anniversary celebrations of the FA Cup victory of 1978 and two players from that side agreed to become Honorary Members of ITISC (As announced on News page)– One of them was ‘The Man of the Match’ of the Cup Final win over Arsenal, who? Entries to be submitted by 30th June by email to info@itisc.org.uk – Winner will be announced on this website – Good Luck!! The Beat Kevin Beattie ITISC President

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AS accolades go, Kevin Beattie has been afforded a few. The former Ipswich Town colossus has been voted the club's best-ever player in numerous polls over the years, but even he admits that being compared with the late, great Duncan Edwards is an accolade out of the top drawer. Yet that is what Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Bobby Charlton have both said about Beattie on different occasions. And with the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash upon us, Beattie admitted it is a real honour to be mentioned in the same breath as the great Edwards. He said: “To be honest it is a truly outstanding thing for someone to say about me". “Sir Bobby used to say it to me because he would call me 'diamond' and later on he started calling me 'tank'. And on occasions he would tell me to go out there and play like Duncan Edwards". “That was a huge honour, because although I never saw Edwards play, I've seen plenty of videos of him and he was clearly a great player". “It made me feel 100ft tall when Sir Bobby used to say that.” But Sir Bobby is not the only person who compared Beattie with Edwards. “Doing my work for radio, I have often been up to Manchester,” Beattie added. “And Sir Bobby Charlton told me a similar thing to Sir Bobby Robson. He said I was the closest thing he had seen to Duncan Edwards on the pitch". “Again, that's a huge compliment". “Edwards was a centre-half, as I was, and liked going forward, like I did, so I suppose that's where the comparisons come.” Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Bobby Charlton both played with Edwards and were in ideal positions to compare both men. How tragic then that, in two very different manners, neither player achieved the greatness that could have been theirs. Edwards and Beattie, now there's a centre-half pairing.

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As I am sure many of you reading will appreciate, I, like many other players (or figures in the public eye), have got to a stage that when I hear my name mentioned on the TV or radio I don’t always take a lot of notice, simply because I usually know why it’s mentioned before it gets that far…

But I clearly recall one day getting ready to listen to a Town game, I don’t know why I wasn’t at Portman Road BUT mentioned on the station was “Kevin Beattie” and it didn’t sink in as to why, possible some reference to the 70s or someone was wearing a short sleeved short on the day, I don’t know when Maggie said “Did you hear that?”

So I said “Yeah, of course!”, “So what you going to do?” Maggie said. Truth is I wasn’t listening to the pre-match talking, not at that moment anyway; I just heard “Kevin Beattie” but took no notice.

Eventually it came around again and there it was, an “SOS to Kevin Beattie, if you are listening, can you please contact Malcolm Thompson urgently” – I was more than happy to oblige - I had been called upon in a few different ways, telegrams to play for my country by Don Revie, into Sir Bobby Robson’s office to answer for myself (or occasionally be praised, if I recall correctly) BUT not many times had I had an SOS over the waves of the radio!

Little did I know then I was going to be asked to be a President. Being president of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporter’s Club over the last 15 months has been great & not too demanding, (not on my part) but mainly because of the work of their Chairman – a Malcolm Thompson.

Now never did I realise then what a work-a-holic Malcolm was, away from his day job I mean & one of the biggest benefactors to that work is The MS Society, in the name of Kevin & Maggie Beattie.

Malcolm has been non-stop in all of that 15months, and also has other different events planned. He has as much energy as a pro-footballer, I'm sure!! You may have just seen him in the Evening Star with The Ballistics, doing work for MS .... you haven’t seen the last of him yet! He was in this paper promoting a run he will do for The MS Society & he will no doubt be in there again when he completes it at the climax of the season.

I wonder why people want to be a Manager when I see how smooth being a President has been, but I know behind the scenes Malcolm has worked his socks off to make ITISC a success.

The Beat
Kevin Beattie
ITISC President

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Sir Bobby Robson described him as the best defensive attacking player this country has ever produced.

Kevin has a book out at the moment, title "The Greatest Footballer England Never Had" - The Kevin Beattie Story. It is a must read for all Ipswich Town fans.

You can purchase an autographed/dedicated copy by sending a cheque made payable to ITISC for the amount of 14.99 plus £2.00 P&P ( at the following address; I T I S C, PO Box 150, HAVERHILL. CB9 7QB. Please enclose the details of who you would like the book dedicated to.

Kevin will be writing his views/comments on this web page on a regular basis, so keep logging on to see what the Beat has to say!

We will, every now and then, be running some competitions whereby you can win signed Beattie goodies. So watch this space!