Derek Davis

Sports Journalist for the EADT, won the award for Sports Journalist of the Year recently for the second year running. The judges praised him “for breaking stories that included great content'' and for presenting “the best range of work, with fewer clichés"

On behalf of the Haverhill Branch of ITISC Supporters, may I please take this opportunity to thank you for your time and co-operation in this interview?

Okay, let's start with the questions;

Which team do you support?
Not saying for reasons of impartiality - but It is not Ipswich Town

Where do you live and what do you like most about it?
I live on the Shotley peninsular and it is quiet, friendly place close to town and the A14/A12

What is your idea of a perfect evening out?
Few drinks and meal out with wife and friends

What is your favourite food?
Chinese

What do you do in your spare time?
Spare time?

How many years have you worked in journalism?
14 years

Who is the best and most annoying person you have interviewed?
Best - a one on one with Kevin Keegan before he was England manager. Amir Karic when he blew the lid on the Town dressing room under George
Most annoying - Michael Howard when he was Home Secretary

What do you enjoy watching on television?
Crime documentaries

What do you think you would be doing now if you hadn't made a career in papers?
Working on the radio (that was my second choice)

What has been your most nerve-racking moment?
As a cub reporter waiting to do a one on one with Maggie Thatcher in Portsmouth

What advice would you give anyone who wants to work in media/papers?
Do the basics first What's the best piece of advice you've been given and by whom?
Always be true to yourself, fight for freedom of speech and never, ever use screamers (exclamation marks) they are for school kids and people who can't describe things properly

What is the worst job you have ever had?
Loading shells on a warship

Given the opportunity, is there anything you would do differently now?
Yes, but I can't tell you what because I'm still working on it.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Pay day

Do you have unfulfilled ambitions?
To cover a World Cup final

Are clubs/personnel easy to contact when need a story/interview?
Not always

What is your typical day both during the week and on matchdays?
It would take too long to go intro and probably bore the pants of everyone anyway The best bit is at the end when I can go for a quiet pint.

May we at ITISC take this opportunity to thank you for your most valuable time and help in this. Take care

TUBES of Soccer Am
Soccer Am Crew member "Tubes" (Peter 'Tubes' Dale) has had a regular feature on the show in recent seasons, where he has "one question and one question only" to one of the studio guests. Helen asks "Who is your question for this week", and the answer results in a dimming of the studio lights and a spotlight on the questionee. Tubes' popularity has grown significantly - a public vote saw him being voted more popular than (crew member) Rocket - in part due to his woeful (but comic) rapping ability which he demonstrates every week before actually posing a question. Fans across the country even take a cardboard cutout of Tubes and photograph him at games etc and even we, ITISC, did this recently when we travelled in a limo to the away game against Norwich- which you can see on the gallery.. Tubes is a hugh Chelsea fan and is a Season ticket holder.

Dear Tubes On behalf of the Haverhill Branch of ITISC Supporters, may I please take this opportunity to thank you for your time and co-operation in this interview?

Okay, let's start with the questions;

Which team do you support?
The Mighty Chelsea.

Obviously being a very busy professional working guy, do you get time to attend games?
Not sure about Professional! I make all the home games because I am lucky enough to have a season ticket. I get to only a few away games, due to soccer am on Saturday.

Where do you live and what do you like most about it?
I live in Cobham, I like it because it's chilled.

What is your idea of a perfect evening out?
Going to watch Chelsea, a few beers and then taking a lady out for a fresh meal.

What is your favourite food?
Chinese

What do you do in your spare time?
Play football , play golf , work on some gangster lyrics and indulge in some alcoholic beverages, and try and interact with girls.

How many years have you worked on Soccer Am?
I Started working just on show day when I was 16 making the best cups of tea in the business, and have been full time about 5 years.

Who is the best prankster in the crew?
Everyone is quite amusing I can't really pick one out.

Who is the best and most annoying celebrity you have interviewed?
I have been lucky enough to interview some cool people the best have been Noel Gallagher,Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, John Terry and Alesha (she is so fit). Boy George wasn't all there!

Who has been the best and most annoying guest on the show?
Brian Blessed, Noel Gallagher, Gazza, we have had some really cool people on. Know one has really been annoying because all the people who come on really like the show.

Who writes the scripts for the show and do you have any input?
I write all the football scripts, some of the boys write the guest interviews and Colin and rob the producers write the rest. Helen and Andy also write quite a lot of it.

What do you enjoy watching on television?
Antiques road show and football.

What do you think you would be doing now if you hadn't made a career in television?
Probably be about 20 stone, looking for a job and be about 20 grand in debt after achieving very average grades at uni!

What has been your most nerve-racking moment?
There has been few! running down a packed high street wearing a nappy and pouring beer on my head! (that was for the show by the way) some of the questions I have asked! Dance off isn't nice either!

What advice would you give anyone who wants to work in television?
Work hard, persist with it and make sure you make good tea.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given and by whom?
Always be polite and have good manners by my family and keep rapping by Doctor dre, Eminem and snoop dog!
What is the worst job you have ever had?
Before I worked at soccer am I was a paper boy and a cleaner but they were quite a good laugh!

Given the opportunity, is there anything you would do differently now?
Probably not to be honest as I have been very lucky to be given this opportunity and i love my job.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Doing the showboat feature, and meeting some really great people.

Do you have unfulfilled ambitions?
Play alongside Frank Lampard in the Chelsea Midfield.

May we at ITISC take this opportunity to thank you for your most valuable time and help in this - you are a top guy !
Take care
Malcolm



Mark Murphy Interview

Ipswich Town fan Mark Murphy, of Radio Suffolk, recently agreed to answer a few questions for our Newsletter and Website....

Mark can be heard every morning on Radio Suffolk (95.5, 95.9, 103.9 & 104.6 fm), and on Saturday from 9.00am with our President Kevin Beattie on the Mark Murphy Breakfast Show - so don't forget to tune in!

Sony gold award winner Mark has presented the BBC Radio Suffolk Breakfast Show since 2000, and in that time has made it the biggest in the county. Mark received national recognition in 2003 when he was crowned the Sony Radio Academy News Broadcaster of the Year. In 2006 Mark and his breakfast team were also awarded the title of EDF Energy Regional Radio Journalist of the Year. In 2007 Mark's breakfast show was nominated for the Sony Radio Academy News and Current Affairs award due to its sensitive coverage of the murder of five women in Ipswich. 2007 also saw Mark, his producer Kate Arkell and engineer David Butcher, scoop a Frank Gillard (BBC local radio) award for their outside broadcast in Jamestown, USA. The team travelled to Virginia to follow in the footsteps of Suffolk explorer Bartholomew Gosnold, who is credited with founding the first English-speaking settlement in North America. Mark was born in Suffolk and is passionate about broadcasting in his home patch. "Presenting the BBC Radio Suffolk Breakfast Show is a dream come true for me. I remember listening to the very first Good Morning Suffolk on April 12th 1990. "I was determined that one day I would work for my local radio station, and now I'm presenting that very programme on that very station." Mark is an Ipswich Town season ticket holder and sits in the North Stand upper tier with his wife and fellow BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Lesley Dolphin.

We at ITISC are also very proud to announce that Mark has agreed to become an honorary branch member of our club....

Okay, let’s start with the questions;

How did you start to support Ipswich Town?
I went along in the early 1970s with a friend and was instantly hooked..I must have been about 8 or 9.

Where do you live and what do you like most about it?
I live in Ipswich. It is my home town, and I have no real desire to live anywhere else. Some people knock it; it's not perfect but it's got the best football team in the region.

Have you always lived in this region?
Yes……the furthest I've been from Ipswich is Kesgrave.

Using just three words, how would you describe yourself?
Freckly, overweight and dieting!

What is your idea of a perfect evening out?
A night game at Portman Road …you can't beat football under floodlights.

What is your favourite food?
I love seafood and pork slices but not at the same time.

What do you do in your spare time?
Being a breakfast presenter up at 4am, my spare time is spent sleeping or planning to sleep.

What do you enjoy watching on television?
Desperate Housewives and anything with Rick Stein in.

What do you think you would be doing now if you hadn’t made a career in Radio?
Probably still flogging cars.

What has been your most nerve-racking moment?
Taking over the Breakfast show 7 and a bit years ago…the previous host had done it for 10 years!

What advice would you give anyone who wants to work in Radio?
Keep trying ..if you want something bad enough you'll get it…….But it isn't always as glamorous as it may seem..especially when the alarm goes off at 4am!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given and by whom?
You can't please everyone…..Stewart White from Look East.

What is the worst job you have ever had?
I had a week of working at Radio Norfolk which was great but the train went past Carrow Road every day ..that wasn't so great!

What has been the toughest challenge in your career so far?
Getting out of bed at 4am in winter when it's freezing cold.

Given the opportunity, is there anything you would do differently now?
Get more sleep.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Being able to help people who are battling officialdom. The BBC letters still hold some sway and do help get things moving for people.

Do you have any unfulfilled ambitions?
I'd love to run BBC Radio Suffolk one day.

What is your prediction for Town this season........ play offs??
I think we'll be in the top six and I hate to say it but I think Norwich will be too !

You recently wore the yellow and green of Norwich for Children in Need, have you recovered from this experience?
I have been washing daily with extra strong carbolic soap and having regular counseling.

Thank you Mark for your time in this and also for accepting our invitation to become our branch honorary member