PASSIONATE staff at Ipswich Hospital will be waving the blue and white flag at the 30th anniversary celebrations of Town's FA Cup triumph.Ten of the hospital's most ardent Blues fans have been handpicked to dine with their Wembley idols at the Thirty Years of Honour gala meal.

PASSIONATE staff at Ipswich Hospital will be waving the blue and white flag at the 30th anniversary celebrations of Town's FA Cup triumph.

Ten of the hospital's most ardent Blues fans have been handpicked to dine with their Wembley idols at the Thirty Years of Honour gala meal.

Staff were asked to nominate those colleagues who were both passionate about their job and Ipswich Town.

In all, there 95 nominations for 49 people from all corners of the hospital, with those attracting most nominations selected to attend the prestigious event.

The hospital was able to secure a table for ten - worth more than £1,000 - thanks to its charitable trust fund.

Andrew Reed, the hospital's chief executive, said: “One of the biggest passions in our community is Ipswich Town Football Club and every day in our hospital we also see the greatest in passion and care from our staff.

“The Thirty Years of Honour dinner will be a magnificent way to reward our staff who not only care deeply about their work but also about their local football team.”

The entire cup-winning squad will be back in Suffolk for the reunion on May 5.

The players will be brought to the town hall in an open top bus before tucking into a meal and watching highlights from the 1-0 victory over Arsenal.

Thousands of supporters are expected to gather on the Cornhill where the game will be beamed out on a giant screen.

To buy tickets to the gala dinner, call Austen Dack on 01353 658216. To buy £40 tickets to the after-dinner celebrations, call the Corn Exchange's box office on 01473 433100.

Tell us your FA Cup memories. Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Michelle Keable, 35

What do you do? Hospital recruitment officer for last eight years

How long have you supported Town? 20 years

First game? A 1-1 draw - although can't remember who against

Where do you sit? Season ticket holder in the North Stand

Favourite player? Jon Walters

Sue Voules, 41

What do you do? A superintendent physiotherapist. Been here for 13 years

How long have you supported Town? For 30 years

First game? Against Nottingham Forest in 1978

Where do you sit? Britannia Stand season ticket holder

Favourite player? Jon Walters

Elaine Goldie, 45

What do you do? Ante natal clinic midwife for 18 years at Ipswich Hospital

How long supported Town? Supported Ipswich for 20 years after moving to Suffolk from Yorkshire

Where do you sit? In the Upper North Stand

Favourite player? Richard Naylor

Katie Mowle, 40

What do you do? A urology nurse specialist

How long supported Town? Since 1993

Where do you sit? Season ticket holder in the Upper Cobbold stand

Favourite player? Jon Walters

David Everett, 41

What do you do? Worked in human resources for 20 years

How long supported Town? Since 1973

First game? A 5-4 defeat at home to Newcastle

Where do you sit? Season ticket holder in Greene King upper stand

Favourite player? Owen Garvan

Sandra Hack, 46

What do you do? Healthcare assistant in critical care. Been at the hospital since 1979

Where do you sit? I don't - I work as a steward on match days

Favourite player? Jon Walters

The other four who will be dining with their cup heroes are Mark Knight, a registered nurse in critical care, Sarah Crump, an administrator in surgical directorate, Mark Issacs, a team leader in medical records, and Sally Power, a Storma care nurse specialist.