IPSWICH Town FA Cup winner Mick Lambert today said he was determined to make a reunion with the 1978 heroes despite suffering a heart attack.

BY MICHAEL EMONS

IPSWICH Town FA Cup winner Mick Lambert today said he was determined to make a reunion with the 1978 heroes despite suffering a heart attack.

The 52-year-old was in Ipswich Hospital from last Thursday to Saturday but is now making a recovery following the mild attack.

He said: "It was about 1pm on Thursday and I just felt chest pains. I was driving as normal doing my job but I had been feeling worse as the day went on.

"I went into Capel St Mary surgery where I spoke to a doctor and he called me an ambulance. Any small heart attack is a worry but I will be all right as long as I am sensible. I have to wait to have some more tests but I will be OK and I do not want people worrying about me. I have been able to walk about this morning for the first time since it happened."

Mr Lambert, who now works delivering frozen food, played for Ipswich for ten years.

His finest moment came when he appeared as a substitute in the 1978 FA Cup final victory against Arsenal at Wembley. He was a left winger and started 219 games in his time at Portman Road.

Since his heart attack, many of his team-mates have been in touch asking how he was.

"I've spoke to a few of the old players and everybody has been very pleasant," said Mr Lambert, who still lives in Ipswich.

"I missed the reunion on Friday but I should be able to make the 25-year FA Cup reunion on May 6, though I don't know how long I will be able to stay for.

"I haven't seen Ipswich play for five years but I was going to go on Saturday as the club normally provide free tickets when we meet up. Considering the result (a 5-1 defeat against Wimbledon) it was probably a good thing that I didn't go. Since quitting football I have played a fair bit of tennis and bowls and I have been playing golf once a month."

Mr Lambert, who has never had heart problems before, said: "I've got to be careful now and I cannot work for a month.

"Some days the work is quite tough so maybe I have done too much as I have been feeling bad for two or three weeks. However, heart attacks happen to lots of people and it shows that nobody is invincible.

"All you can do is keep on laughing."