TODAY you would not find football stars working as builders to earn money in the close season, but a reader of Kindred Spirits recalls two Ipswich Town goalkeepers who helped to build the North Stand at the Portman Road stadium.

David Kindred

TODAY you would not find football stars working as builders to earn money in the close season, but a reader of Kindred Spirits recalls two Ipswich Town goalkeepers who helped to build the North Stand at the Portman Road stadium.

I recently made reference to the day in June 1961 when the Queen visited Ipswich. Among her visits to the town the Queen included the Ipswich Town Football Club ground where local organisations and school children gathered.

Brian Bell, of Dunlin Road, Ipswich, said “I was working there at the time as a carpenter and we had stopped work to see the Queen from the stand. I don't think it was called the North Stand then. It was also the days when the footballers would work in the closed season.

“The two footballers I particularly remember are Dave Bevis and Wilf Hall, both goalkeepers, who worked on the new stand. In our dinner break we would have a kick about. Dave would always be in goal. It was the nearest I got to play for my beloved Ipswich Town, great days and memories.”