When the Cornhill turned Blue

WHEN the Town team returned to Ipswich on the day after the FA Cup triumph in May 1978, the Cornhill was turned blue as the celebrations got under way.

It all happened on Sunday, just 24 hours off the cup triumph - and fans forgot about their sore heads to start celebrating all over again.

Back then The Evening Star's photographs were taken in black and white, but we have been leant colour snaps of the crowd by some who wanted to record the event for posterity themselves.

And fans were determined to get the best possible vantage points to see everything that was happening on the day - including some very precarious positions on a crane jib and on the central Post Office next to the Town Hall.

The Cornhill was not as open as it is today - there were still bus shelters to obscure the view - but that did not stop people from finding the best place to see the homecoming.

The team all took their place on the balcony of the Town Hall, an event which will be repeated this afternoon after their tour of Ipswich is recreated on an open-top bus.

Today is the day when the scenes from May 1978 are set to be recreated on the Cornhill - when the town will once again hail the blue and white heroes who wrote their names in the history books.

No one will be prouder to stand on the Town Hall balcony again that goalscoring hero Roger Osborne.

He said: "Having spoken to all the players they are all looking forward to it very much because it will probably be the last reunion we have.

"All the players are scattered far and wide nowadays, but the fact that everyone is coming underlines that when we played together as a team we were very much like a big, happy family. It will be absolutely brilliant to have a drink and recall old times with everyone."

Times may have changed, but the FA Cup has not lost its magic.

This year's competition has proved that - with two “unfashionable” teams, Portsmouth and Cardiff, reaching the Wembley final later this month.

But today is all about remembering when another “unfashionable” team overcame the odds to bring the FA Cup home to Suffolk for the first time in its history.