TWO of Ipswich Town's greatest players were in opposition at the launch of the club's stunning new DVD aimed at the Christmas market.The Official History of Ipswich DVD does not miss a trick with goal after splendid goal and interviews with everybody who helped make the Blues such a respected and successful club.

By Elvin King

TWO of Ipswich Town's greatest players were in opposition at the launch of the club's stunning new DVD aimed at the Christmas market.

The Official History of Ipswich DVD does not miss a trick with goal after splendid goal and interviews with everybody who helped make the Blues such a respected and successful club.

Extra emphasis is placed on the trophy-winning 1962, 1978, 1981 and 2000 seasons, with John Elsworthy and John Wark at loggerheads over which was the greatest-ever Ipswich Town side.

Elsworthy was a pivotal member of the Alf Ramsey 1962 team that stunned the football world by winning the First Division title a

season after being promoted.

Wark was a key player in Bobby Robson's FA Cup (1978) and UEFA Cup (1981) winning sides that enthralled a nation and brought more glory to Portman Road.

“I think we would have taken some beating,” said Elsworthy. “It was the finest team I have ever known.

“We had a magic ingredient installed by Mr Ramsey and broke the mould by switching from the previous tried and trusted way of playing.

“Roy Stephenson and Jimmy Leadbetter were inside forwards, but Alf played them wide and in Billy Baxter we had a boy who was such a mature player.

“Andy Nelson would kick his granny for a pound, while we had magnificent full backs, goalkeeper and in Doug Moran, a player who always won the ball.

“The key was perhaps in attack where Ray Crawford and Ted Phillips were the difference,

scoring 50 goals between them.”

Wark said: “As much as I admire the achievements of the 1962 side, I have to say that the 1981 one was the best. We could easily have won a treble and would have done so if we had had a bigger squad.”

Wark, who played in 65 of the 66 games in 1981/82 and scored 36 goals, added: “We had ten internationals and it should have been 11 with keeper Paul Cooper worthy of an England cap.

“The 1978 FA Cup-winning side was a very good one in one-off games, but with the addition of Frans Thijssen and Arnold Muhren we were better in 1981.

“The 4-1 win at St Etienne in the quarter-final of the UEFA Cup was our best performance.

“The French side were full of stars and had lost just twice at home in 30 previous European ties. We didn't just beat them, we battered them 7-2 on aggregate.

“The DVD sums up what a great club Ipswich are. I came here when I was 15 and am still here 35 years later.”

The DVD costs £18.99 and is available from Planet Blue stores.