Roy Keane, Paul Mariner, John Wark and Ray Crawford - it's all happening!

MY lips are sealed!

Sorry, but I can’t pass on any inside info after spending last Friday evening in the company of two former Ipswich Town stars – Paul Mariner and John Wark.

It was a joy to enjoy an evening meal and a couple of beers in a town centre Plymouth hotel with these two legends after Warky travelled down with his wife Karen see his long term pal and watch PM’s first official game as head coach to Argyle manager Paul Sturrock.

Many a tale was recalled relating to their days playing under Sir Bobby Robson – and latterly Bobby Ferguson – for the Blues and suffice to say that there was fun and games aplenty during the ‘glory years’ of Ipswich Town.

Both have a huge affection for the club and their fans and look back on their time with the Blues with understandable pride.

The pair had earlier spent time at Sturrock’s palatial home on the outskirts of Plymouth that has its own golf hole outside and a games room on the third floor complete with pool table, dart board, juke box and bar.

Anyway, it was a memorable night and sitting not far away in the hotel bar was the pilot who had flown the Ipswich Town party down to the south west that afternoon.

He was keeping well within the limits, to ensure a safe passage home along with co-pilot and stewardess.

The trip went well for Her Majesty’s Press Corps (Ipswich branch) with trains on time both ways and home in Ipswich by 11.30pm on Saturday night.

One of the beauties of the train is the capacity to get out the lap top and bash out Monday paper’s copy, leaving plenty of time to refresh on Sunday.

Another Town legend, Ray Crawford, was a travelling companion to Westbury where he changed trains for his trip home to Portsmouth.

Another wonderful guy and like Warky, Town fans, who took over a good percentage of the 5.54pm train, were not slow in showing their appreciation of the ex-Town star.

In fact, we knew that John was at the other end of a crowded platform when loud singing erupted in honour of his name.

How Roy Keane could have done with the likes of Crawford, Wark and Mariner in his line-up at Home Park, but even so it was a commendable Town display if not as accomplished as we would have liked.

posted on 27 October 2009 15:34 byElvin King