Town have confirmed that award-winning groundsman Alan Ferguson is leaving the club to take up the role of head groundsperson at St George’s Park, the FA’s National Football Centre at Burton. TWTD reported that former Blues chairman David Sheepshanks, the chair of the project, was targeting Ferguson back in April.

Seven-times Groundsman of the Year during 12 seasons at Town, Ferguson says he's looking forward to his new position, which he starts in August: "It's an enormous challenge for me but one I am looking forward to taking on.

"I'll be heading up the grounds team at the new National Football Centre and one of the initial tasks we have is replicating the pitch the England side uses at Wembley so that the players can train on a similar surface.

"In many ways it's a similar situation to when I started at Ipswich, with the Playford Road training ground project but obviously there will be some fantastic resources at Burton. I'm sad to be leaving Ipswich. You always feel like that when you enjoy where you work.

"My family have grown up in the area and with me at the club so Ipswich has been a big part of not only my life but my family's as well.

"We're massive Town fans and we will be staying in the area. Whenever I'm not working, I'll be watching the team play."

Chief executive Simon Clegg, who is working with the Scot to find his successor, paid tribute to Ferguson’s time at Portman Road: "I'm disappointed to see Alan leave the club but fully understand that he is taking up perhaps the biggest groundsman's job in the country.

"I'd like to thank him for his fantastic and loyal service to this football club, creating terrific playing surfaces at not only Portman Road, but also at the training ground.

"He has made a highly valued contribution over the last 12 years and I wish him every success for the future."

Photo: Action Images

WREXHAM_BLUE added 21:12 - Jul 25 Gutted, but good luck Alan. The FA's gain is our loss. All the best.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 21:17 - Jul 25 A truly fantastic servant, can't blame him for wanting to take up a national post with the F.A. All the best Alan, as previously said glad he's having involement in any succesor.
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Millsey added 21:27 - Jul 25 Well done in getting to the Everest in your chosen profession. Really sorry to see you leave our club, but hey you deserve it
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beerhelps added 21:30 - Jul 25 The most consistant high level performer at the club for years, he will be missed....if we want to play on the floor. How the hell is he supposed to reproduce the Wembley pitch? Its shocking!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 21:45 - Jul 25 Thanks for supplying us with the finest pitch in the land for years. Good luck Mr Ferguson.
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jas0999 added 22:00 - Jul 25 Disappointing news - however this sounds like too good an offer to turn down - so all the best to Alan.
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marcusevans added 22:12 - Jul 25 Perhaps we will be mowed out with applicants as he was a cut above the rest!
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Tractorog added 22:21 - Jul 25 So Alan is off to pastures new eh? I'm sure he will make short work of cutting the new job down to size. One of the few people at the club without a soiled reputation. I'm sure that there is more to his leaving than we've been told... i suspect the story of him leaving has a hint of whitewash about it. Still, he wont let the grass grow under his feet and he knows there is no point raking over the past, he just needs to plough on. I'm sure eveyone at the club would like to pitch in with their best wishes.

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ThatMuhrenCross added 22:21 - Jul 25 Seeing as we're now paying closer to £2m for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas from Arsenal, I think it would only be fair that they threw a groundsman into the deal as well!!
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 22:30 - Jul 25 Now the two signings appear to be in the bag let us relax & listen to David Sheepshanks sing a long with The Wurzels - 'Cuz i got a brand new rotavator And I'll give you the key Come on now lets get together & re-create Wembley I got twenty acres At Burton NFC Now I got a brand new rotavator And I'll give you the key' All together now! Thankyou Mr Ferguson - all the best.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 04:39 - Jul 26 Hugely disappointed that another part of the ITFC tradition is being lost, but understand that nothing stands still and wish him the very best. At least he's still a True Blue and not moving on to another club.
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churchmans added 06:30 - Jul 26 best pitch and best groundsman and fabregas had the cheek to say it was like playing on a rugby field! sore loser
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wark_on_water added 07:21 - Jul 26 Will he missed - A real down to earth guy! Is his middle name Pete?
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WeWereZombies added 07:29 - Jul 26 First the signing of Lee Bowyer and now this!
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PeekFreans added 07:54 - Jul 26 The very best of luck to you. You have made us all proud to have the team play on such a wonderful surface all these years. I hope your protégé has been listening carefully.
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Lanky added 08:26 - Jul 26 Genuinely gutted.
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dirtyboy added 08:32 - Jul 26 Gutted, it's one of those little trivias that us Ipswich fans can always tell other fans..."our groundsman...." Best of luck to him though, he's been a great servant to the club, and I sincerely hope he does well. I also really hope his successor is bloody good, because one thing we're proud of at PR is our pitch!
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BYRNE_16 added 09:04 - Jul 26 Good Luck and Fairwell. He Kept our pitch in such great condition for so many years. This ground always seemed at the heart and soul of the man, it was his baby! Lets hope he passes on his skills to whoever takes over!
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tim70 added 12:40 - Jul 26 Good luck you are the best
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Seasider added 12:43 - Jul 26 Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.Good luck Alan;but its not about luck just expertise.Will have this season to teach his successor. First Sir Alf then Sir Bobby and now Sir Alan!
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itfcjc added 13:21 - Jul 26 Thanks Fergie we've always had a great pitch All those awards and keeping the snow game on Legend
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Big_Steve added 18:32 - Jul 26 No doubt that he did an amazing job. The FA must be offering him substantial remuneration to lure him away. I do however now expect the expenditure on items never actually used at the club to drop dramatically. Allegedly.
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