The Beat Goes On - Fundraising Campaign for a Beattie Statue Launched
Tuesday, 18th Dec 2018 06:00

A campaign to raise funds for a statue of Blues legend Kevin Beattie, who died in September, is launched today on what would have been his 65th birthday.

Led by the EADT and Ipswich Star in conjunction with BBC Radio Suffolk and TWTD, The Beat Goes On aims to raise the £110,000 required for the statue, which will be erected at Portman Road, and additional associated costs.

Fundraising starts immediately online via GoFundMe, by putting money in a collection box or by sending a cheque. A number of events and other fundraising activities are planned for the months to come.

Beattie’s daughter, Emma Harvey, a member of the campaign committee, said: “The whole family are completely overwhelmed by the response to the statue for dad.

“For him to be remembered by everyone in this way is extremely humbling and we know he would have been incredibly proud to be made a part of Ipswich Town’s wonderful history.”

Blues legend Terry Butcher, another committee member, idolised Beattie as a boy before playing alongside him and eventually inheriting his number six shirt.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said. “He is well worthy of a statue because he was Ipswich Town’s greatest player. I’m sure all the fans will be right behind the campaign.”

Brad Jones, editor of the EADT and Ipswich Star, said: “The Beat was the complete footballer, and he holds a very special place in the hearts of fans — not just because of his time as a player, but after his career he continued to have a terrific rapport with supporters, and always had time for them.

“We think this statue is a fitting and justified tribute to a man voted our club’s best ever player.”

BBC Radio Suffolk’s Mark Murphy, who hosted Life’s a Pitch alongside Beattie for seven years, added: “It was a terrible shock when The Beat died, I still can’t quite believe he’s not here any more.

“I admired him from the stands as a fan, I enjoyed working alongside him on BBC Radio Suffolk but above all I was proud to call him a friend.

“Every time I speak to ex-players, they always say he was head and shoulders above the rest of our other town greats, so I think it is fitting that we honour our greatest ever player with a statue in Portman Road.

“We have statues of our two greatest managers, so why not our best player? He always had time for fans and I hope they feel they can give to this appeal. I know how much it would mean to his family, friends and former team-mates.”

Town supporter Sean Hedges-Quinn, known as Coach, who sculpted the statues of Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson will be commissioned for the project with preliminary discussions regarding the design having already taken place.

The appeal has received an early boost via two significant and generous donations, £5,000 from the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust and £1,000 from the Ipswich Town Supporters Club.

Colin Kreidewolf, secretary and treasurer of the Trust, said: “We are very pleased to be able to support this campaign to immortalise Kevin Beattie as the greatest player ever to play for Ipswich Town with a statue to be sited near to the two legendary managers who managed both Ipswich and England.

“Kevin was an immense powerful footballer who will long be remembered by the Ipswich Town faithful who were fortunate enough to see him play.”

Tim Edwards, partner of the Ipswich Town Heritage Society, said: “The Beat was both hero and friend to so many Town fans, undoubtedly our greatest-ever player but also so much a part of our community.

“A permanent statue, following the renowned existing memorials to Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson, will be a permanent reminder of The Beat’s special place in our hearts.”

TWTD’s Phil Ham added: “No player in Ipswich Town’s history deserves a statue more than Kevin Beattie. He was the greatest player in the club’s greatest era.

“After growing up having Beat as one of my heroes it was a privilege to spend my Saturday lunchtimes with him on BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch.”

Make a donation online via the Go Fund Me page or send a cheque made payable to ‘The Beat Goes On’ to Kevin Beattie Statue Appeal, EADT, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP11RS.

There are also collection buckets at reception at the EADT’s offices and BBC Radio Suffolk.

Butcher was among those to appear on this morning's Mark Murphy breakfast show on BBC Radio Suffolk.

Hear how we launched #TheBeatGoesOn our Kevin Beattie statue campaign with Terry Butcher: https://t.co/KbuIAnthFN … Over £7500 pledged in a few hours. If every @Official_ITFC fan pledged a tenner we'd reach our target before Christmas. #COYB #ITFC– Mark Murphy (@MarkGlennMurphy) December 18, 2018

The Beat Goes On Committee
Emma Harvey, Kevin’s daughter
Terry Butcher, Ipswich Town legend
Mark Murphy, BBC Radio Suffolk
Mark Calver, business owner MC Contracts and Greshams
Charlotte Spackman, Assistant editor, BBC Radio Suffolk
Brad Jones, editor EADT and Ipswich Star
Mark Ramsay, Ipswich Town Supporters Club
Colin Kreidewolf, Ipswich Town Supporters Trust
Phil Ham, editor TWTD
Steve Flory, Hudson Signs
Duncan Foster, Ipswich businessman, associate director ITFC, friend of Beattie and custodian of The Beat’s memorabilia
Tim Edwards, Partner, Ipswich Town Heritage Society
Liz Edwards, Director of Ipswich Town PLC and partner, Ipswich Town Heritage Society

Photos: Action Images/TWTD

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.

Page:
1
2

wkj added 06:01 - Dec 18 Brilliant to see this, TWTD, will miss the Beat, big time.
2

not_a_witty_name added 06:30 - Dec 18 There will never be another Beat. Legend.
2

SitfcB added 06:49 - Dec 18 Is there a chance of a matchday bucket collection?
7

trncbluearmy added 07:38 - Dec 18 Real legends,real statues,real memories COYB
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 08:46 - Dec 18 Brill, just read this on the BBC and cane on here to ask where one could donate. Will be doing so tonight. THE BEAT GOES ON.
0

PJH added 09:11 - Dec 18 This is good. The Great Man deserves a statue.
0

Brazils_Hair added 09:33 - Dec 18 Fantastic news.
0

Europablue added 09:35 - Dec 18 Have they approached the players and club for funding? Surely it wouldn't be much money for them if they chipped in...
6

never_lose_the_faith added 09:39 - Dec 18

I am neither anti or for Marcus Evans, but come on are you serious, why is the club not paying for the statue, it is disgraceful . KB was a legend and deserves to be treated as such. I mean ffs Fulham had a bloody Michael Jackson statue for Christ sake and we can't honour our best player in our history.
Anyway rant over, can't wait till Saturday and our next 3 points COYB!!

JewellintheTown added 10:57 - Dec 18

@never_lose_the_faith - I thought the same initially, but thinking about it, it's not so much the money but the chance for fans and others to give and raise funds in his honour first. Kev I'm sure would be touched by that rather than the club just take this all over by throwing money at it. I'm sure the club, staff, players, etc will publicly step in at some point, especially if we're short which might be why Liz Edwards is involved from the club. That's what I'm hoping anyway.

Fatboy added 11:02 - Dec 18 I hope it's made by the same person who made the excellent statues of Sir Alf and Sir Bobby and not the guy who made the Ronaldo one! They just need to figure out a way of suspending a leaping Beattie six feet off the ground.
0

exeterblue10 added 13:17 - Dec 18 Who needs a statue when you've got Jordan Spence? Joking aside, it's a brilliant idea and a worthy tribute to an exceptional talent.
1

ArnieM added 14:07 - Dec 18 Just donated to The Beat . Come on fellas , let's make this happen for our best ever player. He didn't earn big money when he played, and came from humble beginnings yet always remained a very humble man, but boy, what a bloody player he was. Now he's rejoined the other Town Great, SBR. It'll be one hell of a team up there I think ! #TheBeatgoeson
2

timspencero added 15:50 - Dec 18 Aye i'll chuck some in for sure. As long as we also get one for George Burley in the future too : )
1

timspencero added 15:51 - Dec 18 Like Lambert says - we need to do far more to celebrate our brilliant team of the day. My in-laws are big Celtic fans and their European winners are lionised - at every turn, club shop to inside the ground, they're everywhere. Should be the same at Town.
1

superblues9 added 16:43 - Dec 18 We do have a multi millionaire owner who could put his hand in his pocket !
2

blueboy1981 added 17:10 - Dec 18 Great gesture, Great player, Great person - only question is, where does the line in the sand get put with this kind of thing... ? The Club has had a few over the years, however, I do feel The Beat is an exceptional case. No disrespect to other greats we've had in the past at all - in fact quite the opposite. We appreciate them all.
1

blueboy1981 added 17:14 - Dec 18 THE BEAT - will always go on. Nothing's more certain than that.
0

warktheline added 17:52 - Dec 18

Kevin Beattie is undoubtedly an exceptional case, a lad who would have played barefooted for the club without a quibble, plagued by injuries and misfortune but still managed to light up all associated to Ipswich by means of 'raw' footballing ability and a magnetic, infectious personality! It's not just the fans who adored him, the players did too! And that speaks volumes! A true icon and legend was and is Kevin Beattie ðŸ‘

warktheline added 18:07 - Dec 18 ....it certainly puts life in perspective, would have been sixty five today, a little thumbs up to Paul Lambert working tirelessly to bring this troubled fragmented club back from years of turmoil. Wish him all the best going forward.
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 19:07 - Dec 18 If everyone in Ipswich donates a quid we will smash it.
0

BeethorpeAndy added 20:56 - Dec 18 Marcus Evans should pay for this! As a lad watched Kevin p!ay. Fantastic! Could do with him now. Every town player an internation!al apart from Paul cooper. Best penalty stopper ever!!!!!!!
-1