Town legend Marcus Stewart has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The 49-year-old, one of the scorers in the 2000 play-off final as George Burley’s Blues reached the Premier League before netting 19 times in the top flight the following season as Town finished fifth to qualify for Europe, underwent 12 months of tests prior to receiving his diagnosis.

In a statement released via the PFA, Stewart said: “I would like to take the opportunity to thank those closest to me for their unwavering support since my recent diagnosis.

“As I take the time to adjust, my intention is to continue to enjoy my work in football and spend time with my family.

“In the future, I would like to use my platform within football to help raise awareness around MND, but in the short-term, I would like to ask for privacy on behalf of myself and my family.”

Stewart and his wife Louise have set up a JustGiving page with all proceeds going to the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which was started by Stephen Darby, the former Liverpool, Rochdale and Bradford full-back, who was diagnosed with MND in 2018.

Several fundraising events are already planned with Stewart's sons, Kian and Finley, who both play rugby union for Huddersfield RFU, set to run the Manchester Marathon and Louise, family and friends taking part in the London Winter Walk marathon.

Striker Stewart started his career with his hometown club Bristol Rovers, coincidentally making his debut and scoring against the Blues in a 3-3 draw at Twerton Park on the opening day of the 1991/92 season.

After five years with the Pirates, Stewart moved on to Huddersfield for a fee of £1.2 million before controversially being sold to Town for an initial £2.5 million in February 2000 at a time when the West Yorkshiremen were among the clubs vying with the Blues at the top of what was then League One, now the Championship.

Stewart scored on his debut, a 2-0 win at Barnsley, and then his home debut, a 2-1 victory over the Terriers less than two weeks after leaving them.

The frontman didn’t score again until the play-offs when he netted twice at Bolton the first leg of the semi-final to claw Town back into the tie having been two goals down, then headed the Blues’ third in the 4-2 victory over the Tykes at Wembley.

Stewart was the star of Town’s 2000/01 campaign as they finished fifth in the Premier League and reached the UEFA Cup, scoring 19 times in the league plus two more in cups, and was understood to have been close to an England call-up.

After an injury-hit 2001/02 season in which the Blues were relegated, Stewart moved on to Sunderland for a fee believed to be £650,000 at the start of the following season. In total, he scored 37 times for Town in 81 starts and 12 sub appearances.

Spells with Bristol City, Preston (loan), Yeovil and Exeter followed with Stewart moving into coaching while with the Grecians. Over his playing career, he made 783 senior appearances and scored 254 goals.

After stints on the staff back at Bristol Rovers and then Walsall, Stewart is currently working as head of player development at Yeovil, a role he started in June.

For more information on MND, visit the MND Association.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:59 - Sep 8 I join with others in shock at this awful news. All good wishes to Marcus and his family in managing this new situation as best they can. Let us hope science can soon come up with some way of at least mitigating this terrible disease. Definitely an ITFC legend (agree, Lighningboy!)
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Davidwb20 added 20:03 - Sep 8 # Legend - Such great memories of a true gent and a fabulous striker. Will never forget Marcus scoring the second of his brace away at Bolton in the play off semi final. My thoughts are with you.
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LimerickTractorBoy added 20:15 - Sep 8 Best wishes to Marcus and his family. Very sad news. Blue Legend
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:28 - Sep 8 been a Town supporter since mid 60s, seen some real good players in that time Marcus will always be up there with the best strikers we,ve ever had. Sad to hear this news . Best wishes to him and his family.
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hogster1970 added 21:03 - Sep 8 Very sad new MS. You wasn't with us long but always a blue
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BurleysGloryDays added 21:03 - Sep 8 We'll all do whatever we can for our club legend Marcus Stewart In the family, Marcus, we're with you.
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Tractorboy1985 added 21:05 - Sep 8 Born in 1985 my first memory of Portman Road was a 4-2 victory v Leeds in 1992 and Chrissy Kiwomya and Johnny Wark soon became my favourite players. However growing into my teens and watching that Burley side win promotion at Wembley “Stewie” not only became my favourite player but a hero! A left footed forward like myself I always barked ‘STEWWWWWART' in training whenever I got hold of one which nestled in the back of the net! This is tragic news on an already sad day for this country! Stay strong “Stewie” thanks for all memories and still giving me goosebumps when I relive the playoff semi at Bolton and the header at Wembley ❤️

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Radlett_blue added 21:05 - Sep 8 There's nothing good about motor neurone disease. There is no cure. Very sad.
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Tractorboy1985 added 21:07 - Sep 8 And how you never got an England cap after that season back in the prem I'll never know!
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waldenblue7 added 21:31 - Sep 8 So sorry to hear this along with everything else that's happened today 😢 My favourite Ipswich player, what a devastating day.
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Saxonblue74 added 21:34 - Sep 8 So sad. Such a cruel disease. The guy has blue blood in his veins, not to mention being a really nice bloke.
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terryf added 22:34 - Sep 8 After 61 years of watching Town Marcus would most certainly be in my favourite Eleven. Imagine him as a linkman behind Paul Mariner, a very sad loss this year. I well remember being devastated when Marcus left us for Sunderland.
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dubblue added 23:21 - Sep 8 Gutted for Marcus and his family. A giant for the Town especially 00/01 season.
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howsey51 added 06:32 - Sep 9 He made the difference that year after so many years of nearly. All the best Stewie. My favourite player of that generation.
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howsey51 added 06:36 - Sep 9 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1908483?query=featured_home Interesting article showing professional footballers several times more likely to get MND (and other neurodegenerative diseases) than general population. More needs to be looked at.
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Brazils_Hair added 07:36 - Sep 9 Crikey. What sad news. He made a lasting impression at Portman Road. His goal at Bolton - you know the one I mean. I dont think I have ever gone so beserk as when he scored that! I wish him and his family well.
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WeZBurnZ added 08:38 - Sep 9 We love you Stewie and for what you gave this club. Up there among the finest strikers town ever had and a true class act on the pitch.
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Razor added 10:27 - Sep 9 Very very sad news but I am sure the Ipswich family will rally round.My favourite goal was the winner at Anfield in front of the Kop when he left 2 defenders on their backsides before slidind the ball in, and who can forget his hat trick on TV on a Monday night at Southampton?
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howsey51 added 11:18 - Sep 9 Brazils hair.. I probably do know the one you mean but to be honest the other was just as good! Of all his moments- the Southampton hat trick, the goal against Liverpool, the Wembley goal… those Bolton goals were the greatest to turn everything around.
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bluered26 added 13:36 - Sep 10 Walking in a Stewart wonderland...there's only one Marcus Stewart, will always remember the gloves goals and good times. Lets hope the memories can be shared and live on Thoughts with the family and club . Loved some of his recent interviews Lets hope the gloves can come out again this winter and an added twist in the design to support Marcus and the foundation
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