During the 1963–64 English football season, Ipswich Town F.C. competed in the Football League First Division. Just two years after being crowned champions of England, they finished bottom of the table and were relegated to the Second Division, setting several unwelcome club records along the way.
Season summary After beating Burnley on the opening day of the season, Ipswich went 23 league and cup matches before registering their next win, the longest winless sequence in the club's history. A 10–1 drubbing at Fulham on Boxing Day remains Ipswich's heaviest ever defeat, though the nine-goal margin was equalled in 1995 when they lost 9–0 to Manchester United in the Premier League. They ended the campaign having shipped 121 league goals, the highest total ever conceded by Ipswich in a single season. In addition to the Fulham debacle, they lost 9–1 at Stoke City and were hit for six goals or more in a further five matches.
The season saw the departure from Portman Road of the club's regular strike partnership of Ray Crawford and Ted Phillips. Crawford signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers in September 1963 (although he would return to Ipswich for a second spell two years later) and Phillips joined Leyton Orient in March 1964. John Compton (to Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic) and Doug Moran (to Dundee United) would also move on before the start of the following season as manager Jackie Milburn began to break up Alf Ramsey's title-winning team.
One of the season's few bright spots was the goalscoring of American-born Gerry Baker, older brother of Arsenal and England forward Joe Baker. Signed by Milburn for £25,000 from Hibernian in December 1963, Baker netted 18 times in 22 matches (including three hat-tricks) to finish the season as the club's leading scorer.
Kit Ipswich's kit was almost identical to the one worn the previous season. Although there were no changes to the shirt, blue side panels were added to the shorts, and the socks changed from blue and white hoops to plain white with blue turnovers.Ipswich Town historical football kits on HFK
Squad Players who made one appearance or more for Ipswich Town F.C. during the 1963–64 seasonPride of Anglia – Ipswich Town Football Club Season 1963–64 Pos.Nat.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGKRoy Bailey2703020320GKDave Bevis50000050GKJim Thorburn1000000100DFBilly Baxter4253120476DFJack Bolton3203010360DFLarry Carberry1000020120DFJohn Compton3503010390DFJoe Davin2603000290DFGeorge Dougan1601020190DFAndy Nelson2602010290MFBobby Blackwood2873010327MFJoe Broadfoot2943100325MFJohn Elsworthy2310000231MFDanny Hegan2153210257MFJimmy Leadbetter1712010201MFRoy Stephenson2200020240MFDennis Thrower10001020FWGerry Baker201523002218FWJohn Colrain1530020173FWRay Crawford62000062FWDoug Moran3082020348FWTed Phillips2040010214FWFrank Treacy10000010
League standings
Results Home team listed firstPride of Anglia – Ipswich Town Football Club Season 1963–64Historical Lineups: Tables, Facts, Stats – Season 1963–64 Division One
League Cup
FA Cup
References