Chairman John Cobbold Stadium Portman Road FA Cup Fourth round | Manager Alf Ramsey Football League First Division 1st League Cup Fourth round | |
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The 1961–62 season was the 73rd season of competitive football played by Ipswich Town. Although the club exited both the FA Cup and the Football League Cup in the fourth round, they ended the campaign as Football League champions, becoming the third club to win back-to-back Second and First Division titles. Matt Busby described the title-winners as "...one of the First Division's most attractive sides...". As league champions, Ipswich qualified for European football for the first time in the club's history.
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Sixteen players represented the club during the season, with six different goalscorers, including Ray Crawford who was joint English and European top scorer with Derek Kevan of West Bromwich Albion. Crawford and Ted Phillips, scored 73 goals between them during the season.
Background
Ipswich went into the 1961–62 Football League having been promoted from the Football League Second Division as champions, one point ahead of Sheffield United. Ray Crawford was the league's top scorer with 39 goals as Ipswich ended the season with 100 goals scored.
Post-season
Ipswich's title-winning season qualified them for the 1962–63 European Cup, the club's first foray into European football. The club defeated Maltese champions Floriana 14–1 in the preliminary round, with Ted Phillips scoring seven across the two ties. The Suffolk club then faced Italians and eventual champions A.C. Milan. Ipswich were unable to overturn a 3–0 first leg defeat in the San Siro, despite winning 2–1 at Portman Road. On 25 October 1962, Ramsey agreed to take charge of the England national team, commencing 1 May 1963. Domestically, Ipswich struggled to repeat their form the following season, finishing 17th and four points above the relegation zone.