An amazing result this weekend at Portman Road as Ipswich Town maintained a strong position for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
It seems a while since we’ve occupied the seats of Box 19 but what a great return as we saw Town score 3 and keep a clean sheet against visitors Swansea City.
Cover man for this week’s programme and man-of-the-match Anis Mehmeti gave us the lead with just three minutes on the clock before Azon put in a second, late into the first half.
With 16 minutes remaining George Hirst added a third securing us all 3 points and one step closer to promotion status.
Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna told Sky Sports:
“It was certainly hard work, no doubt about that.
“But when you go about it the way that we did, you can never say ‘comfortable’, but you make it as efficient as it could have been because Swansea are a really different opponent than what we have faced most of the time this year.
“They are a really good footballing side, loads of technical players who really, really want to get the ball in play and get the ball on the floor.
“We worked really well in the last couple of days. We had to be aggressive with our pressure, push on with our bodies, pretty much go man-to-man.
“We showed some really good passages of football to play all the way through their press and we broke it really well to go through the pitch.
“In the second half we had to defend, block the middle of the pitch and limited them well and had the better chances in the second half really to extend the lead and did with the one goal.
“I liked the way we went about it and really recognised what the opponent was and what we needed to do and that’s so important in this league.”
Celebrating the win with is in Box 19 this week was:
William Hargreaves
Director of Farms and Estates for Savills East but more importantly, the proud owner of one of the most iconic poster cars of the 90’s.
We’ve known Will for many years and it was great to welcome him along to Box 19.
I’m sure many of you, in and around rural Suffolk, already know of the work he does with Savills but like everyone who joins us in Box 19, let’s delve a little deeper into the man himself.
Will joined Savills, in the Ipswich office in 2008, primarily advising private clients across Suffolk and East Anglia on the purchase and sale of agricultural property.
In recent years, he has been involved in several of the region’s most notable land transactions.
Having grown up on a farm in West Suffolk, Will has a deep-rooted interest in agriculture and rural property, alongside a lasting appreciation for the countryside.
And he loves his cars too!
Jonathan and Poppy Reed
Best known as the CEO and co-owner of Paddy & Scott’s Coffee.
‘Paddy & Scott’s coffee was created to inspire and fuel those bold enough to make a difference. Every cup acts as a catalyst for ambition, a force for good that challenges the status quo and fosters positive change for coffee farmers, communities, and the planet.’
Under the leadership of Jonathan and Zoe, Paddy & Scott’s has grown into a purpose driven brand that combines commercial success with social impact.
Jonathan’s journey with Paddy & Scott’s began when he joined as Brand Director. With the company having already built a reputation for high-quality coffee, Jonathan focussed his attention on storytelling, helping to elevate the company’s profile with clever marketing.
He later progressed to Managing Director and eventually CEO. Jonathan champions the idea that coffee businesses should go beyond profit, he said himself that ‘he is not driven by money’ but by making changes that actively support the communities that produce the coffee.
Paddy & Scott’s has developed direct relationships with the communities, particularly in Africa, and invests in initiatives that support farmers and local families.
One of the company’s most notable goals has been funding large numbers of school meals for children in coffee producing regions, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to ethical sourcing and social responsibility.
In 2024, Jonathan helped lead a management buyout alongside the leadership team to secure the future of the business. I have only met Jonathan, briefly, at a dinner so it was lovely to catch up with him properly and learn more on the past and the future of Paddy & Scotts.
Malcolm Jones
Life-long Man City fan, Malc joined us in Box 19 to see how a real team plays!
Taking the long trip down the M6 to join us for the game against Swansea, I’m not putting words in his mouth but I believe he felt that this experience was better than when he was in the Ethiad Stadium back in 2012 when City won the match, and the league title, in dramatic fashion.
Away from football Malc runs a Safeguarding Training business covering the Greater Manchester area.
Educated to degree level (BA Hons), Malc has been working alongside local Government departments for the past 25 years and the last 10 years has been working with older adults, advocating for and on behalf of patients subject to sections of the mental health act, tribunal applications and court reports. He comes with a wealth of experience of Youth and Community work where he worked alongside other youth workers running a busy inner city youth club offering a social, educational and health advice service promoting safe sexual health, alcohol and drug awareness.