Family's tribute to footballing legend, Ted

Better known as ‘Ted’, he is an Ipswich Town legend, having scored 181 goals in 295 games for the Tractor Boys between 1953 and 1964.

After short spells with Leyton Orient and Luton Town, Ted signed for Colchester United in 1965.

He played 34 times for the U’s, scoring 13 goals, including a hat-trick on his debut in a 4-0 win over Barnsley.

His widow, Diane Phillips, described him as “a great man”.

She said: “We had a wonderful life together, we were married for 51 years and in that time, we went everywhere and did everything.

“Ted loved cruises, so we went on those together and lived a very full life.

“He had a wicked sense of humour and loved playing tricks, so there was never a dull moment.”

Ex-team-mate Ray Crawford, with whom Ted won the Football League first division title in 1962, spoke fondly of his old friend.

He said: “Ted passing away is such sad, sad news. We’ve known each other for years — we go right back to 1958.

“He was a bit of a devil. Sometimes at training, [Sir] Alf [Ramsey] would say to our trainer Jimmy Forsyth “no ball work, get them all running” — so off we‘d go for a run, and all of a sudden, Ted would appear with six footballs.”

Ray credits Ted as one of his favourite team-mates, and revealed that there is one thing from the past he would have changed.

He said: “I was a goal scorer for quite a few teams, but Ted was definitely a great help. You knew what you were going to get with him, you knew he’d have a shot from 25 yards and quite often the goalkeeper couldn’t hold it, so I’d follow in and score from the rebound, that wasn’t uncommon.

“He was a great asset to my career and a very good friend and he’ll be a great loss to everyone.

“The only thing I wish is that Ted and I could have had the chance to play for England together.

“I would have loved the opportunity to play alongside him for our country, that would have been a brilliant experience.”

Another person with experience of sharing a football pitch with Ted is former Gazette sports reporter Francis Ponder.

He said: “He had one of the hardest shots in football during his career.

“I can remember playing against him once — He was playing for Lexden Wanderers in the Essex and Suffolk border league and I was playing in goal against them for Heybridge Swifts. He kept trying to score past me from the half way line.

Francis also remembers Ted as a fun, sociable man.

He said: “Ted was a great mixer, he would chat to anyone, talk about anything, he was a really nice guy, so this is really sad news.”

After his football career Ted was a keen cricketer, and turned out many-a-time for Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club. To go with his 80 mile per hour strike in football, Ted was known as a wicked fast bowler.

Barry Smith, Chairman of the Colchester United Former Players’ Association, recognised Ted’s aptitude for sport.

He said: “It was extremely sad to hear the news and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.

“He was a fantastically talented player, at cricket as well as football, and I can remember watching as a supporter when he made his debut for the U’s. He scored a hat-trick, all headers, in a 4-0 win against Barnsley.

Colchester United also paid tribute to the legendary striker, and a club statement said, “Colchester United wishes to offer its condolences to Ted’s family and friends at this sad time.”