WHEN the only statues outside your football ground are of two knights, each of whom led England to the latter stages of the World Cup, you know you have to do something special to be immortalised in bronze outside Portman Road. 

Those who were lucky enough to see him play, however, know Kevin Beattie deserves the honour.

Though part of Ipswich Town’s greatest-ever squad, the one which won the FA Cup final in 1978,  Beattie does not have the same international renown as team-mates Alan Brazil, George Burley, Terry Butcher, Mick Mills, Paul Mariner and John Wark, all 1982 World Cup players. But they were all united in their praise for him.