Ipswich Town FC former chairman John Kerr dies aged 83
A former chairman of Ipswich Town FC has died at the age of 83.
John Kerr MBE held the role between 1991 and 1995, which included the club’s inaugural year in the Premier League.
He was associated with the side for more than half a century and stepped down as the PLC board director in 2015.
“We knew John had been unwell for a period of time but this is still very sad news,” said Mike O’Leary, the current chairman.
Listen: ‘A pillar of Suffolk’: Ex-Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks pays tribute to John Kerr
“He contributed a huge amount to the football club and was held in high regard at Portman Road.
“This will be a tough time for his family and friends, as well as former colleagues, so right now our thoughts are with them.”
Mr Kerr, while serving as a Town director in April 2013, received his Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to the club.
The club was informed of his death earlier on Wednesday.
Ipswich Town loanee Kyle Edwards on similarities at Oxford United
KYLE Edwards has pinpointed the key similarity between the promotion-winning Ipswich Town team he was part of last season and the Oxford United side he has joined on loan.
The 25-year-old winger signed for the U’s on a season-long loan on deadline day, after making 41 appearances for the Tractor Boys last year as they sealed promotion from Sky Bet League One.
Edwards is not the only arrival from East Anglia this summer, with left back Greg Leigh joining on a permanent basis.
“There’s stuff that we’ll take last year from Ipswich coming up, that we can definitely bring to the group,” said Edwards.
“Any way we can try and help the team, and help the group, it’ll be better for all of us.
“The intensity in training was the biggest thing and the biggest similarity from last year.
“We trained really hard, so when it came to the games, it felt a lot easier.
“I’ve come in and it’s been the same here – the intensity in training and focus in training.”
Edwards revealed that Leigh played an important role in convincing him to sign for United, so much so the latter earned himself a new nickname.
Former West Bromwich Albion winger Edwards said: “He was quite influential to be fair to him. We started calling him ‘Agent Greg’.
“He was telling me it’s a good place and a good manager, and that I should come down. He was texting me ‘what’s going on?’.
“If we play together, then we’ve played together before, and I know how Greg plays and he knows how I play. I’m sure we’ll do alright.”
Edwards has settled in quickly with the U’s, scoring twice in his first three games, with both goals coming in the last two matches, when he has started.
“Two in two is a good start and hopefully it can continue, and I can keep scoring goals and making things happen,” said Edwards.
