It is quite something when you get the chance to listen to someone with as much passion and drive as Mark Ashton, Chairman of Ipswich Town Football Club, who addressed the ITFC Business Network Lunch in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite at Portman Road yesterday.
We learnt how 'obsessed' Mark is with, not just ITFC, but also the future prosperity and regeneration of Ipswich town centre, and how committed the Club is to engaging with the local community and helping the Club and town to continue to grow and prosper.
One of Mark's key mantras is how we need to go from 'good to great', and that we all need to be 'on the bus' - we might not all be in the right seats, but we do all need that passion and determination to head in the right direction.
Mark highlighted that, over the four nights of the three Ed Sheeran concerts at ITFC and the Fabio Wardley boxing event this Summer, an additional 100,000 visitors were attracted to Ipswich and surrounding areas - which is clearly a very positive sign for the future, but that we do all need to push for the requisite improvements to our infrastructure and facilities to be able to service this extra demand.
Mark ended his inspirational stage interview with Commercial Director, Andy Wooldridge, on the takeaway note that 'We will build a greater future for the Club, for the town, and for the county'.
Thanks to Carol Sinclair for organising another excellent event, to Liam Worrall for hosting, and to all the fantastic catering staff for another delicious, well-presented lunch and superb corporate hospitality.
Appreciation also to the fabulous guests on Table 8: Carol Sinclair as our ITFC host; Melanie Willis of All About Ipswich; Nick Garnham of Suffolk County Football Association; Darrell Smith of Archway Carpets; Rob Case of Case Wealth Management; Sarah McKee-Harris of MAD-HR; and Emma Alderton of Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.
We look forward to working with ITFC, its partners and suppliers to help to bring future economic benefits to our Football Club and our town, which in turn will serve to generate enhanced inward investment opportunities for Suffolk as a whole.