# 1999–2000 Ipswich Town F.C. season

During the 1999–2000 English football season, Ipswich Town competed in the Football League First Division.

## Season summary

Ipswich finished the season in third place in the First Division, missing out on the two automatic places for promotion to the Premiership and instead took part in the play-offs for the fourth year running, to determine the third promoted team. Ipswich finished two points behind Manchester City (who were promoted in second place) and four behind league winners Charlton Athletic.
On the final day of the league season Ipswich played Walsall, and won 2–0 with two goals from Ipswich's top scorer David Johnson, who finished the season with 22 goals. At one point, after his first goal, second place Manchester City were trailing to Blackburn, meaning that Ipswich would qualify for promotion automatically. However, this only lasted nine minutes, with City eventually scoring four goals to win the match and secure promotion.
In the play-off semi-finals, Ipswich faced sixth-placed Bolton Wanderers, who had beaten them in the semi-final the previous year. After a 2–2 draw in the first leg away at the Reebok Stadium, Ipswich won 5–3 at Portman Road, winning 7–5 on aggregate.
In the play-off final, the last domestic competitive fixture at Wembley Stadium before the stadium was redeveloped, Ipswich played fourth-placed Barnsley, beating them 4–2 and finally securing their return to the Premiership after an absence of five years.

## First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Richard Wright |
| 2 | DF | NED | Fabian Wilnis |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Jamie Clapham |
| 4 | DF | FRA | Jean-Manuel Thetis |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Tony Mowbray |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Mark Venus |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Mick Stockwell |
| 8 | MF | IRL | Matt Holland (captain) |
| 9 | FW | JAM | David Johnson |
| 10 | FW | ENG | James Scowcroft |
| 11 | MF | NIR | Jim Magilton |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 12 | FW | ENG | Richard Naylor |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Mike Salmon |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Jermaine Wright |
| 15 | MF | NED | Marco Holster |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Wayne Brown |
| 24 | DF | ENG | John McGreal |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Gary Croft |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Marcus Stewart |
| 29 | GK | IRL | Keith Branagan |
| 30 | MF | NED | Martijn Reuser (on loan from Ajax) |
| 32 | FW | SWE | Jonas Axeldal |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Adam Tanner (to Peterborough United) |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Neil Midgley (on loan to Kidderminster Harriers) |
| 23 | FW | NIR | Sean Friars (on loan to Portadown) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Michael Clegg (loan return to Manchester United) |
| 31 | GK | NED | Sieb Dijkstra (released) |

### Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Titus Bramble |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Richard Logan |
| 21 | MF | ENG | John Kennedy |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 22 | MF | SCO | Stuart Niven |
| 26 | GK | ENG | James Pullen |
| – | MF | FRA | Patrice Maurel (on loan from Toulouse) |

## Pre-season

Ipswich traveled to Scandinavia for pre-season prior to the 1999–2000 season, playing friendlies against Swedish sides Gefle IF and GIF Sundsvall.

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 20 July 1999 | St Albans City | A | 3–0 | Unknown | Friars, Naylor, Niven |
| 22 July 1999 | Gefle IF | A | 3–2 | Unknown | Stockwell, Scowcroft, Midgley |
| 24 July 1999 | GIF Sundsvall | A | 1–1 | Unknown | Johnson |
| 27 July 1999 | Peterborough United | A | 1–0 | Unknown | Johnson |
| 31 July 1999 | FC Twente | H | 1–2 | Unknown | Scowcroft |

## Competitions
### Football League First Division
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Charlton Athletic (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 79 | 45 | +34 | 91 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 2 | Manchester City (P) | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 78 | 40 | +38 | 89 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 3 | Ipswich Town (O, P) | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 71 | 42 | +29 | 87 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 4 | Barnsley | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 88 | 67 | +21 | 82 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |
| 5 | Birmingham City | 46 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 44 | +21 | 77 | Qualification for the First Division play-offs |

#### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
Ipswich Town's score comes first

#### Matches

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 7 August 1999 | Nottingham Forest | H | 3-1 | 20,830 | Naylor, Johnson, Scowcroft |
| 15 August 1999 | Swindon Town | A | 4-1 | 6,195 | Johnson (2), Naylor (2) |
| 21 August 1999 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1-0 | 17,696 | Johnson |
| 28 August 1999 | Sheffield United | A | 2-2 | 12,455 | Scowcroft, Johnson |
| 30 August 1999 | Barnsley | H | 6-1 | 18,037 | Johnson (2), Venus, Naylor, Scowcroft, Magilton |
| 11 September 1999 | Portsmouth | A | 1-1 | 16,034 | Scowcroft |
| 18 September 1999 | Birmingham City | H | 0-1 | 19,758 | |
| 26 September 1999 | Manchester City | H | 2-1 | 19,406 | Johnson, Croft |
| 2 October 1999 | Grimsby Town | A | 1-2 | 6,531 | Magilton |
| 16 October 1999 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1-4 | 17,544 | Holland |
| 19 October 1999 | Charlton Athletic | H | 4-2 | 17,940 | Scowcroft, Venus, Johnson, Stockwell |
| 23 October 1999 | Walsall | A | 1-0 | 6,526 | Naylor |
| 27 October 1999 | Manchester City | A | 0-1 | 32,799 | |
| 30 October 1999 | Grimsby Town | H | 2-0 | 16,617 | Clapham, Naylor |
| 2 November 1999 | Huddersfield Town | A | 1-3 | 12,093 | Holland |
| 6 November 1999 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2-2 | 18,512 | Holland, Mowbray |
| 12 November 1999 | Tranmere Rovers | H | 0-0 | 14,514 | |
| 21 November 1999 | Norwich City | A | 0-0 | 19,948 | |
| 24 November 1999 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1-0 | 15,731 | Scowcroft |
| 27 November 1999 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 2-1 | 15,211 | Johnson (2) |
| 5 December 1999 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1-0 | 15,724 | Holland |
| 7 December 1999 | Crystal Palace | A | 2-2 | 13,176 | Holland, Johnson |
| 18 December 1999 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 3-1 | 14,712 | Johnson, Scowcroft, Midgley |
| 26 December 1999 | Fulham | A | 0-0 | 17,255 | |
| 28 December 1999 | Stockport County | H | 1-0 | 20,671 | Scowcroft |
| 3 January 2000 | Port Vale | A | 2-1 | 6,908 | Holland, Scowcroft |
| 15 January 2000 | Swindon Town | H | 3-0 | 17,326 | Stockwell, Naylor (2) |
| 22 January 2000 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1-1 | 11,924 | Holland |
| 29 January 2000 | Sheffield United | H | 1-1 | 17,350 | Johnson (pen) |
| 5 February 2000 | Barnsley | A | 2-0 | 17,601 | Scowcroft, Stewart |
| 12 February 2000 | Huddersfield Town | H | 2-1 | 21,233 | Scowcroft, Stewart |
| 19 February 2000 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2-1 | 6,393 | Clapham, Wright |
| 27 February 2000 | Birmingham City | A | 1-1 | 20,493 | Johnson |
| 4 March 2000 | Portsmouth | H | 0-1 | 20,305 | |
| 7 March 2000 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0-0 | 18,871 | |
| 11 March 2000 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1-2 | 22,652 | Scowcroft |
| 19 March 2000 | Norwich City | H | 0-2 | 21,760 | |
| 22 March 2000 | Tranmere Rovers | A | 2-0 | 6,933 | Holland, Johnson |
| 25 March 2000 | Fulham | H | 1-0 | 20,168 | Reuser |
| 4 April 2000 | West Browich Albion | A | 1-1 | 12,536 | Holland |
| 8 April 2000 | Port Vale | H | 3-0 | 19,663 | Scowcroft, Johnson, Holland |
| 15 April 2000 | Stockport County | A | 1-0 | 8,501 | Johnson |
| 22 April 2000 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1-3 | 14,920 | Magilton (pen) |
| 25 April 2000 | Crystal Palace | H | 1-0 | 18,798 | Johnson |
| 29 April 2000 | Charlton Athletic | A | 3-1 | 20,043 | Magilton, Johnson, Reuser |
| 7 May 2000 | Walsall | H | 2-0 | 21,908 | Johnson (2) |

### First Division play-offs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| SF 1st Leg | 14 May 2000 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2-2 | 18,814 | Stewart (2) |
| SF 2nd Leg | 17 May 2000 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 5-3 (won 7–5 on agg) | 21,543 | Magilton (3), Clapham (pen), Reuser |
| Final | 29 May 2000 | Barnsley | Wembley Stadium | 4-2 | 73,427 | Mowbray, Naylor, Stewart, Reuser |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 13 December 1999 | Southampton | H | 0-1 | 14,383 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Goalscorers |
| R1 1st Leg | 11 August 1999 | Brentford | A | 2-0 | Johnson, Clapham |
| R1 2nd Leg | 24 August 1999 | Brentford | H | 2-0 (won 4–0 on agg) | Scowcroft, Clapham |
| R2 1st Leg | 14 September 1999 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 1-2 | Venus |
| R2 2nd Leg | 21 September 1999 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1-1 (lost 2–3 on agg) | Scowcroft |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Pos | Name | From | Fee |
| 14 July 1999 | GK | Mike Salmon | Charlton Athletic | Free transfer |
| 21 July 1999 | MF | Jermaine Wright | Crewe Alexandra | £500,000 |
| 5 August 1999 | DF | John McGreal | Tranmere Rovers | £650,000 |
| 23 August 1999 | FW | Jonas Axeldal | Calcio Foggia | Free transfer |
| 21 September 1999 | DF | Gary Croft | Blackburn Rovers | £540,000 |
| 29 September 1999 | GK | James Pullen | Heybridge Swifts | Free transfer |
| 11 November 1999 | GK | Sieb Dijkstra | Dundee United | Free transfer |
| 1 February 2000 | FW | Marcus Stewart | Huddersfield Town | £2,750,000 |
| 22 March 2000 | GK | Keith Branagan | Bolton Wanderers | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Date from | Pos | Name | From | Date until |
| 8 February 2000 | MF | Patrice Maurel | Toulouse | 30 June 2000 |
| 16 February 2000 | DF | Michael Clegg | Manchester United | 10 March 2000 |
| 23 March 2000 | MF | Martijn Reuser | Ajax | 30 June 2000 |

### Transfers out

| Date | Pos | Name | To | Fee |
| 3 June 1999 | DF | David Theobald | Brentford | Free transfer |
| 1 July 1999 | GK | Lee Bracey | Hull City | Free transfer |
| 1 July 1999 | DF | Jason Cundy | Portsmouth | Free transfer |
| 1 July 1999 | MF | Bobby Petta | Celtic | Free transfer |
| 14 July 1999 | MF | Kieron Dyer | Newcastle United | £6,000,000 |
| 16 November 1999 | GK | Sieb Dijkstra | Free agent | Released |
| 23 March 2000 | MF | Adam Tanner | Peterborough United | Free transfer |
| 23 March 2000 | MF | Chris Keeble | Colchester United | Free transfer |

### Loans out

| Date from | Pos | Name | From | Date until |
| 23 September 1999 | FW | Neil Midgley | Luton Town | 23 November 1999 |
| 30 December 1999 | DF | Titus Bramble | Colchester United | 30 January 2000 |
| 18 March 2000 | FW | Sean Friars | Portadown | 18 May 2000 |
| 30 March 2000 | FW | Neil Midgley | Kidderminster Harriers | 8 May 2000 |

## Squad statistics

All statistics updated as of end of season

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | First Division | First Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Play-offs | Play-offs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Richard Wright | 53 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||||
| 2 | DF | NED | Fabian Wilnis | 40 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Jamie Clapham | 54 | 5 | 46 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | DF | FRA | Jean-Manuel Thetis | 20 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Tony Mowbray | 40 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Mark Venus | 34 | 3 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Wayne Brown | 30 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | John McGreal | 38 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Gary Croft | 24 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Michael Clegg | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||||
| 7 | MF | ENG | Mick Stockwell | 42 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | IRL | Matt Holland | 54 | 10 | 46 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | NIR | Jim Magilton | 46 | 7 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Jermaine Wright | 39 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | NED | Martijn Reuser | 11 | 4 | 2+6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+3 | 2 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | JAM | David Johnson | 52 | 23 | 44 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | James Scowcroft | 50 | 15 | 43 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | ENG | Richard Naylor | 43 | 9 | 36 | 8 | 0+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Neil Midgley | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Richard Logan | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | NIR | Sean Friars | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | ENG | Marcus Stewart | 13 | 5 | 9+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 32 | FW | SWE | Jonas Axeldal | 20 | 0 | 1+15 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Last updated: end of season Source: Competitions

### Goalscorers

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | First Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Play-offs | Total |
| 9 | FW | | David Johnson | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| 10 | FW | | James Scowcroft | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| 17 | DF | | Wayne Brown | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 8 | MF | | Matt Holland | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 12 | FW | | Richard Naylor | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| 11 | MF | | Jim Magilton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
| 3 | DF | | Jamie Clapham | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 27 | FW | | Marcus Stewart | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 30 | MF | | Martijn Reuser | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 6 | DF | | Mark Venus | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | DF | | Tony Mowbray | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | MF | | Mick Stockwell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | MF | | Jermaine Wright | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | | Neil Midgely | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 24 | DF | | John McGreal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 25 | DF | | Gary Croft | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 84 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 102 |

### Clean sheets

| No. | Nat | Player | First Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Play-offs | Total |
| 1 | | Richard Wright | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| Total | Total | Total | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 |

### Disciplinary record

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | First Division | First Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Play-offs | Play-offs | Total | Total |
| 2 | DF | | Fabian Wilnis | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | | Jamie Clapham | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | | Jean-Manuel Thetis | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | | Tony Mowbray | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | | Mark Venus | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | | David Johnson | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | | James Scowcroft | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | | Jim Magilton | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 12 | FW | | Richard Naylor | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | | Jermaine Wright | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | | Wayne Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | | John McGreal | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 25 | DF | | Gary Croft | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | | Michael Clegg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 50 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 3 |

## Awards
### Player awards

| Award | Player | Ref |
| Player of the Year | James Scowcroft | |

### PFA First Division Team of the Year

| Player | Ref |
| Richard Wright | |
| Marcus Stewart | |