Ipswich Town have enjoyed more ups and downs than a rollercoaster in their long history. In fact, the Tractor Boys have played in all four tiers of the English game in their history.
Throughout their history, there has been a specific band of players who have remained loyal to the Suffolk club, showing great loyalty by making hundreds of appearances. However, which players have made the most appearances in all competitions for Ipswich Town?
Mick Mills (746 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
The full-back is a club legend at Ipswich, making an incredible 746 appearances in all competitions from 1966 until 1982.
During his long stint with the Tractor Boys, he won several honours. Mills was a part of the Ipswich team that won the 1978 FA Cup and 1981 UEFA Cup.
Having won the Second Division title in 1968 with the club, he was also part of the team that finished as top-flight runners-up in back-to-back campaigns in seasons 1980–81 and 1981–82.
On an individual basis, Mills won Ipswich Player of the Year in season 1977/78 and was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2007.
John Wark (678 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
The ex-Liverpool star is another considered to be an Ipswich legend. That status is likely connected to his love for the club. The fact that he is also the club’s second-highest goalscorer with 168 goals has also played a part in his status in Suffolk.
The Scottish international enjoyed three stints with the club, the first from 1975 until 1984, then from 1988 and 1990, and finally from 1991 until 1997, when he retired from playing.
The most notable period of his Ipswich career came during that first spell, during which time he was a teammate of Mills, and the team won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup. During his last spell with Town, Wark also helped the club to win the Second Division.
The midfielder picked up several individual awards during his long playing career with the club. He won the Ipswich Player of the Year award in seasons 1988/89, 1989/90, 1991/92, and 1993/94, which earned him induction into the club’s Hall of Fame in 2007.
He enjoyed an excellent 1980/81 campaign, winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. In the same year, he was also the top goalscorer in Ipswich’s successful UEFA Cup campaign.
Mick Stockwell (603 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
The diminutive midfielder almost bridged the generational gap during his 18 years at Ipswich, having joined the club as a youth player in 1982.
Stockwell was a stalwart in the Ipswich team, making a highly creditable 603 appearances in all competitions for the Suffolk club.
He arrived in the Ipswich first team slightly too late to contribute to the successes of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
However, during his time with the club, he helped the team win the Second Division title in 1991/92 alongside Wark and won the First Division (now the Championship) play-offs in his final season with the Tractor Boys.
On an individual basis, Stockwell won the Ipswich Player of the Year award in 1992. His long service to the club also earned him his place in the club’s Hall of Fame in 2013.
Paul Cooper (575 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
The goalkeeper spent 13 years at Ipswich from 1974 until 1987, after initially joining the club on loan from Birmingham City in 1974.
Cooper won the UEFA Cup and FA Cup with the Tractor Boys in 1981 and 1978, respectively. He played a crucial role in season 1980/81, as illustrated by his winning the Ipswich Player of the Year award that season.
Like many on our list, Cooper is an Ipswich Hall of Fame inductee, having been inducted in 2014.
George Burley (500 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
The full-back came through the youth system at the club in 1973 and stayed until 1985, making an incredible 500 appearances for the Suffolk club.
He was, of course, part of the club’s glory years in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In season 1976/77, his performances on the pitch were rewarded with the Ipswich Player of the Year award.
Burley re-joined Ipswich as a player/manager for 1994/95. However, he failed to make a league appearance for the Tractor Boys and concentrated on the managerial side of the game, hanging up his boots in the same season.
Burley enjoyed eight years as Ipswich boss, the highlight of which was helping Town win the First Division play-offs in 2000. In 2009, Burley was inducted into the Ipswich Hall of Fame for his service to the club as a player and manager.
Tommy Parker (475 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
Parker kicked off his career with Ipswich in 1946 and enjoyed a career with the club until retiring in 1957. During his time with the Suffolk outfit, the midfielder captained the team.
He helped Town to win the Football League Division South titles in 1953/54 and 1956/57. His contribution to the club was acknowledged in 2010 when he joined the growing band of players inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.
Billy Baxter (459 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
The Scottish defender featured for the Tractor Boys from 1960 until 1971, making a respectable 459 appearances for Town.
Baxter was part of the Ipswich Town team that won their only ever top-flight title in season 1961/62. He was also part of the teams that won the Second Division title in season 1960/61 and 1967/68.
Like all the other players on our list, Baxter is a member of Ipswich’s Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2009, unfortunately, the same year of his death after a long battle with cancer.
John Elsworthy (435 appearances in all competitions for Ipswich)
The Welsh left-half joined the Tractor Boys in 1949 after starting his career as a youth team player at Newport County. He stayed with the Suffolk club the whole of his career until he retired in 1965.
Elsworthy enjoyed a trophy-laden career with Town. He won the Football League Third Division South in seasons 1953/54 and 1956/57 before winning the Second Division title in 1960-61 and then, most notably, the English top flight in the following season.
In 2009, he was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame alongside teammate Billy Baxter.