Fabian Wilnis, A Tribute

By: Craig | May 4th, 2008

“Fabian Wilnis is a Blue, is a Blue, is a Blue”

With the news coming out of Portman Road today that Fabian Wilnis will not be offered a new contract next season, I thought it fitting to pay tribute to one of the club’s finest ever servants.

Arriving from De Graafschap in his native Holland for just £200,000, Wilnis debuted in the 1998-99 season as a replacement for the ageing Mick Stockwell as George Burley’s Town side chased promotion once again to the Premiership. His first start came on 9th January 1999 in a depressing 1-0 home defeat against Grimsby Town, before going on to make another 292 appearances in the blue of Ipswich.

The following season Wilnis was an integral part of the team that was to finally find promotion to the Premiership. With Town tipped for instant relegation the season after, Wilnis was to silence all the critics and produce one of the greatest moments in recent Town history when treble-winning Manchester United came to Portman Road, a night nobody, least Wilnis will ever forget.

After a slick passing movement from defence, David Johnson swept the ball to his right where a free Wilnis calmly burst into the 18 yard area and drilled the ball home powerfully past Fabian Barthez. Portman Road erupted as Wilnis leapt to the corner flag to scenes of pandemonium and adulation. Despite a David Beckham equaliser that night, Town earned a 1-1 draw, the praise of Beckham and Ferguson and were to finish the campaign fifth.

The following season Wilnis fell out of favour somewhat after storming down the player’s tunnel following a 30th minute substitution in the UEFA Cup game against Helsingborgs in a season Town fell alarmingly out of the Premiership. However in 2002-03 under Joe Royle, Wilnis fully reclaimed his position at right back, making 43 appearances and scoring twice, including a memorable goal away at Norwich, as Town sunk the Budgies 2-0, further cementing Wilnis’ hero status amongst the fans.

The following two seasons, Town twice fell victim to West Ham in the play-off semis, yet now approaching his mid-thirties, Wilnis put in 89 appearances across the 2003-04 and 2004-05 campaigns. Although the 2005-06 season was to end disappointingly for Town, ending up a lowly 15th, Wilnis deservedly scooped the Supporters Player of the Year award, testament to his continued commitment and dogged determination in the Ipswich back four.

Under Jim Magilton and Town in a transitional period, Wilnis found first team places scarce as age began to catch up with him. He made his final appearance in a Town shirt on 5th January this year in the home defeat by Portsmouth in the FA Cup - almost nine years to the day he first donned the number two shirt he made his own for almost a decade.

293 appearances, 6 goals and a lifetime of memories, Fabian Wilnis, we salute you.