We move to the flatlands of East Anglia for today’s #FanzineoftheDay with issue 81 of Those Were the Days or TWTD.co.uk as the cover displays along with the date, March 2006 an the price £1.50…a curators dream. Bit miffed at the co.uk malarkey as a fan of print though but by 2006 this was the way of the fanzine world. This is not to be confused with the Huddersfield fanzine Those Were The Days which disappeared after about 11 issues and 2 years in 2001.

The cover celebrates the wide range of Town striker who are cursed with injury and promises Vemund Brekke Shard, not an Anglian delicacy but an interview with the new striking hope from Norway who would go on to make a total of 3 appearances for the club. Before you read on you need to know that Ipswich were in the championship at this time and favourites for promotion to the Premier League.

The interview is worth your time because it is bizarre in so many way. Firstly he admits to being a Man United fan despite his father being one of 500 fans registered for the Norwegian Ipswich supporters club. He doesn’t swear because he occasionally goes to church, seems to have picked up on and disapproves of drinking habits at the club and doesn’t think he’s a good skier (this is by Norwegian standards obvs but EVERYONE in Norway is a good skier!).

This is all before we consider the fact that he was signed despite a groin injury requiring surgery, he had never had a so much as a trial for a Norwegian side above the third amateur tier and had mde 2 appearances in 5 years there and the scout who saw him was there to watch another player that didn’t show up. Add to this the note at the end that former Dons and Norway player Stale Salbakken “never considered him good enough to play in the Norwegian top flight” and well, 3 appearance seems like a lot.

There is an article about someone “inventing” “The Bouncy” chant aimed at rivals Norwich although the author admits it is just an adapted Rangers song..it’s the thought that counts.

Staying with creativity we have some poetry, some terrible poetry about injured players, stewards and Charlton. Good lord.

There is further Addick fun from the online message board (BOOOOO!!). With 6 former Town players (5) on loan dahn sarf Lahndhan they have made some enquiries. What jolly japes these internet dudes had.

Finally there is a terrific letter from 1980 with Bobby Robson apologising through gritted teeth for a slur on the fans. Sir Bobby! The Robmeister, King Robbo! being rude? Amazing. Just goes to show that your co.uk nonsense will never replace print..

It might be a little staid in some ways but this is a very good fanzine and with 42 pages there is much more there. It is pretty typical for the time and indeed looks like a quite a few zines do today. Maybe that’s the problem though, along with trying to compete with “the internet” cosy interviews with players appearing and not too much criticism of the club it all seem a little tame compared to some of the publications from the 80s and 90s despite some great creativity. TWTD.co.uk still trundles on with all the whistles and bells like podcasts and even a link to buy Ed Sheeran tickets…Maybe they should (re) start a print fanzine.