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Ex-Spurs Midfielder Hazard Unveils Suicide Prevention Benches in Saxmundham - Ipswich Town News

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Two suicide prevention benches have been unveiled in Saxmundham as part of a charity campaign led by former Spurs midfielder Micky Hazard.

Hazard, 64, who represented Tottenham Hotspur more than 100 times during two spells, winning the FA and UEFA Cups, lost his own 23-year-old nephew, Jay, to suicide in 2019. Together with his sister Michelle, they founded the Legend on the Bench charity to offer support to anyone who feels like they might be suffering alone.

“The idea was my sister’s,” admits Hazard, who undertook a six-month online mental health course with TQUK after the loss of his nephew.

As he unveiled the bench in Saxmundham, he quoted Ricky Gervais’s character in the Netflix series Afterlife, “A society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know they will never sit in.”

Hazard, who also had spells with Chelsea and Swindon, knows only too well how people’s mental health problems are often hidden in plain sight. A midfielder who prided himself on reading the intentions of opposing players, he still wakes up regretting that he was unable to spot the signs in his own nephew.

“People who are having those thoughts, they're the best in the world at disguising it. We have to be more aware of that fact.”

One in four people suffer from mental health problems each year and while the benches cannot prevent the causes, Hazard hopes to at least let those suffering know there are people willing to offer support.

Using the tagline ‘Someone is always listening’, the installation of park benches, they hope, will speak to people feeling lost and isolated. Each bench has a plaque with QR codes, which will take anyone requiring support directly to a designated help page.

There are also telephone numbers on the bench for those seeking support from helplines staffed 24/7 and the benches have in-built solar panels providing lighting, intended to offer a ray of hope to those suffering from mental health issues in silence.

Hazard raises funds for the charity through his ever-popular ‘An Evening With’ Spurs legends nights. Former team-mates like Pat Jennings, Osvaldo Ardiles and David Howells have supported him by appearing at the various bench reveals.

In 18 months, benches have been installed in Peterborough, Sawbridgeworth and even two within Regent’s Park in London. Last month a bench in memory of the late Caroline Flack - who took her own life in 2020 - was unveiled in North London within sight of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“The support has been incredible,” Hazard told TWTD. “From that bench, we've been inundated with very powerful people wanting to be part of the charity.”

After contacting Hazard, Colin Merryweather and Keef Cartwright-Jones from the Saxmundham Judo Club set out to install the first bench in Suffolk. Cartwright-Jones organised a sponsored 26-mile walk starting and ending in Saxmundham, raising funds through a JustGiving page.

They surpassed their own expectations, raising over £4,000, which was enough to pay for the installation of two benches. The first is within the Saxmundham Memorial Park, the second, revealed later the same afternoon, at the Kelsale Sports Ground just north of the town.

Cartwright-Jones chose the second site after talking to a man sitting alone in the field one night. He hopes the benches can encourage people to start conversations between people.

“That's what people need to do to, to talk,” he said. “If we can save one life, then we've achieved what we've set out to. The community have got together to make these benches. It's something in the town to be very proud of.”

With Ipswich Town set to make their first visit to the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next weekend, Hazard also gave his thoughts on the Blues’ winless start to the Premier League season.

“They've been a little bit unlucky, I think they've played well,” he said. “The problem is at the top, you can play well and still get beat.”

He has fond memories of locking horns with some of the fabled Ipswich Town teams under Bobby Robson in the 1980s. “They had a great side. It's nice to see them back where they should be.”

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itfchorry added 20:00 - Oct 29

Great Cause -

Micky Hazard was also a great player

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Blues Among Clubs Linked With Skipp - Ipswich Town News

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PortmanTerrorist added 18:19 - Aug 7

If Keiran thinks he can be good for us, then no better judge in this case....but begs the question why we have not moved sooner as he was always leaving this summer according to Spurs fans.

BeattiesBackPocket added 18:24 - Aug 7

Portmanterrorist how do you know we haven’t? Transfers don’t just happen in a day or two sometimes they can take weeks of work.

Reality_2021 added 18:27 - Aug 7

Not sure he is that good personally.

I do not think he is actually that good. Spurs have had a problem with a weak central midfield for a few years now and teams with weak central midfields struggle in the Premiership.

Bazza8564 added 18:32 - Aug 7

Good player, young and hungry, get him in.

And on Beattiesbackpockets point, months mate. Szmodics talks have been going on since just before the end of last season.

joyousblue added 18:33 - Aug 7

No beatiebackpocket we would have had 4 months but all this fassing about trying to keep mckenna cost us time and planning , im delighted we kept him but it cost us time so yes transfer takes 2 weeks so the agent gets richer , but had we not had all this , is he ? will he ? cost us even if you take away holidays mckenna and aston dont switch off

ArnieM added 18:37 - Aug 7

I saw on the budgie forum, a few of their &and a week or so ago we’re voicing concerns that he might end up with us …. Not sure why this should bother them, but they aren’t happy that this could be the end result. So if it happens I’ll be over the moon that we are getting up their noses.

ITFC1977 added 18:49 - Aug 7

PortmanTerrorist How do you know we haven’t moved for him before? Do you think we just have one option we want and then wait for that to fail before we start looking for another?

Rsj13 added 18:55 - Aug 7

The fact McKenna has worked with him before (and his track record of improving players) surely makes is front runners between the promoted clubs. Also, going to hazard a guess that McKenna knows his character fairly well, and will still be very well connected at Spurs to get a very honest review!

SickParrot added 19:56 - Aug 7

I can't get excited about this one. He's been mediocre every time I've seen him, apart from one top bin goal. However, Kieran will know him from his time at Spurs so if he rates him then that's good enough for me.

dusth added 19:57 - Aug 7

Probably better to have Skipp than getting players out of one like we did in the dark days under ME.

TimmyH added 20:12 - Aug 7

I've seen him once live and quite a few times on SKY and yes he has been largely mediocre for Spurs...

oldblue added 21:20 - Aug 7

Skipp is a defensive midfielder...that position seldom gets rave reviews...who went crazy when Mass Luongo signed...he has experience..is a good age and can improve particularly under KMc .....there have been cries for a PL experience midfielder and when we get linked with one there is some negativity...given a real opportunity which he would get here he could thrive.

Kentish_Tractor added 21:23 - Aug 7

As others are saying...extremely mediocre.

Possibly a useful option if we're going to play 3 in midfield to sit in front of the defence, but from what I have seen of his performances from Spurs he offers very little creatively.

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Town Make Rodon Offer - Report - Ipswich Town News

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Town are reported to have made an offer to Tottenham Hotspur for central defender Joe Rodon.

According to football.london, the Blues have made a verbal offer for the Wales international but are yet to put anything formally in writing.

Rodon, who is currently said to be away at a training camp ahead of the new season, has been linked with the Blues throughout the summer.

The 26-year-old came through the ranks at his hometown club Swansea, spending time on loan at Cheltenham while with the Swans.

The ball-playing centre-half’s form with the Welsh club in the Championship led to Spurs signing him for £11 million in October 2020 on a five-year deal which is up next summer.

Since then, he has made 14 starts and 10 sub appearances for Tottenham and has spent spells on loan at Rennes and then last season Leeds, where he made 49 starts and one sub appearance as the Whites missed out on promotion in the play-offs.

The Elland Road club are keen to sign him on a permanent basis, while Leicester and Southampton are also believed to be interested.

Earlier in the week, Town made an approach to Hull City regarding another central defender, Jacob Greaves, but with the clubs appearing a long way apart in their valuation. The Blues are understood to have offered a figure approaching £10 million with the Tigers said to be looking for nearer £20 million.

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itfcskayman added 22:56 - Jun 30

Best cb in the league last year for me. Point to prove in the Prem. Let’s get it done!!!

itfcskayman added 22:56 - Jun 30

Best cb in the league last year for me. Point to prove in the Prem. Let’s get it done!!!

Len_Brennan added 23:05 - Jun 30

Rodon & Greaves would be a fine partnership to have.

Fat_Boy_Tim added 23:14 - Jun 30

I don’t think it’s both, I think it’ll be Greaves or Rodon. I don’t think we will rip up the team that much. It’ll be interesting to see which two of our CB options step out against Liverpool on the first day! Wow, it feels really good saying that out loud!

trevski_s added 00:00 - Jul 1

Rodon or Greaves I would be happy with either on the left, Johnson possibly on the right and Axel maybe in the middle? (sorry Wolfy, Cam and Harry) If we go for Rodon then maybe thats a hint we are going for Philogene?

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