Former England captain Terry Butcher back in Lowestoft

Terry Butcher was back in Lowestoft for a football tournament on school grounds close to where he used to hone his skills.

The third annual Terry Butcher Cup was contested at Red Oak Primary School in Lowestoft - the former Fen Park primary school that Mr Butcher had attended in the 1960s.

Terry Butcher back in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

Having been made an honorary life ambassador of the school on Southwell Road two years ago, the Ipswich Town legend spoke to children during a special assembly in the Terry Butcher Sports Hall that was named after him, before signing a replica 1990 England World Cup shirt that was later framed.

Addressing the children in the sports hall named in his honour, Mr Butcher said: "I am having school lunch today for the first time in 45 years and I want to see if school lunches have got better than they were when I was over at Fen Park.

Terry Butcher back in Lowestoft. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"When I was at Fen Park when I was your age, I loved football and I wanted to be a footballer.

"I used to go on the South Beach at Lowestoft, and I would kick a ball about left foot and right foot with my friends and we would put jumpers down as goalposts and play football all the time.

"I loved my football. I was very lucky to make it as a professional football player as not many do.

"But with your lives ahead of you, you can be whatever you want to be if you try hard enough and everybody here - the teachers and parents - want to help you to achieve to be the best that you want to be."

Boys and girls football teams from four schools in Lowestoft then battled it out as The Terry Butcher Cup was competed for last Thursday afternoon.

Children from Red Oak, Westwood, Grove and Pakefield primary schools competed on two pitches as Mr Butcher signed lots of autographs, and encouraged the youngsters throughout.

Pakefield Primary School pupils with Terry Butcher. Picture: Red Oak Primary School (Image: Red Oak Primary School)

He presented medals as well as the two Terry Butcher Cups and selected the player of the tournament award winners in both the boys and girls sections.

With the boys Terry Butcher Cup won by Pakefield Primary School and the girls Terry Butcher Cup won by Grove Primary School, Johnny Lee, ALT associate leader of PE and Sports and Red Oak Primary School PE co-ordinator, said: "It was an honour to have Terry Butcher return to Red Oak for the third annual Terry Butcher Cup football tournament.

Grove Primary School pupils with Terry Butcher. Picture: Red Oak Primary School (Image: Red Oak Primary School)

"Earlier in the day, the Red Oak children had a special assembly in our sports hall - The Terry Butcher Hall - and they were very inspired by Terry as they learnt about his adventures of playing for the great UEFA Cup winning Ipswich Town team, winning the Scottish league with Glasgow Rangers and his experiences of playing for England at international tournaments.

Terry Butcher back in Lowestoft with the Red Oak team shirt. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)

"In the assembly, the students presented Terry with a Red Oak team shirt and he signed an England shirt which was then displayed in the hall.

"The shirt was a replica of the one that he wore at the 1990 World Cup when he was the national team captain.

Terry Butcher Cup medals were presented. Picture: Red Oak Primary School (Image: Red Oak Primary School)

"Terry spent all day at the school, talking with the children and signing hundreds of autographs for them.

"He is an inspiration to all of the children of Lowestoft and his legacy will always be celebrated at the annual Terry Butcher Cup football tournament."