John Cobbold (businessman)

The brothers were both involved in the Tolly Cobbold brewery in Ipswich and Chairmen of Ipswich Town F.C.

In 1955 Alf Ramsey was appointed manager at Ipswich in succession to Scott Duncan and he took the club from 3rd division (S) to 1st division champions in 1961/62 before being appointed to manage the England side in 1963. His statue was unveiled at Portman Road in August 2000 following his death the previous year. 1957 saw Johnny become Chairman of the club and Chairman of the Brewery which successfully merged with Tolly that year. Bobby Robson came to manage Ipswich in 1969 and his hard and loyal work was rewarded with the FA Cup win in 1978 (one hundred years after the founding of the amateur club) followed by the UEFA Cup in 1981 and 2 Youth Club wins. Bobby Robson loved Ipswich and after a bumpy start Ipswich loved Bobby^{[citation needed]}. The only thing that could have prised him away happened, and for the second time the club lost its manager to the England job.

Johnny had developed cancer and stood down as Chairman in 1976 in favour of Patrick. Their mother Lady Blanche (daughter of Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire and sister-in-law of Harold Macmillan, British Prime Minister), ever supportive, was the Club President. Johnny died in 1983, the Tolly Cobbold brewery having been sold in 1977 to Ellerman Lines for amalgamation with J W Cameron of Hartlepool. Patrick and other family members stayed at their posts but Ellerman shipping losses proved too strong and the business was acquired by the Barclay brothers who sold it on to Brent Walker.

"To describe him as eccentric is only half the story. He was incredibly generous... was at home in any company... [and] I am in no doubt that he was by far the nicest person I ever met."

Patrick and Timothy Tollemache, 5th Baron Tollemache departed, bringing to an end the family’s involvement. Since 1723 Cobbolds had been Brewers in Suffolk for 266 years. In the 76 years since ITFC went professional there have only been 29 directors but a third of them have been Cobbolds. There have only been 8 Chairmen and 5 of those have been Cobbolds. As of 2007, the family continue to live at Glemham Hall in Suffolk.

• History of Ipswich Town F.C.
• Ipswich Town F.C.
• People from Ipswich
• Ipswich Managers
• The Cobbold Stand, Portman Road, Ipswich
• Corinthian Spirit
• Christchurch Mansion — Former Cobbold Residence

• Ipswich Town Chairman and Directors — Pride of Anglia
• The Cobbold Family Home — Glemham Hall