Ipswich Town assistant manager dies

Dale Roberts was "blue and white from head to toe"

Ipswich Town Football Club assistant manager Dale Roberts has died after a long battle with cancer.

Ipswich chairman David Sheepshanks said Mr Roberts, 46, a popular figure at the first division club as player and manager, died in his sleep at home.

"It is a terrible sadness to lose one of our staff, one of the Ipswich Town family, cut short in his prime," he said.

Ipswich will have a minute's silence and players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect during Saturday's match with promotion rival Sheffield United at Portman Road.

Championship win

After making 24 appearances for Ipswich, where he started his professional career in 1974, Mr Roberts returned to Portman Road as manager George Burley's assistant in 1995.

He also steered the club to the Premier League Reserve League championship last season.

A year ago, Mr Roberts was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a form of cancer, and despite intensive chemotherapy, was unable to recover.

Ipswich Chairman David Sheepshanks, paying tribute, said: "His two great loves were his family and this football club.

"He was utterly devoted to both.

"It would be fair to say that Dale was blue and white from head to toe".