In short
Jack Colback discusses his retirement from football, his first professional loan spell at Ipswich Town (Portman Road), and reflections on Roy Keane’s management, standards, and his own development. He also recounts key career moments: Ipswich debuts, goals, awards, a tough Newcastle match, his Sunderland Premier League debut (and red card), and later promotion with Nottingham Forest.
Guests
Jack Colback is the sole guest. He’s a former professional midfielder/left-back who came through Sunderland youth, had loan spells at Ipswich Town under Roy Keane, later played in the Premier League with Sunderland, and won promotion with Nottingham Forest.
Key claims
Keane gave him his first first-team opportunity and demanded extreme standards; Colback says the “ladder” of respect (youth doing menial tasks) has faded in modern football. He retired on his own terms because offers didn’t excite him.
Notable examples
Ipswich’s 4-0 Newcastle loss; scoring in a Coventry comeback game; Ipswich player-of-the-season and goal-of-the-season (Blackpool); Sunderland debut red card after coming on vs Wolves; Wembley promotion with Forest.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOReflecting on Retirement
0:45 to 2:10
Jack discusses his decision to retire from football and how it came about.
“that gave you a chance to play professional football.”
Early Life and Football Beginnings
2:10 to 3:46
Jack shares his first memories of playing football and experiences as a youth.
“Yeah, I'd say first memory would just be out on the streets, really.”
Boot Cleaning and Respect in Football
3:46 to 5:20
Jack talks about his early experiences at Sunderland, cleaning boots for Roy Keane.
“and back then that's when you had boot boys, that's where you had to clean boots and do jobs.”
Transition to Professional Football
5:20 to 7:27
Discussion about the shift in standards for youth players and his experiences at Forest.
“When did you sort of see that difference when you were becoming a pro and you were being an experienced player?”
Joining Ipswich Town on Loan
7:27 to 8:32
Jack reflects on his move to Ipswich Town and the challenges of fitting in.
“Not changed much, really, Jack, to be fair.”
Making His Debut
8:32 to 10:06
Jack recalls his professional debut and the nerves associated with it.
“But, yeah, what's your memories of this sort of day?”
Adapting to Various Positions
10:06 to 11:44
Jack discusses playing in different positions and how it influenced his career.
“Yeah, because sometimes media teams, they sort of try to link the name, your last name or just you in general.”
Influences from Teammates
11:44 to 14:01
Jack reflects on teammates who helped him settle during his early months at Ipswich.
“So there's a lot of hype, a lot of TV, media coverage.”
Adapting and Learning in Early Career
14:01 to 18:27
Jack Colback discusses his early experiences at Ipswich and the lessons learned from adapting to various roles on the team.
“And can you sort of name any players that sort of helped you sort of settle those first few months?”
Memorable Moments and Challenges at Ipswich
18:28 to 28:05
Colback recounts significant games, personal achievements, and the challenges faced during his time at Ipswich Town, including memorable goals and relationships with teammates.
“Unfortunately not, it was a 4-0 defeat against Newcastle live on TV.”
Show all 14 chapters
Jack Colback's Early Career and Loan Spells
28:05 to 34:31
Explore Jack Colback's journey through his initial loan spells and debut experiences.
“And then, yeah, your first appearance of Sunderland gets sent off.”
Memories of Ipswich Town
34:31 to 38:50
Jack reflects on his time at Ipswich Town and its impact on his career.
“I remember going out and it was just like a dead town almost.”
Promotion at Nottingham Forest
38:50 to 40:56
Discussing the promotion experience with Nottingham Forest and its significance.
“And yeah, I think we were just, yeah, mid-table at that point.”
Life After Football for Jack Colback
40:56 to 42:00
Jack shares insights into his life after retiring from football and future plans.
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:08Ross Halls:Well, Jack, thank you so much for joining me. Welcome to the Kings of Anglia podcast. I wanted to catch up with you, especially after making a big announcement, retiring from football. But how are you, first of all?
0:20Jack Colback:I'm good, thanks. Thanks for having me on. It's nice to come and talk. I think is someone who's left the game now to speak from a different viewpoint, really. So, yeah, I'm all good.
0:33Ross Halls:That's good to hear, my friend. And of course, we're going to be heavily talking about Itriostown, your spell here, because this is where you sort of made your first start at Porton Road. You know, you came through the Sunderland ranks, but Itriostown were sort of the first club that gave you a chance to play professional football. But I want to talk about your retirement, first of all, because I always like to know how it's sort of come about. You know, for some players, unfortunately, it's out of their hands. It's because of injuries. It sounds like you've been able to do it on your own terms.
1:03Jack Colback:Yeah, sort of, I would say. I think I was ready to carry on. I finished, obviously, the season, last season at QPR. I was playing games. I felt fit. I was still contributing to the team in a decent way, I thought. So I was hoping to maybe get another year at QPR. We had kind of little talks, but nothing really came about. And then after that, it was kind of, you know, one or two offers, League One, League Two. And I think the sort of offers I was getting, it kind of made my mind up for me, really. obviously I was at a stage where I felt ready to stop but yeah it was kind of the offers I was getting there was nothing that really excited me nothing that I thought is worth the commitment which football is in terms of time away and all that sort of thing so it was kind of one of them that just happened naturally
2:10Ross Halls:Yeah because you know 36 not a bad age to stop playing football you know a lot of players unfortunately before you even get 30 they have to sort of hang up their boots But yeah, I want to talk about your early life, first of all, Jack, before you join Itch for Town on Loan, because I always like to know when I speak to former players about how they got into football, your first memory, family. How did you get into football?
2:35Jack Colback:Yeah, I'd say first memory would just be out on the streets, really. I say to my little boy now, how often do you go out and just kick a ball about by yourself? Because that's what I would do as a young boy. I'd go and find a brick wall and just pass the ball against it time after time after time. And then we had a little square of grass outside the house. I would kind of set up goals there with two jumpers and run around commentating in my head that I was in the Premier League and playing for England in the World Cup and stuff. so yeah that was my earliest memories really just just being outside i used to play with my brother i've got a brother who's a couple years older she used to play with him and his mates and you get lungs kicked out of you and stuff but um i think that was the start of kind of building character and um obviously from then on went on to boys club level for crampton juniors and then ended up getting scouted and the rest is history.
3:45Ross Halls:Yeah, and you of course went to Sunderland as a youth player and back then that's when you had boot boys, that's where you had to clean boots and do jobs. Any notable players that you had to clean boots for?
3:58Jack Colback:Well, the most notable one was Roy Keane. When he was manager at the time, I was captain of the youth team so the captain used to do the manager's boots. Wow. And I always remember it would get to Christmas time and Kevin Ball, who was our coach in the youth team, he'd say to the lads, go and ask your player for Christmas money because a lot of times the first team lads would give money and stuff for like a bonus for you cleaning the boots. And I was like, Bolly, I'm not asking the Gaffa. There's no chance I'm going to Ryan asking for money. so I think I bottled it to go. I don't think I went and asked, but I made sure I put extra dubbing and polish on Ace Boots because, you know, it was one of them where back then, if you didn't do a good job, you know, you'd find out about it, you'd hear about it.
4:55Jack Colback:And I think that sort of thing's missing now in this era of the game. I think, you know, there's not many young lads do anything like that now. We wish to obviously clean boots and you'd be cleaning the dressing room, picking up the first-team kegs out of the shower and stuff. And it was kind of a way you kind of up the ladder and gaining respect and all that, which I think is missing now. Yeah.
5:22Ross Halls:When did you sort of see that difference when you were becoming a pro and you were being an experienced player? When did that time hit where you felt like, oh, that's changing? And you obviously did Kitman and sort of takes over that responsibility and there's other people doing that instead of youth players?
5:39Jack Colback:Yeah, it was probably a bit later on in my career, really. I would say probably when I went to Forest, I started noticing the youth team players doing less. Even in training, you'd have a little pop with someone, one of the young lads, just for standards, really. Not in a bad way, it's kind of part and parcel of the game. We had it as youth players. If you give the ball away, you found out about it. It helps bring you on, but all of a sudden you'd have a little go at someone and they'd have a pop back, a young 17, 18-year-old. I think there is that lack of respect now, that kind of ladder, the hierarchy almost.
6:28Jack Colback:It's disappearing a bit and it's getting a bit too nice. and I think that shows all round, really.
6:35Ross Halls:Yeah, and talking about standards, Roy Keane had very high standards and he, of course, was your manager at Sunderland, but then he left, Steve Bruce comes in. But then you re-annoyed with him at Itchristown. Was that the easiest sort of link for you to join Itchristown alone? And was that a time where you knew you had to get some sort of first team minutes?
6:55Jack Colback:Yeah, I think that was... I would have been probably 18, 19, so I was at that stage where it was time to go out and play first-team football and professional football. Obviously, up until then, I'd only been in the reserves and stuff. So it was a big move for me, really. It's one of them where, as a young boy, can you go out and handle it? Because playing youth team and reserve football is one thing, but going and doing it in front of fans and when there's points and league positions on the line and stuff then it becomes a different kettle of fish and obviously for roichin to take me there was kind of a an appraisal for me straight away because i thought i've obviously done something right in training and he rates me to some degree but obviously i knew he hadn't really seen me in games yet because i'd not played for so early on I didn't play much I think I had to gain his trust and you can only do that through playing games and through performing and I think eventually I did that
8:05Ross Halls:Yeah and I've got a picture of you I was signing for the club doing the standard holding the shirt you know these days on media teams they do so many of these like reveal videos but this is probably just a classic holding the shirt there you go my friend for the audio listeners Jack, obviously, at the training ground holding the shirt. Not changed much, really, Jack, to be fair. The hair's got...
8:29Jack Colback:The barn has not got too much better, has it?
8:33Ross Halls:But, yeah, what's your memories of this sort of day? Your first day, doing the media duties and just meeting your new teammates. I'm sure that's the sort of daunting thing. It's like starting a new school or stuff like that. And, you know, as a young teenager, sort of driving down from where you were coming from as well.
8:50Jack Colback:Yeah, it is exactly that. it's like your first day at school. Obviously going in as a young boy, not really prove myself at all and not play any games, so I'm not going in there with any sort of respect. You've got to kind of go in and know your place almost and like I said before, just try and build that respect by performing really and I would have been really nervous I think going down there, probably didn't sleep much the night before and then even driving to the training ground probably tried to go the long way just to extend my thinking time and all of that but it was really easy to settle in to be honest it was a great group of lads there was a lot of experience there I think Grant Leppett was there before me so that helped because I was with him at Sunland and I think Roy brought in one or two of us from Sunland So it was quite easy to fit in.
9:52Jack Colback:It was a good group. And then obviously once you settle in, it was just a case of trying to do well, trying to play games. And going back to the media thing, that's something that nowadays I've been asked before, can you do this? And I'm like, nah, that's not for me.
10:11Ross Halls:Yeah, because sometimes media teams, they sort of try to link the name, your last name or just you in general. but yeah, sometimes a locker, just a classic, just hold shirt, here's your new signing. But it's obviously a long trip as well you've got to make, you know, from Sunderland to it, which is a long, long drive. What was that like, you know, as a young lad, you know, away from home for the first time, I can assume?
10:35Jack Colback:Yeah, it was. It was, obviously, like I say, it was a big moment for me, for football-wise, but also in life terms as well, because it's like it's time to grow up. But my childhood was very, in terms of doing that sort of thing, me and my brother especially, we kind of had to get on with things and make our own food quite early, all that sort of thing. So I already kind of had that independence in me. But obviously it's a massive thing, you're not around the corner from family when you maybe need that support. but for me it was just a huge opportunity to go to a club like Ipswich Town as a young boy, my first lone move without any experience.
11:24Jack Colback:The distance and all of that I didn't even consider really because it was such a fantastic opportunity.
11:32Ross Halls:Did you ever go into digs or anything like that or did you just get an apartment somewhere in Ipswich?
11:37Jack Colback:I was in an apartment by the marina. I think I was in one just above I think the little Italian takeaway was called Bella Italia something like that used to pop down there now
11:52Ross Halls:yeah very nice still there now which is great I'll go there often there's a couple now in Itchwich which is nice but yeah you said you had to sort of barge your time Roy Keane this was his first full season in charge of town he got appointed for the last final games of the season prior. So there's a lot of hype, a lot of TV, media coverage. But it was a bit of a tough start. I don't think we won in 14 league games, stuff like that. But you make your debut in the Cup, a pinnacle shootout win. That must have just been a good moment for you, though, in your career, making your professional debut?
12:27Jack Colback:Yeah, exactly. It's obviously the first one. And the first one at a decent level is something that you always want to, I suppose, get out of the way. But at that stage, I think I was taking things just day by day. Obviously, I hadn't played much, but I suppose I maybe understood that coming in and without the experience. But I think it's just what you need. You need to play games to get that. Everyone bangs on about a lack of experience, and the only way to do that is by playing games. So that was my first introduction. I was probably, again, probably nervous coming on in front of the most amount of fans I'd played in front of.
13:11Jack Colback:But it was the first step into obviously developing as a player and turning into a man, I suppose.
13:20Ross Halls:Yeah, because you were playing, you're obviously a midfielder, but you played left back a few times. I know you played left back throughout your career for certain clubs. But yeah, what was that like, sort of having to play different positions at the time? And I'm sure Roy Keane trust you, especially at that young age?
13:35Jack Colback:Yeah, I played left wing as well quite a bit. I think he had Grant and Chuck in the middle, mainly David Norris. Yeah. So I think he always kind of trusted them more in the middle probably because of my age. So that meant I would go on the left a bit, which for me as a player, I'm not blessed with pace or I ain't got many tricks in the locker so it was kind of having to adapt and I think that helped in terms of the rest of my career like I say I played left back as well and I went on to play left back again I think it taught me at an early age that you've got to adapt to where you are on the team I suppose for me at that age playing for a club like Ipswich you could have put me in gold you know what I mean I would have been buzzing just to play and get the minutes.
14:30Ross Halls:Yeah. And can you sort of name any players that sort of helped you sort of settle those first few months? As you mentioned already, a few players, you know, Chuck, you know, was named captain, far enough, that season. And, you know, there's some other big players in that team. You know, as you said, there was a lot of Sunderland sort of players that came, you know, Grant Ledbetter, Carlos Edwards was signed as well. I think a few other lone players later on that season. But yeah, any other players that sort of stood out for you? know a lot it's a long time ago now but anybody that comes into your mind yeah you're testing my
15:03Jack Colback:memory here um which is getting worse day by day but uh we had like i say we had we had a really good group i think gareth mccauley would have been one um gash was really good um obviously gran And I knew Carlos Edwards, I knew he was really good. So I think just all around, Chuck was probably the main one, obviously being a midfielder as well. He kind of had moments where he'd put an arm around me and stuff where maybe he thought I needed one. So, yeah, they would be the main ones. I think, like I say, it was a really good group. and I think it was a shame we didn't really play to our potential at all because when you look at the team, quite a few of the ex-Premier League players and players went on to play in the Premier League after that, so we probably really underperformed.
16:02Ross Halls:Yeah, because Connor Wickham, of course, one of our youth products who went unbelievable, he went on to play for Sunderland, of course, with you as well. How good was he? you know even at a young age like 16 he was just he was a man it was it was massive wasn't he
16:20Jack Colback:yeah get on uh get on really well with connor obviously don't see him as much now i'll speak to him as much as i probably should but see him every now and then it's always it's always great to see him like you say i think he was maybe 15 when i first came definitely 15 16 and he was huge massive shoulders wide but a good player as well and got really close to Conor and I think it was strange really because I almost tried to help him as a more senior player but I was only 19 myself but I think that was the start of kind of me learning how to to help players in a group and Conor went on to do great things obviously and play in the Premier League and credits were right I suppose for putting trust in them at that age yeah
17:18Ross Halls:and make your first professional appearance at Itchartown you scored your first senior goal for Itchartown as well you've got a nice little picture here you're celebrating away at Doncaster what's your memories of this day and yeah I'm sure just looking at this picture you go fresh placed Jack Cole back here
17:35Jack Colback:yeah I think I'm pretty sure it was one of them where it's bounced around the edge of the box and I've hit a first time. If my memory is right, I think it went to the keeper's right. And I kind of, I scored a lot of goals like that through my career where I just set up nicely towards the edge of the box and finished it. I think I was on the bench and came on that game. That was maybe the moment where from that is where I really established myself in the team. and I suppose it just gives you so much confidence to come on and it's one thing playing, I think, and getting minutes but as a player you want to contribute, you know, and I'm pretty sure we ended up on a decent result from that goal, maybe a draw on us.
18:29Ross Halls:Unfortunately not, it was a 4-0 defeat against Newcastle live on TV.
18:34Jack Colback:Oh, okay. I remember that game. was that my first start?
18:41Ross Halls:No, your first start was a cup game against Peterborough and then your first league start was a 1-1 draw against Preston, so maybe you're thinking maybe that as the draw but I remember that game against Newcastle because obviously Newcastle had an unbelievable team you've got Kevin Nolan playing, they shouldn't have been down at that point really but they like, yeah, and to lose 4-0 is what it is. What's your memories from that game then? I think it was a Robbie Robson day as well because, of course, we got the connection with Bobby.
19:18Jack Colback:Yeah, just a really tough day again. Like you say, the Newcastle team was still a Premier League team, really. So, no huge disgrace in getting beat off them. But, obviously, when you're at home in front of your home fans, to lose 4-0. It was tough. I think it got to the point where the home fans were even, our fans, Ipswich fans, obviously, were kind of all laying each time we kept the ball probably 4-0 down. So, very ironic applause. But, again, it was, it's part of the game. It was a learning curve for me. It was one of them where I thought, wow, like, I'm struggling here. In the game, I remember it being so tough, but it's a learning curve and you get stronger from it.
20:10Ross Halls:Definitely, mate. And that season, you go on to play 41 games, 33 starts, five goals as well. You got named player's player of the season. That must have been a... Was that a surprise for you? Your teammates, professionals, giving you that award?
Read the full transcript
20:30Jack Colback:yeah probably I'm sure would have been obviously I knew I'd had a decent season to do that I suppose it's my first season in professional football and playing at a level for Ipswich in the championship then to play that amount of games was great obviously scored five goals as you say that was a good return but yeah to be voted from the players was a huge boost in confidence for me. I think as a player, I've realised what you crave is respect from your peers almost as well as the fans. But I think if you have the respect of your teammates and other players, then that's all you can really ask for.
21:21Jack Colback:And to get that in my first season was an amazing achievement.
21:25Ross Halls:I've got just a picture of you here celebrating with John Walters and of course John had an interesting relationship with Roy Keane there's a lot of fallout there but what's Roy Keane like as a manager there's so many stories out there there's obviously a new film now with Mick McCarthy outside pan and stuff like that but for you, seeing him as your proper gaffer because before you were just a youth player now this is your on loan at his town, what was he like to work on? I know he had really high standards and there's a lot of town players who have come out in the past saying it was very difficult to work under, but how was it for you?
22:06Jack Colback:Yeah, for me personally, I've got nothing but respect for Roy. He gave me that first opportunity at a first team level. Obviously he put trust in me. And that's probably the catalyst of where I ended up as a player. So I've got the utmost respect for him. I think as a manager, I've said before, he struggled at times to probably contain his inner feelings. I don't want to speak for Roy, but he just, you talk about standards, he had the highest of standards. as he was one of the Premier League's best ever midfielders. He won countless trophies. And that didn't come just from being a good player.
22:56It came from 100 % dedication, work rate, all of that.
23:04Jack Colback:He was a leader. And I think as a manager, he would see players maybe not putting in the same effort as what he would and having nowhere near his ability. so I think he struggled with that concept. Obviously, in terms of team performance, like I said earlier, the team we had, we underperformed, we should have done better and that maybe came from some players just didn't like Roy as the manager, didn't like his methods and the way he would do things but I suppose it's just one of them. the score was going to be different opinions. But for me, Roy was really good.
23:51Ross Halls:Yeah, we unfortunately finished 15th that season. There's another little accolade for you that season. You got goal of the season as well. You got goal against Blackpool. Any memories of that? You scored twice against Blackpool, one in the FA Cup and one in the league. Getting goal of the season, that must have been never like, oh, not bad first season. Yeah.
24:13Jack Colback:I think it was possibly right before. as well. I'm not certain. I think it was outside the box. Possibly right foot. If it was, that was probably one of the only ones I scored with a right.
24:28Jack Colback:Yeah, just another nice moment. I think I've only got good memories, really, of that season, other than the fact as a team we didn't perform well enough. Like I say, finishing 15th is not great. I think, like I said, the team we had, the players we had, we should have performed better. but it doesn't always turn out that way. But yeah, for me personally to get call of the season, just some of that, a great boost for me personally.
24:57Ross Halls:Definitely. And in that season as well, before we sort of move on to your second spell and future plans and stuff like that, you of course scored in that sort of famous Coventry game. I don't know if you've got memories of that. Of course, Pablo Canago scoring that late winner. Coventry, of course, equalised in a 90 plus minute, whatever it was. and then we went up the other end of the pitch and scored. Do you got memories of that one?
25:19Jack Colback:Yeah, I do. Just unbelievable for it to happen that way. I always say you could win a game 4-5-0 and it's great and it's nice. The last 20 minutes are nice and relaxed. You keep the ball and everyone wants the ball, but there's no better feeling than scoring in the last minute. But to do it just after they'd equalised and you had their staff all up and the players are going mad because they think they've got a point. And then for us to do it, I always remember that Pablo's finish as well, it was just top. What a guy he was. I used to share a room with Pablo
26:05Jack Colback:and he used to lay one of their Spanish lad, I think. He used to sleep when we got there and then he'd be up till 2, 3 o 'clock in the morning on FaceTime and stuff to his family. So I'm trying to get some sleep next to him when he's chatting away. But really nice bloke. And what a finisher, by the way, he was.
26:26Ross Halls:Yeah, obviously a fan favourite, you know, Ole, Ole, Ole, Pablo. And yeah, what a moment that was. And yeah, I'm sure you've been very pleased that you had a first full season. I know it wasn't in terms of the team performance, but individually, I'm sure you're very happy. And then I didn't know about this until I was doing the research. You, of course, go back to Sunderland and you make your Premier League debut and your Sunderland debut and get sent off. That probably wasn't in the script, but that's what happened. Talk us through that.
26:56Jack Colback:Yeah, it was two years. I think I came off the bench against Wolves away. Came off the bench about 80 minutes, was sent off about 87. So not the ideal start of my Sunderland career. I was sat in the dressing room after, head and hands, thinking, that's it, my career's over. Obviously a bit extreme, but I think it came from a season in the Championship and a season playing under Roy Keane where he used to almost pull me after games and ask me why I didn't get a yellow card. Basically saying I obviously didn't get any out to my opponents enough, but I think it stemmed from that, just probably going in for tackles and obviously an eagerness as well to try and impress.
27:42Jack Colback:think it's one of them where the referee we would get him be comfortably at the time it was last game of the season there was nothing on the game that's why you just want a ref to maybe notice the situation and say look no more now and rather than send me off but common sense and referees is lacking quite severely
28:04Ross Halls:yeah you got five yellow cars just to add you a start if you if you cared and and your first loan spell with Tao. And then, yeah, your first appearance of Sunderland gets sent off. But that must have just been a crazy sort of moment where you just had a full season in the Championship, then you get the opportunity to play in the Premier League and get sent off. I don't know if that's happened that many times where a player on their debut getting sent off. I know that's happened. Like Jonathan Woodgate, unfortunately, around Madrid. Then he scored an own goal and got sent off as well on his debut for them.
28:32Jack Colback:Yeah. Yeah, I think it was one of them where, obviously, the championship season finishes a lot earlier than the Premier League so I finished at Ipswich and thought that's me done, happy days, I can go on holiday after a decent season and then I got called in by Steve trained with the first team at Sunderland and obviously made my debut so it was one of them where you've made your Premier League debut should be an amazing time and moment to remember but end up getting sent off. So it's one I'll never forget, but for probably the wrong reasons.
29:12Ross Halls:Yeah, very much so. And you, of course, back at Sunderland, but then you returned to Itchutown alone. You know, did you feel, you know, you wanted to sort of see if you can play in the Premier League with Sunderland? You know, Steve Bruce was still there and stuff like that, but how does sort of the move, did it surprise you a little bit that you were back at Porton Road with Roy?
29:33Jack Colback:um no not necessarily i probably maybe thought i'd have a sniff at sunland but went back pre-season i remember doing quite well but was probably still not quite ready steve probably noticed that steve was good with that sort of thing jordan emerson was just breaking through at the same time we were kind of on similar paths really but he was just ahead of me in that sense so I probably had a word with Steve and he said you know I think you should go out again on loan and I had other options but when Ipswich was there it was an easy decision because obviously I had such a good time the first season so I thought yeah head back down and try again and it was actually it was meant to be a season-long loan again, but I think it got to January and there was injuries at Sunderland that ended up meaning I went back early.
30:33Ross Halls:Yeah, unfortunately, I think it was a very tough sort of second spell with the side struggling even more. And, you know, eventually Roy would have, you know, got the sack. I think when you loan ended, it wasn't long until he left the job. Did you sort of stay in the same place at the time? Did you like, did you just sort of like, did the club sort of hold that apartment just for you, just in case?
30:52Jack Colback:no I got a little upgrade actually the second time second time I was right on the harbour with a little balcony and stuff so I was obviously giving it large after a half decent season thought I'd need a bit more now I think obviously it's one of them where no one was hopefully going to be there for the full season and I wanted somewhere slightly better to stay because the first gaff was, not to sound arrogant, but it wasn't the best, you know.
31:31Ross Halls:Yeah, but, you know, you're a teenager, you know, whatever. I'm sure you didn't spend much time in it anyway because you're just, you know, out and about doing what you needed to do. But yeah, was there any close to maybe signing permanently? You know, I know at the time the team wasn't doing that great, but was there any talk and maybe, oh, you know, okay, I'm not getting a chance at Sunderland just yet, but if there was a chance to come, was there any chance at all?
31:58Jack Colback:I don't think it was ever discussed, really. I think the loan was kind of for my development. It was my first step, obviously, into first-team football with a view to going back to Sunderland and breaking in there. So I think it's one of them where it depends how you do, it depends how you perform Sunderland needed to say that himself, Steve Bruce had to say that, how I performed under pressure in the first team and I suppose if it didn't go well then I would have went back and possibly went out somewhere else maybe at a lower level but obviously it went well and I kind of proved myself and then I suppose if I'd gone back to Sunderland and not played games and then Ipswich came in that could have been a potential but obviously I ended up going back and established myself at Sunderland so it's kind of the different routes that I can go I suppose but it was just a great time for me, it was certainly a club that I carried on looking out for when I wasn't there.
33:07Ross Halls:Definitely mate and how would you sum up your time at Porton Road then really as a whole, your first chance in football I'm sure you just said you look back with a lot of fondness and yeah a lot of town fans listen to this your thoughts on your spell as a whole
33:29Jack Colback:yeah it's nothing but fond memories really it was really character building for me it matured me as a person I remember returning to Sunderland and see if Bruce said, you know, you look a different person almost, you've turned into a man, that sort of thing. So in terms of personally for me and my football development, it was massive. It had, like I said, a huge bearing on where I went on to play and what I did in my career. But in terms of a club itself, just a huge honour and privilege as well to play for a club like Ipswich, the history and all of that that comes with it. I've got a huge amount of pride that I managed to play for the club and to do it at such a young age and to contribute in a good way.
34:30Jack Colback:I always remember the fans being really good. It was a real kind of family feel around the club and even the staff, the kind of the stewards and the canteen people and all that just lovely nice respectful people so
34:47Ross Halls:can you sort of remember just sort of living in Suffolk you know in that time and I'm sure a lot of your family had to come and visit you because it's a long way to go and to go and watch games they maybe wanted to go to maybe more the away games were nearby to to northeast but uh yeah can you remember just you know the few years in Suffolk yeah it's funny how many messages I got
35:07Jack Colback:for the newcastle away game but not many were coming to yeovil on a tuesday night um but now it was just just a good time i think like i say in terms of football wise it was perfect for me it was it went better than i could have imagined but in terms of life as well living away from home as you say, learning, growing, maturing as a person. It's a lovely place to live. It's quiet, really quiet on a Sunday. I remember going out and it was just like a dead town almost. But probably good for me as well in terms of being that young player. You don't want to end up going out too much and drinking and all that sort of thing that can affect affect obviously the reasoning there which is to play professional football but yeah just like I say just fun memories of the place I've actually been back once to watch when Martin Wacombe was playing well he's a good friend of mine he had a game I went down and watched him once but that was nice to go back and kind of memorise things and stuff but I'll hopefully get back sometime soon to watch a game
36:30Ross Halls:I think there was actually funny rumours about that actually when you actually came and watched and it was like you're going to be out of contract at Newcastle and I think there was a few whispers like Jack Colbatch is going to sign on a free at the press conference he was just like he was just here to see Waggy and if he was going to sign it would be mostly alone because at that time we had no budget so just to clarify there was nothing in it then?
36:56Jack Colback:No it was just to see Waggy
36:59Ross Halls:very much so and yeah you of course went on to play a good amount against Sutherland you do the move to Newcastle which is very much documented so we don't really need to cover it because I'm sure you're getting sick and tired about it now like yes I did that move and this and that and played in the dark and stuff like that all that jazz and of course you win promotional forest which you know that must have been good to have a sort of promotion on your CV though as well and that was a time where you know town you know you probably wanted hopefully do it with town when you're in the championship, but you did it with Forrest.
37:32Jack Colback:Yeah, I think the ambition at Ipswich and Forrest when I first went was to try and get promoted to be around the playoffs and see where that can take you. But yeah, the Forrest promotion was just a unique season. It's difficult to put into words. I think I always remember saying to young lads and stuff, you get to the end of your career and I mean depending on how obviously the top players have a lot of moments but in terms of around my sort of level there's going to be a handful of real moments that you remember and treasure and all that sort of thing so that was certainly one of them for me I think the way we did it coming from I think we bought in the league when Steve came in, pined from eight games maybe to then go on a run and keep winning and Steve was so good with the club I think he galvanised the whole club he got everyone pulling in the right direction the fans were on board every single player I think he deserves a huge amount of credit for where they are now because that was the catalyst really but to then go to Wembley and do it there was so special like I say just money can't buy moments really I got promoted with Newcastle where we won the league and it was kind of tick box job done thing but to do it at Wembley was just yeah just an unbelievable season and one that I'll never forget yeah
39:12Ross Halls:I wasn't paper and over that I know you did that with Newcastle but as you said it was very much when Newcastle would go down they would always go up I remember once again you were in a play town in that season when Newcastle won the league with Under Rafa and yeah, you guys were just too good. And yeah, I think we were just, yeah, mid-table at that point. But yeah, then you finished your time at Kupia. Now you are here, retired footballer, my friend. You had a little brief spell, didn't you, in non-league? I think 45 minutes or so. And then you called it a day. What's the future for Jack Cole back then?
39:49Ross Halls:What have you got planned? I know you're playing probably charity matches, baller league and all that jazz, you know, what's on the agenda?
39:58Jack Colback:Yeah, yeah, and season lasts long. I'm still actually technically available for them, but I'm actually like so busy at the minute. I'm busier now than when I played football, almost. People are like, oh, you've got so much free time. I really haven't. But yeah, for me, I'm just kind of going day by day, really. doing a bit of media stuff now and then i i enjoy that side of things and trying to give a bit of my knowledge of the game in that sense and um doing a few charity games which i'm looking forward to doing i was given back almost and and trying to do things for good causes and stuff like that so i'm kind of just open to anything really see what comes up i'm not one of these who is going to plan ahead and plan my life i'll just see how how it goes and what
41:00Ross Halls:comes really definitely my friend you said um your son is he is he getting to an age where he wants
41:05Jack Colback:to be playing or is he still too young well i've got i've got one who's 12 and one who's two so yeah quite a gap so the 12 year old plays at the minute and my little bottom my little 2 year old he has a few balls and kicks it around and stuff he's kicking with his left foot as well I've noticed so maybe he'll get one like mine
41:32Ross Halls:definitely my friend well thank you so much for joining me thank you much for your time just sort of final message to the town fans listening and yeah it's just been great to catch up my friend
41:42Jack Colback:final message would be a thank you from me really personally how they were when I was there nothing but support great memories I took away from the club and just for me it was a real honour and privilege and a proud moment to play for your football club and keep supporting them and you know it's hopefully going to be a good end to the season
42:06Ross Halls:Tom man thank you so much lovely
42:09Jack Colback:cheers
42:38We'll see you next time. Thank you.
43:11Thank you.
43:40Thank you.
From the publisher
Ross Halls caught up with former Ipswich Town loanee Jack Colback to discuss his time at Portman Road and journey in football in our Kings of Anglia podcast special.
Recently-retired Jack spoke about a range of memories, including his early days in football, starting out at Sunderland and joining Ipswich for two loan spells.
He chats about playing under Roy Keane, his first season in senior football, goal of the season award, rooming with Pablo Counago and overall time in Suffolk.
The duo also discuss his career as a whole and what's next after retiring from professional football.
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