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Out of Africa Titus Bramble is jetting back from his charity work in Ghana to watch this afternoon’s clash between two of his former clubs. The matchday programme got his thoughts on the past, the present and the future...

itus Bramble will be at “I was playing week in, week out “Chris got sacked a few months Portman Road this and the confidence came back. I after I joined and obviously he Tafternoon watching two really enjoyed my football and it was brought me in so you always worry clubs who had a big part to play the perfect club for me. a bit in those circumstances. I really in his career go head to head. wanted to do well for him because The Ipswich-born former he had shown faith in me.” defender is on that list of Former Manchester United homegrown players who have Football can be skipper Steve Bruce took over in Titus Bramble progressed through the Club’s “a way out for the Latics’ hotseat and Titus is quick Academy and gone on to play in the to acknowledge the role he had on “I have not really thought too Ghana, where he is part of the gives you a bit of a reality check,” Premier League. them over there. his career. much about what I want to do. I’ll coaching team that puts free he explained. Titus wore the blue shirt of Town “Steve Bruce was massive for look at opportunities if they come sessions on for underprivileged “Football can be a way out for at home and in Europe, with the It gives them a me,” he said.“He had played for the up. If Kieron [Dyer] gets a manager’s children. Futurestars also funds a them over there. It gives them a Club enjoying a run in the UEFA biggest club in the world and knew job and wants me as his assistant, much needed refurbishment chance to succeed and look after Cup in 2001/02 before relegation chance to what it took to be a top defender then maybe!” programme for five schools in their family. Every time I go over back to the Championship succeed and look and he helped me so much. Titus added to his coaching the country. there, it makes me feel humble. prompted a £5m move to “Like I said, I had to rebuild my experience recently by working “One of my friends is at a Newcastle and the chance to work after their confidence at that stage in my with the England squad at U20 level, Premier League team [Accra Hearts under Sir Bobby Robson. career and my time at Wigan did a squad that included Town’s Flynn of Oak] and I had the chance this He clocked up more than a family. Every that. He played a big part in that.” Downes,Andre Dozzell and loanee, I had to rebuild week to coach with them as well, century of appearances at St James’ time I go over Titus picked up a string of player Trevoh Chalobah. “ which was great.” Park but the England U21 of the year medals at Wigan before “It was a good opportunity for my confidence at Flights permitting,Titus will be international says it was the move there, it makes being reunited with Bruce at me to work with the best of the taking his seat at Portman Road for to Wigan in the summer of 2007 Sunderland in 2010. He spent three best at that age group,” he said that stage in my this afternoon’s clash and although that prompted the best form of me feel humble years at the Stadium of Light before “I took a lot from the experience, career and my he accepts Blues face a challenge to his career. injuries took their toll. seeing the boys work in great get out of the current predicament, “I had three great years at Wigan He’s now back where it all began facilities and outside their club time at Wigan he is confident the right man is at individually and I’d say I probably for him, in Town colours and at the environment.” the helm in Paul Lambert. played my best football there,” Titus “I could see similarities between Club’s Academy, working as a coach Those facilities would have been did that “We’ve got a guy who knows told the matchday programme. Wigan and Ipswich, on a smaller with the younger age groups. far removed from what is available what it takes. He’s very experienced “I had an up and down time in my scale obviously.They are both family” “Ipswich is my club, everyone to the youngsters that Titus has and knows the league,” he added. five years at Newcastle and when I clubs and I think having been at knows that. I have so much to thank worked with as part of the “The performances are moved on, I needed to get my Newcastle, which is a massive the Club for,” he added. charity, Futurestars. The ex-Blue has been in improving. It just needs the results confidence back. football club, it suited me to go “I love coaching and working with Introduced to the project by Africa this week and says every to follow now.” “Chris Hutchings had just taken somewhere where there wasn’t the kids but if an opportunity came fellow former Blue, Simon Milton, time he makes the trip it’s a ” To find out more about over as Wigan manager and he sold such a big spotlight. It was the right up to work at senior level, then Titus has played an active role in humbling experience. Futurestars, click on the club to me. move for me at the time. that’s something I’d have to look at. supporting the charity’s work in “It’s an eye opener for sure. It www.futurestarscharity.org.uk. 64 65