Gillingham boss Steve Evans is buzzing to be taking his team to a packed Portman Road for their Boxing Day clash against Ipswich Town.

Evans has fond memories of the Suffolk club from the days when he was allowed in to watch one of their former greats at work, Sir Bobby Robson.

Robson led Ipswich to FA Cup glory when they beat Arsenal in the 1978 final during a period when they battled at the top end of English football and in Europe.

Ahead of their festive clash, Evans said: “They will have their biggest attendance of the season and I have enormous respect for them as a club.

“I was very fortunate to go there when Sir Bobby was around and the same with George Burley, people who had Ipswich through the middle of them.

“I got to know Sir Bobby when he was there, just briefly, not that well, but his little mate Charlie (Woods) said ‘let me see if I can get you in to watch training’. I can remember I used to take those little jelly gums with me and Sir Bobby loved them. He said ‘you can come back every week’.

“I think eventually he said 'you can’t keep coming in here son!'

“I have been to some wonderful games there and it is just a wonderful place to play and watch football.

“It’s a club steeped in history and they have a wonderful Championship squad. I have been in League 1 with good Championship players when I was at Rotherham and it proved to be the case because most of them played the following season (after promotion) and that is what they will be believing at Ipswich.”

Paul Lambert’s side slipped to third in League 1 on Saturday after losing 1-0 at Portsmouth. Their home form isn’t good at present, losing their last two games at Portman Road and without a win there in six, in all competitions.

Evans knows, regardless of form, his team will be up against it.

He said: “If you look at the resources available to the management team it is incredible.

“They have a brilliant owner and it will be extremely tough because for me they have a Championship squad.

“We will go there and try and win a game.”

The Gills follow that fixture with league matches at home to Rochdale (Sunday, December 29) and Portsmouth (Wednesday, January 1) before their sell-out clash against West Ham in the FA Cup. A trip to Evans’ former team Peterborough follows that.

“We have four real humdingers and everyone in the squad will want to play in them,” said Evans.