For so long, international games meant little to me. Most notably due to the lack of Ipswich players involved in recent times.

It also meant weekends without games and missing club football too much. But then I found an excuse to indulge in England’s past.

Two weeks ago, my latest Ipswich Town book was published. If you have not seen yet, it is titled ‘For Town and Country.’

The book looks at the 12 Ipswich players that played for England between the period of 1961 and 2000.

In total, 108 England games have featured at least one Town player. One little belter of a fact I found when putting it together was that the 100th was also the last England game played at Wembley with an Ipswich player in the team.

That was Terry Butcher. Not only does Terry have that to his name, but he also scored in a 2-1 victory over Scotland which took place on April 26, 1986.

It was also the last occasion that a Town player scored for the Three Lions. When I made Terry aware of this recently, his response to me was: ‘It was the only hat-trick I’ve ever scored!”

The 1982 England World Cup squad featured Terry Butcher and was captained by Town's Mick Mills The 1982 England World Cup squad featured Terry Butcher and Paul Mariner and was captained by Town's Mick Mills (Image: PA) To bring him slightly back down to earth, I did remind him that he also gave away the penalty which led to Scotland’s goal.

Terry has written the foreword for the book and was one of seven of the 12 players that kindly spoke to me to provide their thoughts on their time of playing for England.

With games against Greece and Ireland in this current break, I thought I would look back at those previous occasions when England played these countries with an Ipswich player involved.

Thursday night’s game with Greece may have evoked a memory for Terry for he was involved in a 0-0 1984 European Championship qualifier draw with the same opponents at Wembley in March 1983. 

The match was a sad milestone for Manchester United’s Steve Coppell, whose international career ended because of a serious knee injury.

Former Town boss Sir Bobby Robson was in charge and stated that his post-match quotes about Alan Devonshire were taken out of context.

He had to contact the West Ham man to tell him that he had not meant to make him the so-called 'scapegoat' for England's dismal performance.

There was one other game against Greece with an Ipswich player present which took place in Salonika. That was another qualifying game for the 1984 Euros.

On that occasion, England won 3-0 and Paul Mariner lined up alongside Tony Woodcock with the Arsenal player scoring twice wearing borrowed boots.

I also learnt through interviewing Russell Osman for the book that Woodcock became a good friend of his and drove the car that took Russell’s wife to the church on the day of the Osman’s wedding.

Richard Wright was the last Town player to play for EnglandRichard Wright was the last Town player to play for England (Image: PA) Only once has a game between England and Ireland featured a Town player wearing the Three Lions shirt. That took place in Dublin in October 1978 for a 1980 Euros qualifier.

The game finished in a 1-1 draw. Everton’s Bob Latchford gave England an early lead before a goal from Gerry Daly sealed a point for the hosts.

When I first started writing the book, it had been 24 years since a Town player last played for England.

That game saw an eventful debut for Richard Wright who scored an own-goal and saved a penalty.

When interviewing Richard for the book, he remarked how that mirrored his performance in the play-off final just five days earlier when Town beat Barnsley 4-2.

I was quite comfortable throughout putting the book together that it would not go out of date anytime soon and would stand a good test of time.

Will Leif Davis be the next Town player to wear the Three Lions?Will Leif Davis be the next Town player to wear the Three Lions? (Image: Steve Waller) But now it has been published, I am not so sure. How long it will be before we see maybe Leif Davis or Liam Delap for example called up, remains to be seen!

Regardless, it would be fantastic to see a 13th player added to the list soon.

To buy my book for either yourself or for the Ipswich fan in your life for Christmas, it is available for £12.50 (plus p&p).

Details of how to order can be found on my website: www.thefullerflavour.wordpress.com/for-town-and-country/