By worldlive 
Historic nightmare: Ipswich ambassador Simon Milton finally get real on his Portman Road medical emergency” “On that day, I got to the stadium at 10.15am, spoke to the team of ex-players” I never knew” Simon continues. See full details…
During Ipswich Town’s 2-1 loss to Bournemouth on December 8, the 61-year-old collapsed in the directors’ box at Portman Road.
He has since received a medical clearance, with dehydration identified as the likely cause of the incident.
“Match days are incredibly hectic for me,” said the former Blues star, now serving as a club ambassador.
That day, I arrived at the stadium at 10:15 am, discussed the day’s plans with the team of former players, gave some sponsors a tour of the dressing room at 11 am, and then spent time in the corporate areas engaging with guests until the game began.
“During the early part of the game, I felt completely fine. But when Chappers (Conor Chaplin) scored, I leapt up to celebrate and suddenly felt dizzy, like a rush of blood to my head. My ears popped, and if I hadn’t been surrounded by people, I might have lost my balance and fallen. It was almost as if I was watching myself from the outside.”
“At half-time, I went to a quiet office to sort through my emotions. I took a moment to collect myself, then returned for the second half and sat with Frank Yallop and Russell Osman. As the game progressed, they noticed my head dropping forward as if I was dozing off. A few people even asked if I was alright.”
“Five minutes into the second half, I had a seizure, and the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital a couple of hours later.
I’ve been told that a GP in the directors’ box immediately came to help, and the first responders arrived within a minute. They cleared the first three rows to attend to me, and I believe I was sedated.”
James Scowcroft shared how difficult it was for everyone to watch their friend in such a condition, feeling completely helpless.
“At the time, we were wondering, ‘Was it a heart attack? A mini-stroke?’ But after undergoing several tests – including a CT scan, heart check, and blood pressure test – everything came back normal. I was allowed to go home that night, and two days later, my MRI results were also clear.
“When I consulted my neurosurgeon, Dave Hodgkinson, he explained that one in 100 people experience a one-off seizure in their lifetime.
“He asked about my routine leading up to the seizure, and upon reflection, I realized I had only had a coffee at home, another coffee at the club, and a quarter of a sandwich while on the go. That was all I had consumed since waking up. He told me dehydration and poor nutrition were likely to blame.
“This experience has been a wake-up call for me. While I’ve always exercised to stay healthy, I now understand that it’s not enough. I’ve stopped skipping breakfast and lunch, started eating properly, and make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day.
“I’ve talked to many people about this, and so many have admitted to forgetting to eat or drink when they’re busy. I hope my story encourages others to take better care of themselves. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush, but our health should come first.”
Milton expressed gratitude and appreciation for the support he received during a challenging time, highlighting the vital work of the stewards and first responders at Portman Road. He praised Mick Warden, Babs Thompson, Neil McLusky, and the entire safety and security team, as well as steward Amy Edwards, who assisted his family during the incident.
He acknowledged the care given to his ex-wife Jaime and daughter Halle, who were at the game, and thanked his partner Natasha for her support. He noted that chairman Mark Ashton canceled the club’s Christmas party to check on him, and he received kind messages from players like Conor Chaplin, Wes Burns, and Sam Morsy, as well as former managers and teammates such as George Burley, Mick McCarthy, Terry Connor, and Paul Jewell. He expressed how overwhelmed he felt by the outpouring of love, including messages on social media.
Reflecting on his recovery, the 1992 promotion hero mentioned attending Newcastle and Chelsea games as a fan in December before gradually returning to work at the Bristol Rovers match. He appreciated the concern from fans at the Chelsea game and shared that he had surrendered his driving license for six months but was thankful to be fully recovered and back at work.
Milton concluded by emphasizing the importance of proper self-care and recognizing the incredible efforts of the medical and safety teams at Portman Road and the NHS.