THE Ipswich Eagles Nest will look a lot different next year following the announcement that long time servant of the club coach Kym Mansell will not return for season 2023.
Kym has spent the best part of 22 years of his life wearing the colours of the club that he holds so close to his heart but has decided to go on another journey.
Mansell leaves the club having played a club record 314 games and was at the helm as coach for the last six years.
His distinguished career saw him awarded a position in the Team of the Decade as well as Life Membership.
He has also won numerous playing awards in his 22 years with the club from Best Utility, Most Consistent, Player’s Player and President Award.
He also won the coveted Club person of the year in 2001 an award he won again in 2016.
His list of achievements on the field has also been matched off the field with the amount of time he has volunteered through umpiring games, making milestone banners, marking the fields and attending numerous courses to better his knowledge of the game.
Kym will be missed around the club as he was a permanent fixture for over 20 years.
Sometimes the title “legend” is used loosely but this tag fits perfectly with him.
Fellow players and supporters took to social media to wish him the best but Bree May summoned it up perfectly.
“Very proud of all you have achieved during the highs and the lows, through the victories and the defeats, when others quit, you kept going, always going over and above in everything you did.”
Kym thanked all his well wishes in typical fashion and had a special mention for his daughter who plays for the Eagles and his wife Bree who supported him through his journey with the club.
Mansell ended his message with the following, “Goodbye Ipswich Eagles I seriously hope you guys can get back to the top and play finals, it will take hard work. If you are to move forward everyone must support each other and most of all, be on the same page and respect one another.”
He will be missed around the club but we are sure he will still pop his head in for a quiet beer on the hill watching the Eagles in 2023.
