In what has been an incredible 20 years association with the club as player and manager, the fans favourite's place in the club's history hooks is forever etched in blue hearts.

Jamie sits fourth in Lowestoft's all time appearance charts after donning The Trawlerboys shirt 500 times and is also 11th in the goalscoring charts after hitting 155 goals during an illustrious playing career.

Speaking ahead of his last game in charge as The Trawlerboys host Harborough Town at the Fosters Solicitors Community Stadium in the league this afternoon (Saturday, October 26 3pm kick off).

Godbold spoke of his excitement as he heads for the challenge of the Premier League, but revealed it will be a "hell of a wrench" leaving his hometown club.

The departing Blues boss will end a 20-year association with Lowestoft today - as he prepares for new challenges ahead after being headhunted by Ipswich Town FC.

The end of an era comes as Godbold is set to take on the position of Coach Development Manager at Ipswich next week after stepping down as Lowestoft boss.

As The Trawlerboys manager for the past seven seasons heads to the dugout at the Fosters Solicitors Community Stadium on Saturday to oversee his 16th-placed Southern League Premier Central division side's home encounter with Harborough Town (3pm kick off), it is likely to be an emotional occasion for the fans favourite.

However he will still be involved with Lowestoft - in his Director of Football role with the club, and supporting the board of directors on a consultancy basis.

His new role with Ipswich starts on Monday, and Godbold will be based at the Premier League club's training ground at Playford Road in an office "not too far" away from first team boss Kieran McKenna.

It also comes a decade after Godbold and McKenna had both taken their UEFA A Licence football coaching qualifications on the same course.

Godbold said: "It really has been a whirlwind few weeks - lots of discussions, lots of thinking.

"It has been a tough few weeks - on paper the decision should perhaps be an easy one, but it's never that easy.

"My role will be support and develop the coaches, particularly those involved with nine to 14-year-olds, and be in and around the club on a day-to-day basis to prepare and support the academy coaches.

"The opportunities to work with the staff there is amazing - it really is - Ipswich is a Premier League club who are doing really well and they're in a strong position with a lot of good things happening.

"The lure of all those things was too tough to say no to and turn down - for me, my family, my career.

"It's a phenomenal opportunity - it really is too good a chance to turn down.

"I know several of the coaches, who have taken their badges with me through courses when I was at the FA and I know the academy manager from my time at the FA, so I am going in knowing people and that is helpful.

"It really is too good an opportunity to turn down, as it gives me a career back - something I've not really had since I was at the FA four or five years ago.

"I'm really looking forward to being able to support and develop the coaches at a really high level with a Premier League side - which is something I've always aspired to - working with staff and being able to support and develop them.

"But it also is really bittersweet, being associated with Lowestoft for as long as I have.

"It is a hell of wrench to leave - my heart, my blood is blue through Lowestoft, my hometown."

Godbold paid "a massive thank you" in paying tribute to all of the staff, directors, volunteers, players - current and past - and fans at Lowestoft for their support and admitted he had "been overwhelmed" by so many wonderful messages this week.

Almost six-and-a-half years ago, Blues legend Godbold expressed his pride at returning to his "hometown club" as back in May 2018 he was appointed as the new Lowestoft boss.

As a player the tricky winger had illuminated grounds across the region and beyond in a glittering, trophy-laden playing career with Lowestoft that spanned 500 appearances for The Trawlerboys over 13 years.

He scored 155 goals during his Lowestoft playing career - which puts him in 11th place in the goalscoring charts.

And by reaching an amazing 500 club appearances for Lowestoft, he is currently fourth in the club's all time appearance charts.

Add to the numerous assists that the winger provided over the years, then it makes the signing of the then 20-year-old Godbold - following his release from Stoke City in August 2000 - as something of a masterstroke by former Blues manager Micky Chapman, who secured his signature ahead of several clubs including Charlton Athletic.

A club spokesman said: "Over the years Jamie scored some iconic goals for The Trawlerboys - none more so than the important fourth goal in the FA Vase semi final first leg victory over Whitley Bay, which eventually proved to be the one to send us to Wembley."

After securing his 500th Lowestoft Town appearance with a cameo showing in the Suffolk Premier Cup Final at Portman Road in May 2013, Godbold moved over the Bascule bridge for his first managerial position with Kirkley & Pakefield.

Spells followed as boss at AFC Sudbury and Wroxham, before he returned to Lowestoft as Blues boss with his trusted assistant manager Andy Reynolds.

Godbold recalled: "I remember that first week at the club, and wondering what we had let ourselves in for.

"We had two players left under contract - in Travis and Rory McAuley - and in the first couple of days Rory called up and said he wanted to leave.

"So that was what we took on with the first team.

"At the time - and it is fitting with Andy becoming the new first team boss - Reyns and I always said wherever we were we wanted to leave that club in a better place from our time there.

"We had one team then - the first team - so if you look at that and what we have now I would like to think that the club is in a better place with the academy, youth team, scholars, reserves and the first team - all those sides now.

"Its been a hell of a rollercoaster, what with Covid when we had some really tough times, relegation but when we probably look back on that it was an opportunity for us to build the club up from the bottom upwards.

"You look at the number of players at the club now, the numbers we've given an opportunity too since then, that is progression.

"Yes, it has been a rollercoaster at times with lots of highs and a few lows, but for me I feell it has been a wonderful exciting journey.

And now his career is set to go full circle - as more than a decade on he will be heading to the Premier League with Ipswich Town.

As he takes on a significant coaching position with The Tractorboys, Godbold will still be staying on as Director of Football at Lowestoft and supporting the board on a consultancy basis.

With the players informed after a fine 2-5 away win at Hitchin Town on Tuesday night, a spokesman for Lowestoft's board of directors said: "While we are all gutted to be losing Jamie, this was too good an opportunity for him to miss.

"However Godders will still be involved in his head of football role with the club, and on the board of directors, as he will still be the lead on all football development matters from the first team down to our thriving youth section."

Club officials have however moved swiftly to seal a new replacement as first team manager - with a stalwart clubman making a welcome return to Lowestoft Town - as Andy Reynolds has been appointed as the club's new first team boss on a permanent basis, while assistant manager Jordan Southgate is also stepping down.

Long-serving club stalwart Reynolds returns as the new first team boss.

As a player, former keeper Reynolds made 406 appearances for Lowestoft over 15-years - which puts him in 13th place in the overall playing statistics of the club.

He made his debut on October 14 2003 in an East Anglian Cup tie against Halstead Town but it was the following season, 2004/05, that he started to establish himself as first choice.

His performances captured the attentions of Ipswich Town, and he was on the bench for Town’s U18s when they won the FA Youth Cup in 2005.

His final appearance for Lowestoft came on October 13 2018 as injury replacement for Elvijs Putnins at Rushall Olympic.

After returning as first-team assistant manager with Godbold in May 2018, Reynolds' long association with the Southern League Premier Central division side continued.

Having held positions such as assistant manager, academy manager, and first team player over a 20- year period developing and creating a bright future for the club.

In recent years with Andy's efforts, the club has developed one of the region's best CoE programmes - boasting more than 140 players over 7 age groups from u9’s to u19’s.

He also played a key part in developing the club's education scholarship programme and reserves sides.

This development saw five first team debuts last season alone for local players who have progressed from Lowestoft's CoE and education programmes.

That journey is set to continue now - as Reynolds makes a welcome return to Lowestoft in a new role....as first team boss.

Reflecting on the past week's action on the pitch, with four points collected from two tough away trips, Godbold said: "It's been an amazing week - the results, the performances.

"The performance on Saturday was very different to the one on Tuesday.

"Saturday was a very gritty showing from the boys, we have dug deep and probably with them scoring so late it could have been more.

"But we felt it was a good point away from home against a high-flying team - it really was a good performance.

"We were probably indebted to Danny Cullum in goal, who was superb on the day.

"But we were also unlucky with injuries again on the day with Louis suffering an injury and Travis having to come off which meant we were up against it and we're not having much luck at the moment.

"We've been saying to the lads to go away in this league and get a point it important, and so to go to such a really good team as Stratford and get something was terrific.

"Travis could not move, and when he says there is a problem you know it must be serious for Travis to have to come off.

"The way we finished the game, I don't think you would ever have the line-up like that - we were all over the place in terms of people coming in and playing in different positions.

"But I was so pleased - we really stuck together, dug deep and the point felt like a win.

"So it was another point on the road, two games unbeaten, and we took that into Tuesday at Hitchin.

"With Danny being on a dual registration deal with Needham Market he was available for us, but he was then named in Needham's squad for their Tuesday evening game.

"So it meant we called up Ronnie Yeo in goal, an U18, who has been with the reserves and we registered him in time for him to be able to play.

"He also left work two hours early to travel - while also having to start two days earlier on Wednesday to be able to play - so it was a long couple of days for him.

With Lowestoft lining up with a "very young team" according to Godbold, they were also without McIntosh and Jake Reed (work), with Ashton Blogg making his first team full debut as he started in centre midfield and Rob Eagle started the game.

Travis Cole shook off an injury sustained at Stratford to lead the side, with the message from The Trawlerboys manager to keep it tight in the first 10 minutes.

However Yeo was beaten within the first 60 seconds, as The Canaries swooped into an early lead.

There was then further injury woes for Lowestoft as Dylan Ruffles suffered a calf injury that forced him off after just 18 minutes and it led to a major defensive reshuffle.

Godbold said: "The injury blow felt like we're not having much luck at the moment - but fair play to the lads they dug deep, worked hard all over the pitch and we were good value for scoring five on the night.

"Harvey Sayer changed the game - at 1-0 down we were up against it, but Harvey does what he does best with an excellent goal and he repeated it a few minutes later.

"From there we never looked back - it was an outstanding performance from an outstanding goalscorer who completed his hat trick with a second half penalty, after Harry Barbrook had scored his first goal for the club just before the interval.

"It was a very good away win."

So, what happens next?

"Andy Reynolds will come in and he will be brilliant for the club - I am delighted for him.

"He made no secret in the fact in wanting to be a number one, and he has been instrumental over the years in the results of the club.

"He has watched lots of footage of games over the last year to keep himself involved and he knows the majority of the players having been in the building since day one of me being here.

"He will be brilliant - and my role will be to help him, to help the club continue to move forward."

So, what about Saturday? Godbold admitted: "I have no idea what I will be like - I am an emotional person anyway, and when I told the players after Tuesday's win the bottom lip did quiver!

"But the boys have been tremendous this year, they have given everything for the club.

"I think the poor results we have had have not been in any way, shape or form to a lack of effort.

"I want to thank them all for their efforts this season - they have been superb - but also thank every person who has played for me at the club.

"A massive thank you goes to all the players who have donned a blue shirt, Gary Keyzor, Colin, all the staff members we've had, volunteers and all the fans for their support.

"Big, big thanks go to Jordan Southgate as well, who is sadly leaving us too. His contributions to the club have been fantastic - so thank you Jordan.

"I've had so many messages and wonderful gratitude shown over the past few days - it has been amazing - thank you."

And finally looking ahead to Saturday, Godbold said: "That means it is now two wins from the last three games, we are unbeaten in three league matches and we go into Saturday with lots of confidence.

"Yes, it could and should have been more with the FA Cup game and that could have been even more fruitful for us, but I am looking forward to the game.

"It will be a funny old day!

"But hopefully three points will be the biggest parting gift!"