IPSWICH TOWN: FAN GUIDE

IPSWICH TOWN: FAN GUIDE

Information for supporters visiting Portman Road.

Ipswich Town have provided us with the following guide for away supporters: 

Welcome to Ipswich! This is a short guide, designed to answer the kind of questions that we often get from visiting fans, and provide the information that we find useful when we’re travelling away ourselves.

For any further information, or if you have any feedback on our guide, please contact Elizabeth Edwards, Supporter Liaison Officer, on slo@itfc.co.uk or 07968 876504.

Please note that this information is correct as at 11th January 2018. Any changes to the information will be advised to your Supporter Liaison Officer.

 

HOW TO GET TO THE STADIUM

Back in 2003, we hosted an England international v Croatia. On the England fans message board, someone asked “how do I get from the station to the ground?” The response was simple: “Come out of the station and look straight ahead. The ground is the oblong structure with floodlights at each corner.”

 

BY CAR

The address is Portman Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DA.

From Leeds, there are two main road options, the most direct being M1 / A14, though often the quicker route is the M62 / A1 / A14. Whichever way you go, it is likely to take three-and-a-half to four hours, but you should allow at least another hour for traffic.

Watch out for average speed cameras with a set on the A1 between Grantham and Peterborough. Note that the A14 is being reconstructed between Huntingdon and Cambridge, with several miles of roadworks (currently at the Cambridge end) and often significant delays. There are average speed cameras, covering around 25 miles from Huntingdon to the east of Cambridge, including the roadworks stretch – you are unlikely to be able to get anywhere near the speed limits on the first section (to the start of the M11), but the Cambridge ring-road section offers plenty of opportunity to add points to your licence.

Unless you live very close to Suffolk, we generally recommend allowing at least an hour beyond the AA / Google / Sat Nav suggested journey time

Sat Navs vary in their recommended route into town, but whichever way you go, it shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes from the A14 to the ground.

For those without Sat Nav, once you reach the junction of the A12 and A14, just south of Ipswich, take the A1214 (London Road) for a couple of miles into town. As you approach the town centre area, there’s a Sainsbury’s supermarket on the left – at this point, go straight on past Sainsbury’s and then almost immediately right onto West End road. Take the first left (after about half a mile) onto Sir Alf Ramsey Way and you’ve arrived.

Note that the roads immediately behind the Cobbold and Sir Bobby Robson stands are closed about 90 minutes before the game, so to access the NCP car park on Portman Road you will need to continue on London Road, straight on to Handford Road and then turn right at a set of traffic lights onto Portman Road (if you miss the turning, just do a U-turn at the roundabout with Civic Drive, turning back onto Handford Road, then taking the first left into Portman Road).

 

PARKING

There is no official stadium car park, but there is parking all around the ground. The closest is a large NCP on Portman Road (right by the away end), which usually has spaces up to at least 2:15pm, and it’s worth checking later. There’s also a large car park on West End Road (5 minutes’ walk away) and at the railway station (less than 10 minutes). The town centre is less than 10 minutes’ walk, and has numerous car parks, as you’d expect. Being a town centre ground, most streets are controlled (residents only) parking, so free on-road parking tends to be at least a 20-minute walk away. As usual, the car parks nearest the ground are a bit slow to clear after the game – for a quicker exit, use the railway station car park, and exit left out of the station onto Burrell Road / Ranelagh Road (B1075), then (after about a mile) left onto the A1214.

 

PARK AND RIDE

Ipswich Park and Ride buses run from a car park just beyond the Copdock interchange, where the A12 and A14 meet. From the A14, from the slip road turn left onto the A1214 (London Road) and turn left again almost immediately. Fares on a Saturday are £2.50 per adult, £1.70 for 5-19 year olds, £1.50 for concessions and £4 for a group of up to five (maximum 2 adults). Buses run at 15- minute intervals from 7am to 7pm and drop off/pick up in West End Road and Princes Street (both just two minutes’ walk from the ground). For more information see: www.ipswichparkandride.co.uk

 

BY COACH

Away coaches will park in the Portman Road car park which is next to the away turnstiles.

 

BY TRAIN

There are no planned engineering works on the day of the match.

For those travelling by train, Ipswich station is only five to ten minutes’ walk from the ground.

For Leeds to Ipswich, the quickest route is to travel from Leeds to Peterborough, then Peterborough to Ipswich. There are options via Peterborough and Cambridge but these do take around 35 minutes longer.

 www.greateranglia.co.uk indicates trains from Leeds at 07:41 and 9:45 with a change in Peterborough, arriving into Ipswich at 11:28 and 13:28 respectively. There is also a train indicated at 08:45 with changes in Peterborough and Cambridge before arriving in Ipswich at 13:02.

For the return journey the 17:58 from Ipswich, with a change at Peterborough, arrives in Leeds at 21:18. There is also an 18:20 out of Ipswich with changes in Cambridge and Peterborough – this arrives in Leeds at 22:54.

Note that www.greateranglia.co.uk also indicates a 19:58 from Ipswich. With two changes – at Peterborough and York you will arrive back in Leeds at 23:32. If you go for the one change option – at Peterborough – you will find that you have to wait 68 minutes at Peterborough for a connection to Leeds. This option doesn’t arrive in Leeds until 00:22.

A final word of warning – the trains that head east out of Peterborough (these pass through Ely) are very small – at best three carriages, and it is by no means unknown for there to be only two, so they are likely to be very busy. They are also used by many Town fans from Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds.

If you intend travel via London, from Kings Cross you will need to take the Circle, Metropolitan or Hammersmith & City across to Liverpool Street for a train to Ipswich. Note that for the return journey, www.greateranglia.co.uk gives no options via London, even though there are trains from Ipswich to London and Kings Cross to Leeds that evening (several with a change at York). Trains from Ipswich to London after the game leave at 17:09, 17:43 and 17:52 with other options after this. 

We’d recommend allowing at least an extra hour for your journey to Ipswich, as delays are by no means unknown. There are ticket checks on all mainline trains and ticket barriers at Ipswich.

 

OFFICIAL AWAY PUB

The Station Hotel (formerly the Riverside Hotel) is opposite the station, and is the official away pub. It is roomy, has a garden and TV screens, and three beers on handpump from the Greene King stable. Note though that this is the only designated away pub, and it may not be able to accommodate all the Leeds fans who will want to use it. Alcohol will be available inside the stadium pre-match.

Most pubs immediately around the ground are for home fans only, and few pubs around the town, if any, will welcome groups of away fans, especially wearing away team colours. As always, couples, families and older people will find it a bit easier to slip into a town centre pub for a quiet beer or two. Note that, on a match-by-match basis, police may designate other pubs in the town centre as home fans only. This is more likely nowadays as there have been a number of pub closures in the immediate area around the stadium.

There is a Fanzone marquee and entertainment zone at the stadium, but this is strictly open to home fans only. There are ticket checks at the door.

 

NEED CASH?

The nearest cash machines to the stadium are a 5-10 minute walk away, (a) at the railway station, (b) at the Cardinal Park leisure zone, and (c) in the town centre itself.

 

STADIUM

 

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

The matchday programme can be purchased outside the stadium from the white, tardis-like kiosks.  Programmes cost £3.00.  Programmes are not for sale inside the ground.

 

SECURITY

As at most away grounds, you can expect to be searched prior to entering the ground.  Ipswich Town also uses a trained search dog and some stewards now wear body cameras.

 

BAGS

There has been a change to our official bag policy this season.  Large bags will not be permitted to be taken into the stadium.  By way of guidance, nothing larger than a standard carrier bag will be allowed.  There are no facilities to leave bags.

 

SEATING

 

Portman Road is a traditional ground, with four separate stands. The away end is usually blocks V1 and V2 of the Cobbold Stand and, if demand is high, part of block E as well. However, an additional allocation has been provided for this game stretching along almost the whole upper tier. This gives you a good side-stand upper-tier view of the action. The Cobbold stand is an older stand, dating from the 1970s.

Ambulant disabled fans will be seated within block S of the lower tier of the Cobbold Stand (note that Under 5s are not allowed in this area). As we do not have wheelchair spaces in the Cobbold Stand, wheelchair users will be located with home fans in other parts of the stadium.

The entry turnstiles for the various upper tier Blocks are as follows:

Block V2, Turnstiles 10 and 11

Block V1, Turnstiles 12 and 13

Block E, Turnstiles 16 and 17

Block C, Turnstile 18

Block B, Turnstiles 21, 22 and 23 (* see note below)

Block A, Turnstiles 24 and 25

*Note that tickets purchased for Block B will be printed with “Enter via Turnstiles 19 to 20”. Supporters who have match tickets located in this block will instead need to use the turnstiles detailed above; namely Turnstiles 21, 22 and 23.

This match is all ticket for Leeds fans. Any Leeds fans found in home areas will be ejected.

 

HUNGRY OR THIRSTY?

Food and drink facilities are what you’d expect (pies, hot dogs, confectionery etc). 

Food prices include cheese burgers and hot dogs at £4.00, a selection of our award-winning pies at £3.80 and sausage rolls at £3.00. Soft drinks are £2.20, water is £2.00, Capri Sun is £1.60 with hot drinks at £2.10. There are also snacks on sale including crisps at £1.50 and single chocolate bars at £1.00. There are meal deals (e.g. cheeseburger, crisps plus hot or soft drink for £6.50).

Alcohol will be available up to kick off (providing there are no issues) but not at half time. Wine (187ml) is sold at £4.00, Fosters PET 330ml at £3.20, Greene King IPA PET 500ml at £3.80 and Bulmers PET 330ml at £3.20.

 

SMOKING POLICY

Portman Road is a no smoking stadium. This includes e-cigarettes. Anyone found smoking will be ejected from the ground. For anyone considering leaving the stadium, note that no re-admission to the ground is permitted.

 

FLAGS/BANNERS

Subject to space, flags and banners are allowed in the away end. These will need to be fire certificated. For questions relating to this contact Mick Warden on mick.warden@itfc.co.uk.

 

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SELFIE STICKS

Musical instruments and selfie sticks are not allowed in the away end.

 

PUSHCHAIRS

Pushchairs are not allowed into the stadium. No storage is available so they will need to be left in your car.

 

DISABLED FANS

There are special arrangements for wheelchair and ambulant disabled fans (tickets and parking). Please contact Warner Duff by email on warner.duff@itfc.co.uk or by phone on 01473 400556.

 

STAMP IT OUT

Ipswich Town Football Club takes a zero-tolerance stance on any form of racial, homophobic or prejudiced behaviour.  Supporters can report any incident instantly that they feel needs attention by texting the anonymous ‘Stamp it Out’ number on 07834 439429 (standard text rate applies).  All reports will be handled in the strictest confidence. Alternatively, our customer services can be contacted on customerservice@itfc.co.uk

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