Town have defended their decision to charge home matchday mascots more than £200 from the start of the new season.

Previously, Junior Blues were entered into a monthly ballot to win the chance to lead the team out ahead of matches at Portman Road with the only charge the cost of a home kit and membership of the Junior Blues, around £55 in total.

But now, instead of the ballot, the club is making mascot places available for each game at a cost of £225 (or £200 to Junior Blues) on a first-come, first-served basis. The announcement of the change led to a lengthy thread on the TWTD forum.

Club media manager Steve Pearce told TWTD: “Most clubs have operated a mascot package for many years. We have decided to follow suit this year because we couldn’t keep up with the demand of being a mascot on matchday. It’s a unique experience and we felt it was the right time to make a change.

"“The price of £200 for Junior Blues and £225 for non-Junior Blues includes four match tickets and a full home kit, as well as the experience of meeting the players and manager in the dressing room before the game, leading the team out and taking part in the official photograph with the skippers and match officials before kick-off, as well as many other incentives.

"“We have researched the prices set by other clubs for their mascot packages and as well as being one of the last clubs to set a fee for the experience, we are also offering a package that is cheaper than most clubs - far cheaper in some cases.

"“However, we do realise that £200 is beyond the budget of some so we have added to our Fly the Flag experience, which sees our younger fans having the opportunity to meet the players before the game and be out on the pitch forming a guard of honour for the teams when they come out of the tunnel.

“It proved to be very popular last season with most games seeing 12 young fans flying the flag for Town and we have already had a lot of interest for this season, with the price at £25.”

We understand that if a mascot already has the home kit the club will supply an away or goalkeeper’s strip instead, while ballots will continue for mascot places at away games. Contact the club via juniorblues@itfc.co.uk to register interest regarding a particular fixture.

Full details of how to apply for a place as a mascot at a home game here, while further details and Fly the Flag information can be found here.

Photo: Action Images

runningout added 20:23 - Jul 24 This is the worse of lot of bad PR.. I feel unwell with anger and not sure I will get over it. Don't give a damn what some other clubs do... Think we have the wrong person running the PR at our club, and I guess Mr Evans cleared this sad decision. He doesn't understand this football club. Sorry
4

SundayLeagueRef added 21:09 - Jul 24 My lad was lucky enough to be a mascot last year at home and for the cost we got 2 complimentary tickets, he warmed up on the pitch,he got a lot of official photos, he went into the changing room pre match and met Mick and the players, he got a bag of signed goodies and a trophy and he was introduced by Rob Chandler to the crowd. He also got a pic with his favourite player and led the team out meeting officials etc. I'm really struggling to see what an extra £150 is going to buy on top of this.

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Help added 21:10 - Jul 24 Well that's one more thing off my child's bucket list. Another thing he wont do. Maybe town could justify the cost against the price of 4 tickets and kit. What are the other incentives?, its not a job and subject to a bonus if you hit target. My son enjoys Needham Market much more than the the Town experience, friendly local club that appreciates its fans.
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BanksterDebtSlave added 21:31 - Jul 24 Agree with sundayleagueref, my daughter was a mascot last year and as a result is a committed fan who has encouraged many friends at school to follow their local team. £200 would have been prohibitive for us....the meet the players in the dressing room was and will still be if events allow (as it should be) but is not new. DISGRACEFUL
3

HKBlue added 21:40 - Jul 24 I'm proud to be an Ipswich Blooded man true blue blood and all... But this is a bit too far... 200 quid is completely ridiculous, Mick have a word with Mr. Evans, or else we ain't going to be having mascots at every match!
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StowTractorBoy added 21:40 - Jul 24 I suspect this is not based just on what other Clubs do but on supply and demand. Whatever our views on this you can be assured every match this season will have the full allocation of mascots. It is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity so fans will pay for the honour and the thrill the kids will have. I have been lucky with my kids in that they have been mascots if only at away matches. The experience is nevertheless just as exciting and I don't for one minute believe the Club will lose fans just because they cannot afford to pay to be a mascot. Lets be honest a child season ticket is very cheap at around a tenner so its swings and roundabouts. Also why do fans on here continue to knock Evans for not opening the purse strings. The guy has been a godsend to this Club and lost tens of millions and he continues to put in massive investment if it not on large fees for players. Yes we have the Mings money but spending it does not always guarantee success just ask Derby last season. In Evans and MM I trust and players will come but only at the right price.

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sotd78 added 21:54 - Jul 24 Yet another PR own goal for this club. Just because all other clubs fleece the fans does not mean we have to. And again pricing out the poorer supporter. We have some children in our extended family who are registered as junior blues but for whom £200 would be an impossible sum. Mind you they can look longingly down from the top of the East of England Cooperative Stand and think "I cannot even see Bluey and Crazee from here so why bother"

4

westlake33 added 22:09 - Jul 24 Sadly it's about supply / demand - if people have a backbone and opt against doing it for the season the club will have to lower it. If not, and they get £200 a game from doing so, then I have no sympathy. May sound hard but that's the way it is. At present there will be bucket loads of demand, the price rise has made that not an issue. I wouldn't pay £200 for this but sadly I bet many will. Over to you people, vote with your wallets........

3

OldClactonBlue added 23:00 - Jul 24 Obviously with so many posting that they thought that the club seemed to be returning to something we could be proud of the "management" felt it important to prove otherwise. Appalling!
3

kizaitfc added 23:02 - Jul 24 I remember how excited I was and my whole family when I was chosen out of the draw to be mascot that excitement has no completely gone well done ip$$$$$$$wich !!
3

RonFearonsHair added 23:13 - Jul 24 It's an absolutely fantastic testament to TWTD that it is possible to turn a message board discussion into a response from the club on the same day. Excellent work as always. As with the decision to release a new replica kit every year, the 'everyone else is doing it so we should' attitude doesn't wash with me. I have always been proud of Ipswich doing things differently, but those days are feeling long gone. I feel more connected to the club through this website than I do through the club itself, which is ultimately wrong.

5

RAW added 23:15 - Jul 24 If only Mings was still here as i'm sure he would have sponsored the mascot.
3

TooleyBlue added 07:02 - Jul 25 Couldn't a player sponsor a mascot each game for a tiny fraction of their wages?
2

Westy added 07:36 - Jul 25 The Club certainly know how to alienate people. On a first come first served basis ? So how long will the waiting list be ? With a ballot all off the children had an equal chance and had the excitement of knowing they may be one of the lucky ones. But not now. Clearly a lot of people running the Club and making such decisions are NOT Ipswich fans, just people brought into do a job. I've been a long standing Season Ticket holder but have not renewed yet as I missed the Early Bird and but considering to pay £150 more to retain my seat. This has just about persuaded me not to. Another massive Own Goal by the Club.

5

Europablue added 08:35 - Jul 25 Can't we spend the Mings money on this!? Maybe they should charge the ballboys if they don't do a good job. I don't want to watch Ryanair football. Everything costs money, but this should be seen as an investment in the future.
1

Happy2bBlue added 08:36 - Jul 25 It's a great shame that the club don't feel able to give something back to the kids and make this experience available to all. In the greater scheme of things the revenue raised is tiny when the PR and goodwill would be huge by comparison. unfortunately everything seems to be about money these days, I agree with all those, the majority, who say that this policy is an own goal. A change of heart would speak volumes.

3

pw100470 added 09:24 - Jul 25 My boy was mascot 2 yrs and and you paid a admim. Charge aswell asthe kit which came to over a hundred so saying it only cost £55 is rubbish
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shamboy added 10:06 - Jul 25 Disgusting. The final straw for me after 48 years. Tory bastards.
1

Bergholtblue added 10:19 - Jul 25 TooleyBlue .... a very good idea. It wouldn't hurt the players to take it in turns to sponsor one free mascot place every week. "However, we do realise that £200 is beyond the budget of some so we have added to our Fly the Flag experience, which sees our younger fans having the opportunity to meet the players before the game and be out on the pitch forming a guard of honour for the teams when they come out of the tunnel." Doesn't he realise than even £25.00 on top of what it costs to go to a match these days will put this out of the reach of some.

1

linhdi added 10:25 - Jul 25 I wish I could drive an Aston Martin but I can't afford it, so I drive a Ford Fiesta instead. I don't expect Aston Martin to drop their price just for my convenience. Point of information - mascot packages were on sale last year (Phil implies they were all balloted). If there is enough demand at £200 (Junior Blues price), then good on the club for doing it. People ranting about the club not caring about kids is just ridiculous when season tickets are a whole tenner!

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shamboy added 11:22 - Jul 25 You miss the point. Instead of realising an opportunity to build a bond with young fans, is is cynical and exploitative, and it illustrates clearly how the club regards its fans. None of the parents paying £255 will warm to the club as a result. Enough is enough. They will get no more from me.
3

karls_dad added 12:06 - Jul 25 Ok ITFC is a commercial business! we undersatnd that, but its main revenue is its fan base, i feel that this is really scraping the barrell of how to raise more income! charging the kids and little toddlers £225! for a ten minute experience, surely not! whoever thought this up should be ashamed of themselves, I,m disabled so whats the next thing, charge me extra for my walking sticks? Pathetic descion by the club!!

4

itsonlyme added 13:17 - Jul 25 I presume the club did a lot of soul searching before coming to this decision. I can see both points of view. I hope it does not discourage too many parents, as I believe the mascot is a very important feature of match days at PR. My sons were mascots several years ago and I now have two grandchildren aged one and two. I hope they support the Town when they are both older but the club needs to do as much as possible to encourage them!

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Marcus added 13:30 - Jul 25 The compromise is having two mascots for each game. One through the lottery system and one through the old system. That way the club can make a bit of money and everyone is happy.
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Marcus added 13:33 - Jul 25 They should read one through the old lottery system and one through the new system.
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