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An excellent away day... arriving in Ipswich by train, we decided to change there instead of Stowmarket. The platform at Ipswich station was heaving! Managed to get a seat and a table for the four of us. The aisles on the train were jam packed. The singing was relentless, beer flowed and Norwich fans were given short shrift at Ely. We arrived in Peterborough around midday, had a few beers in the Drapers Arms as it sounded like the Charters boat bar was rammed. When we arrived at the ground the atmosphere was electric... the concourse under the stand was jam packed and the singing was so loud and persistent. It felt like the crowd were confident, but not overly so... Momentum had been building over the past 6 weeks and those results away at Bolton and Derby meant we had a belief as a team, we could give anyone a good game away from home. The match went well, we only had two short spells in the game when Peterborough looked slightly threatening... Jack Taylor summed it up well in his recent interview, having signed for us at last... “They were outstanding when they came to us towards the end of the season when they were on that long run. We couldn’t lay a glove on them, if I’m honest,” Town fans were in excellent voice, that got louder when Ladapo hooked in the third. There seemed to be a palpable belief that we were a decent result at Barnsley away from an automatic promotion place having steamrollered teams home and away in recent weeks. After a couple of hours celebrating in Peterborough, a nice touch from a policeman when we asked for directions, he smiled and said *The Championship's that way" pointing in the direction of the train station. We stopped in Ely for a couple of beers at The Cutter Inn by the River and had a Curry at the Indian on Fore Hill. A Norwich fan who'd left his scarf in the curry house came in to retrieve it. He saw our Town tops and scarfs and said "Christ that's all i need!" We reminded him of the 3-0 defeat at home to Swansea and gave him a quick rendition of Norwich City, we're coming for you! We got the last train back from Ely with a few more beers and singing all the way back, that topped off another brilliant day and an Excellent performance from Town. I'd been to Posh a fair few times over the years and never seen us win... this was turning out to be a brilliant end to the season and i couldn't quite believe I was lucky enough to be there.
Arriving at FPR and hearing the Love Affair song just seemed to make the evening atmosphere of a night game crank up a few notches "Bringing on back the good times, taking away the pain" Felt like we had a club that was listening. This song had been suggested as a terrace chant only a few weeks earlier. Now over the jet lag having flown in from Australia for the Charlton game, I was ready to watch the 2 or 3 nil thumping of Port Vale that was fully expected by most... They played well, really well, but the toe-end volley on 45 minutes was still a difficult pill to swallow. Half time in the North stand bar, nerves were frayed, but belief was still apparent. In the second half, Nathan Broadhead showed why we had persisted to secure his signature... an outstanding second half saw him grab a brace, the first was a neat finish... the second (a penalty) took balls of steel. What a fabulous result... I celebrated enthusiastically at the Black Horse after the game and just about made the last train home... No jet lag excuses now, Peterborough next on the Agenda... what an adventure so far, Up the Town!
At last... I have been waiting for this moment... Thank you Keno for continuing to post these Town in 5 videos. So now I can tell my Story...
My Journey started from a small country town on the South Coast of Australia. I then flew from Adelaide to Taiwan (a ten hour flight) and then a twelve and a half hour trip took me on to Heathrow. I landed on the Thursday night around 6pm. I must say that London is still a City that is one of the best (if not the best) Cities in the world... never underestimate how much it means to be flying back home to your place of birth. I emigrated to Australia 18 months ago, having been a Town fan and season ticket holder since the late 80's I was ecstatic to be back and to have the chance to visit Portman Road. Prior to the match against Charlton, I took time to soak in the atmosphere outside the ground, to reflect on how far away I now live, but how familiar and comforting it was to be home, to stand with Sir Bob and Sir Alf. I felt happy, nervous and hopeful... The Charlton game was to be the first game of a trip for which I had no return ticket... my Wife (An Aussie) couldn't understand that I may be back in the first or last week of May, depending on results. Would it be Automatic promotion? or the dreaded playoffs... either way I had to know... The Macauley Bonne situation seemed bizarre... He clearly wasn't in the right place, mentally to play in this game. Ipswich battered Charlton, twenty four shots to 5... all stats pointed to the fact this would be a drubbing... and it was! Chaplin finally got his hat-trick! I got to see all my friends and family on a very special, emotional day. returning to Ipswich on the train, I soaked in every last bit of atmosphere, The Greyhound was buzzing, at the match the crowd were starting to believe that something special (despite the Cheltenham result) was happening... I had meticulously planned my trip for the promotion run in... so far, Town had not let me down... This beats staying up until 1:30am to watch the matches on IFollow and going to bed after the radio Suffolk phone in at around 5am. What a day, what a result! the culmination of a three day, 12000 mile journey to Fortress Portman Road... I'll never forget what it feels like to be with you all, as one... Up the Town!!!
Walk out song... A Classic (literally) it inspires a siege mentality, such as these lines from Shakespeare's Henry V (though not related in any way, to the song)
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; ...Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
As previously suggested... it could be very apt to adopt an excerpt from an Ed Sheeran song.
For goal celebration music, this song (from 1 min 10 seconds to 1 min 26 seconds) seems to fit the bill...
If this becomes tiresome, in future it can be changed for each season. To use it for at least this season would seem like decent PR and an appreciative nod to our shirt sponsor to thank him for the support and positive, global exposure he has given us for the coming campaign...
I'm currently watching them on YouTube... I'd forgotten just how brilliant Sessions and Cornwell were. Favourite characters at the moment are Jagger and Richards in Mick and Keith's corner shop
I'm really sorry for your loss, Scott. This has reminded me that so many people are far away from their families and that some may face a similar situation to yours. I am about to move to Australia and being away from my parents is at the forefront of my mind. I've donated a few dollars...The very best of luck in raising the amount you need.
I'm on my way to Port-man Road and then Sir Alf Ramsey Way salute Bobby Robson Cause I miss the way they made, me feel it's real As we watch the Town rise Over the fortress on the hill.
Just watched this podcast... A proper trip down memory lane. Such a great season, beating multi million pound Blackburn, going toe to toe with Liverpool in the cup, at Anfield, going ten points clear of 3rd place (playoff places) after beating Newcastle 3-2... then the Oxford game, a 1-1 draw to clinch promotion and a 2000 strong pitch invasion/celebration at the Manor Ground. Back to the Blackadder in Ipswich and Kiwomya & Dozzell serving pints behind the Bar...ALL the players were there... A real Team spirit. Great Interview with one of our finest, local lads...
(2 minutes 20 seconds to 2 minutes 35 seconds) Chant "BAD BABY, BAD DOG BABY (Sing 4 times)
Then launch in to the verse...
(57 seconds to 1minute 14 seconds on the video, words changed to Flynn Downes, Instead of Get Down.)
"TOLD YOU ONCE BEFORE AND I WON'T TELL YOU NO MORE HE'S FLYNN DOWNES, FLYNN DOWNES, FLYNN DOWNES YOUR A MAD DOG BABY BUT I STILL WANT YOU AROUND, AROUND I STILL WANT YOU-U AROUND"
OR (longer version...)
chorus + verse + end chant (mad dog baby... repeat...) 1minute 33 seconds to 2minutes 35 seconds
ONCE UPON A TIME I DRANK A LITTLE WINE WAS AS HAPPY AS COULD BE HAPPY AS COULD BE NOW I'M JUST LIKE A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF BABY WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING TO ME
TOLD YOU ONCE BEFORE AND I WON'T TELL YOU NO MORE HE'S FLYNN DOWNES, FLYNN DOWNES, FLYNN DOWNES YOUR A BAD DOG BABY BUT I STILL WANT YOU AROUND
WOAH-OH-OH (SING 8 TIMES)
BAD BABY, BAD DOG BABY (SING 4 TIMES)
May need tweaking/suggestions... or just a NO, to complicated/rubbish... etc.
It would suit us if we had a ball playing centre back... and preferably one of the three had pace. I think the system could work well, however, as other posters have pointed out, we seem to have a formation that is here until the end of the season at least. Your team selection also has all six loan signings i it Next season though... may be different depending on the division, plus Woolfenden et, etc...
It does seem that with a connection to the club, some fan networking and a bit of effort, we could well have a big following at Bolton and Wigan. I have looked into coaches quite regularly as an option for away travel (QPR away being a prime example of the train network faltering...again!) and am surprised at what I have found. I'm not Ipswich based (But really not too far away) so i am fully supportive of this idea not being just for Ipswich based fans. I'm Sure London and The West Country Blues could fill coaches (they do come in varying sizes), as well as Midlands and Northern fans too... it just needs someone to head up the operational side and to delegate tasks to regional contacts who could organise their area. if anyone has any ideas how this could reach the powers that be, then I think it may just help us secure a few more points away from home. I'm not sure who could be contacted to present this idea as a possibility (maybe Blue Action or Supporters club or even getting the message across to Paul Lambert... he seems to know the score!) but it feels like an opportunity that we could use right now. I know other clubs and even players have done this on occassions, so it's not a new idea. However, those were more one-off matches.
If there was a possibility of putting this idea to someone relevant at ITFC I would be more than happy to become involved in sourcing the coaches etc. I cannot, unfortunately subsidise this initial idea (free coach travel to the remaining away games this season) nor (before anyone asks) am I intending to buy the club...
As always, a thoughtful, measured response from you Guthrum (you know your figures I must say...) keep those final table predicted forecasts coming, it gives us all hope! good points about fans from other parts of the country... if there was a way to encompass them ( coaches from London, Bristol, etc etc...) and the possibility of a recognised pick up en route to a game, it may encourage a few more! I'm not sure who organises away day travel at the club, but i know there are coaches available via companies that will go from any city/town to any football match (at a price per person that is cheaper than Galloways) and will discount prices further as the number of coaches hired increases.
Agree with selling out some away allocations... However, for example, Blackburn's away allocation is up to 4000.
It's good to see so many people trying to come up with ideas for cheaper match day tickets for home matches. I hope a solution is found soon! It got me thinking about Our current plight. If there is anyway we can add extra support to our ambition to stay up. It's been pointed out (and I don't know the actual rules on this) that we are only allowed x amount of ticket promotions for home games. so how about away games... we can't subsidise away tickets (i don't think so anyway?? Can Marcus Buy them all and dish them out via a free lottery??) but, we (by we, I mean Marcus Evans) could subsidise away match travel.
a rough example:
£30 travel to Blackburn x 55 seater coach =£1650 imagine 10 MORE coaches (£16500...Please Marcus!?), another 550 fans supporting our team... it could make the difference between no points, or 1 point... or possibly 3 points. Just for this season, we have to try and do everything we can to stay up...that includes away games, where points are possible with the maximum effort and support we can muster. I know Coaches aren't everyone's cup of tea, (I usually go by car) but it seems to be the easiest way to organise travel of so many fans.
So, if for instance, somebody offered you free travel to Blackburn/Vila/ etc... til the end of the season and you just had to pay for a match ticket... would you go? Not for everyone, I agree... but you do get 3 points for a win regardless of where you play your matches.
There are a few good points and promotional ideas from the OP here.
How about this as an idea: prices for match day tickets start at £27 reducing by £1 per match until tickets are in line with Season ticket prices for that seat. this would effectively reward loyalty for attendance, without (hopefully) upsetting season ticket holders. It's almost the equivalent of a half season ticket after reaching a certain number of matches which reduce by £1 per game... It's just the first thoughts i had after reading the OP's ideas. I'm sure someone can express this idea in a better way, or tell me it won't work. That's ok, but it'd be nice if we can find something that does work!!
Thanks Rammo and Bluefish... I did mean section 5 SBRL as i have seats in Block 3 SBRU and was looking to change them. given the same situation, I'd definitely shift over one seat if it meant two friends being able to sit together. Hopefully that is the case with 90% of people. I do understand those that are season ticket holders and that it may be their "Lucky Seat" with that in mind, maybe it's time to move up one seat!
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