In response to complaints after a number of incidents involving a small group of fans during Town’s pre-season games, the Supporters’ Club, via chair Elizabeth Edwards’s column in tomorrow’s programme, are calling on those involved to “grow up or stay away”.

This is the first time I have ever asked Simon Clegg to agree my [programme] column before it is published. Read on and you will understand why.

I am proud to be an Ipswich fan — I am proud of our heritage and historic success, and I am proud of the way, as fans, we have kept loyal despite it being the best (or worst) part of a decade since we played in the Premier League.

Like many other fans, I follow Town home and away, not discriminating between the glitz of the Emirates and the somewhat more historic ‘charms’ of Selhurst Park. I also go to a lot of other games, around the world, both club matches and internationals.

And there is one thing that I always notice about following Ipswich — that makes us stand out from most others. It’s a simple thing, but it’s vital, and it is called respect.

Respect means knowing not to cross the line between ‘banter’ and ‘abuse’. It means avoiding racist, homophobic or obviously offensive chants. It means sitting down in the right seat, when stewards, police or other fans ask you to do so. It means making sure that anyone can happily follow Town, whatever their age, from the youngest to the oldest, from teenager to parent.

Sadly, over the last year or two, but especially recently, I have been getting a lot of complaints - from people who have been going home and away for years and from others who are just getting the habit.

They are all complaining about one, tiny group of antisocial so-called fans. Most of the time, their behaviour is low-level annoying (inane and sometimes abusive chanting) but occasionally it breaks out into more serious stuff, such as letting off smoke bombs, abusing police, stewards and other fans, let alone their ignorant and disgusting booing following the serious injury to Colchester player Andy Bond the other week.

They know who they are, and if you go to away games, especially, you will know who they are too. And, like me, you would be pretty upset to hear some of the complaints that I get.

I never, ever again want to get the kind of phone call that followed the Col U game. One of our most loyal fans, a friend to many of us, who called me straight after the game and said, “Tonight, I am ashamed to call myself an Ipswich fan”.

So, I have a message for that little group. The club are watching every move you make, because they don’t want that kind of fan. As a Supporters’ Club, we don’t want that kind of fan either — your silly childish behaviour, and your style of ‘support’ that is making others think twice about going to games.

Because of you, and your behaviour, we risk losing the kind of policing style that is reserved only for those who know how to behave and respect others. So, I'll give you a choice - either grow up, or stay away.

Let’s make this a season to remember for the right reasons.

Elizabeth Edwards

Chair, Ipswich Town Supporters Club

Photo: Action Images

churchmans added 08:57 - Aug 13 i dont see or hear a problem at portman road and think wallingford boy you are right i think alot of you are to easily offended and probably to stuck up! my only gripe is the constant booing of nugent by the northstanders because he did not want to join ipswich and the booing spurs him on to score against us! i used to stand in the west stand in the mid eighties and then late eighties i stood in the northstand when it was segregated and the atmosphere was blinding so was the p*ss taking between fans and players which was takin well and if players bit then tough NOWADAYS its you cant say this you cant do that! i will say and do what i want and show my feelings so phuk all ya'll the only thing i wouldnt agree with is racial prejudice which i think everyone will agree is gone from british football which is a good thing the rest of it! stop ya whinging and complaining!! dont like it tell the person. churchmans speaker of TRUTH and FACTS

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mattstannard added 09:18 - Aug 13 I have to say in my opinion Elizabeths behaviour in itself is very poor. She has chosen to rather than discuss compliants with a minority of supporters to try and take a cheap shot at the in the local paper and in the club programme. At the Southend and Bristol matches I was at I thought our support was brilliant, the younger generation made some fantastic new songs for our new players and the stewards complimented and enjoyed us as a group of fans. People all have different opinions of what is and isn't tolerable behaviour and what is and isn't abusive. Rather than take a cheap shot Elizabeth should have tried to discuss this with those involved, she is after all meant to be a representative for the "Supporters Club" which surely should be inclusive rather than exclusive. Finally, I don't understand those of you who have drawn a parallel to Londons Riots. There is a big difference between mindless destruction and singing at a football match. If you were in London like me last week you'll know it was quite scary. I've never felt scared like this at a football match. Anyway, that's my two pence worth!!

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CaughtInTheBrambles added 09:29 - Aug 13 Thanks to NottsTractor for pointing out that Section 6 is against racist and homophobic chanting. The aim of S6 was to improve the atmosphere, we have received no support from the Supporters Club in this aim, we still try our best but some of the comments on here reveal partly why we have yet to achieve success. Too many fans are happy to pour scorn and ridicule on our efforts, this of course neatly sidesteps the issue that they do zero themselves to improve the atmosphere, indeed one suspects they are why the sound of moaning is louder than the singing in many parts of the ground. If they can suggest an alternative then fine, but they cannot or will not. There is no part of the ground where adult and teenage singers can congregate, stand and sing. No longer can the teenagers sneak in and join in the singing in Section 6 of the SBRS Lower. So any influence is confined to away games. The issue of bridging between the family sections and the adult only SBRS Lower is still an issue. How are these kids meant to learn how to behave at football, where do they congregate at Home games near older fans who can drown out the fashanu song. The Press is full of stories of lack of correct peer pressure, role models and leadership contrbuting to the riots, but surely the same lack of respect displayed by this group is symptomatic of the same issues but in terms of football support. In the seventies terracing meant that as you got older you moved backwards through the stand. Seating killed this concept and there is nothing to replace it. The club offers no solution but to back the inneffectual Supporters Club when they complain of youngsters acting badly. Perhaps rather than threats the club should actually look at how these fans can be positively influenced by older singers (and by older I don't mean me but fans in their twenties upwards) and find a solution that aims to bridge that gap.

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Benters added 10:30 - Aug 13 To me what happened when the crowd started getting upset when the colu game ended early was just the last straw,get there early still cant park,cant get in the ground at the time stated on the ticket, the turnstyles didnt work when they decided to let you in,cant get the food on the menu board,game delayed,then the player who thankfuly got up and walked away did just that walked away.Then you cant get out of the carpark as the stewards where crap!!!

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thebeat added 10:34 - Aug 13 This is total horse s**t! another sign that the game is being taken over by the middle class toffs and being taken away from the working class man, i work my nuts off all week and when i go to the match i 1stly go to support my club and secondly i go to release all my stresses and strains, abusing opposition players and the officials is all part of the game.Has nobody got a sense of humour these days? Bloody PC Brigade on the march again Stop taking the moral high ground, if you want a quiet lazy saturday afternoon go and watch the cricket or go crown green bowling or do some gardening you moaning old fuddy duddys

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brazil1982 added 10:50 - Aug 13 I can't wait for Peterborough away.
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nw10blue added 10:58 - Aug 13 I full defence of Section 6 what they have tried to do is follow the lead of many other english and scottish clubs to establish an ultras group. They want to fight against modern football and the sterile atmosphere created by all seater stadiums. PR is one ground where atmosphere has been severley lacking for a long time and is this created by the poor team performances or has the lack of atmosphere added to the demise of the team. In europe most clubs have at least one ultras group such as Gate 13, Torceda and the Bad Blue Boys. These groups have a particular area of the ground and bring a superb atmosphere through diplays, smoke, banners and singing mostly led by a cappo standing at the front with a megaphone. Opposition players face a wall of noise and passion wether it be champions league or bottom of the league. Section 6 tried to bring this sort of passion to PR, but with not stand or section to allow them all to stand and the younger folks being advised or pulled up if they get carried away. Doing the Ipswich is not embarressing it is done by many eupropean clubs who dont all point to polish football as creating it. Celtic do it and call it the huddle, they have the green brigade who are bringing passion back. Dont scawn these people, stand up sing and show passion for your team giving them a lead to follow.

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CraigForrestGateau added 11:38 - Aug 13 I agree with those on here that are saying this group are nothing like other clubs fans. They aren't. But I think that when a group start chanting at a 12 year old ball boy and call him a C##t is just way past the mark. I think booing the fact that a FRIENDLY is abandoned with just over ten mins to play because someone was potentially seriously injured i past the mark. I think after singing songs, to then abuse other fans who decide not to join in is past the mark. Everyone is entitled to either sing, sit in their seat and watch the game, or whatever. But when you start abusing each other because you don't all do the same as each other at football, come on, grow up. Those examples given are what I noticed at games from this group of so called fans, who are just ignorant kids after all. They'll grow up, and come up with some inventive chanting soon I'm sure.

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darren_cox added 14:23 - Aug 13 I agrre with the likes of Commando North and Wallingford. When I go to football matches I expect to here some offensive chanting and to see some stupid behaviour. It is part and parcel of football and I'm not ashamed to admit that Iv probably been guilty of it myself in the past. However it is not something i participate in at all now although that doesnt mean that i wont join in with the chanting. Todays football fan is very different to what it was twenty years ago which is generally a good thing. However we could all do more to help improve the atmosphere at PR. I have to admit i was at times ashamed to be an Ipswich fan due to the lack of atphosmere and passion shown by town fans last seasons at home. lets all get behind the club in the right mannor. coyb

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nickforeveritfc added 15:04 - Aug 13 Come on people we all share the same feelings for town and some might show it in different ways and some might have stronger opinions than others, but that doesnt mean just because some people can't behave we have to argue with each other over how we like to watch the football! look at ourselves perhaps its us that needs to grow up and stop complaining.Yes our ground has been very quite the past few years but lets change that this season instead of moaning about it lets do something about it!! plenty of noise for the tractor boys!!!

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Dg188 added 15:59 - Aug 13 We all support Ipswich, but because of a misguided statement by a woman who at last count had 9 attendees for her last meeting (check the minutes), we're being told to stay away if we like to stand and sing.
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forthelonghaul added 17:18 - Aug 13 Who the hell does she think she is? The most embarrassing thing about supporting ipswich is idiots like elizabeth edwards and the fact that the chairMAN of the supporters club is a bird!
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SammyT added 17:51 - Aug 13 Liz Edwards 1 Ipswich 0 tried not to swear or stand on your behalf
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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:13 - Aug 13 Football in a library, thats PR now, sterile, fans politely clapping along to the dreadful "singing the blues". Hull fans today were witty, loud, sweary, & funny, only 467 of them, but that was enough to outsing us. As long as it,s not racist etc, lets get PR back to the big noise it used to be, intimidate the opposition & make some bloody noise.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 22:33 - Aug 13 football in library and the official supporters club is turning into the WI - perhaps we can all have a flask and a blanket for the winter
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churchmans added 18:18 - Aug 14 THEBEAT hit the godamn nail straight on the head! as for a 12year old ballboy being called a c**t! firstly how do you know he was 12 years old? secondly could not help but crack a smile big enough to show my teeth! thirdly get over it you toff im sure he wont commit suicide or be mentally scarred by it. i wish we could turn back the clock by twenty years!! atmosphere was awesome now we got C**ts like CRAIGFORESTGATEAU and LIZ EDWARDS applauding a backpass from midfield to defence and a HIP HIP HORAY after a goal! saturday was like a morgue!!

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apm_77 added 22:41 - Aug 14 Well said. I think the small minority of fans in question need to take a long look at themselves. I spent time at various matches last season looking around me and trying to see a fellow fan I could really relate too. I've been going for nearly 30 years, on and off, and really believe some people need to realise that they represent the club when they're at matches, be it home or away. God knows we've had plenty to complain about over the last few seasons but it's times like this that our fans need to get behind the team, whatever we may think of the club, owner, chief exec, manager of players.

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NSL added 13:50 - Aug 15 There are many things that are wrong about this but what is wrong is that one person can have access to the newspaper and matchday programme to express their own unfounded personal opinions above anyone elses.
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