Portman Road’s family areas will all be in the East of England Co-Operative Stand from next season.

The move will see activities and entertainment laid on for younger fans and families on the Fieldturf behind the stand on a more regular basis.

Currently blocks T, T2, U, U2 and U3 in the Cobbold Stand are designated family areas but this will no longer be the case next season.

The club has written to all affected season ticket holders in those sections and is working with them on relocating them to the Co-Op Stand for next season.

Families and junior fans who want to remain in the Cobbold Stand can do so if they wish, however those areas will no longer be priced as a family area.

Meanwhile, Town have announced that children under the age of five will now only be permitted to sit in the upper tiers of the ground for safety reasons, due to balls flying into the lower tiers during games.

Photo: Action Images

truckerblue added 15:15 - Mar 10 To be honest with some of the football we've played this season there's more chance of getting hit by a ball in the upper tier!!!
32

Roystheboy added 15:31 - Mar 10 This move is great as long as our manager doesn't turn to the crowd and tell them to "f*ck off" like he did on three occasions on Saturday.................. Total disgrace
-4

bellazzurri79 added 15:33 - Mar 10 True
2

bohslegend added 15:47 - Mar 10 @truckerblue while I don't agree with the criticism, I must say I laughed!
2

1967blue added 15:47 - Mar 10 Yes I complained to a steward about it too.
-4

bohslegend added 15:49 - Mar 10 Roystheboy - was that when all the fans were calling him every name under the sun including F's, B's, C's and W's and he turned round and gave them a little bit bit back? Aw the poor fans, they must have felt so hurt they wanted to cry.
15

big_gaz67 added 15:51 - Mar 10 Do I read this right - an under five is not allowed in the lower tier - isn't the family enclosure in the lower tier?
1

truckerblue added 16:03 - Mar 10 Wasn't meant as criticism but couldn't resist!
1

1967blue added 16:10 - Mar 10 No bohslegend it was when the crowd booed after he took off our most lively striker, who has been scoring goals, to be replaced with one who was unlikely to.
-8

phillo added 16:36 - Mar 10 biggaz_67 is right ...... how can you allocate a family section which you cant actually take family members u5 in !!!!! Before I get grief I understand the reason put out re safety BUT surely a more customer friendly organisation looking to ensure they attract more families to the game (of all ages) should solve this by putting family friendly prices in more aras of the ground ... and not just the worst view areas which get wet when it rains !!!! To be honest it needs to be all part of a full ticketing review that tries to make going to games more accessible for families ..... not costing up to £100 per match ( if you can't afford or justify a season ticket) for a family of 4 to attend a run if the mill championship match.

2

oscarwhiting added 17:07 - Mar 10 can we move the away fans to the other end of the cobbold stand please. so there will be more of an atmosphere between them and the lower BR
2

osborne1nil added 17:46 - Mar 10 Alternatively oscarwhiting you could move into the AR stand and shout from there rather than move all the fans in the Cobbold!
0

thebeat added 18:17 - Mar 10 bohslegen are you Micks son? He can do no wrong in your eyes can he? Im sorry but he is the manager of a football club and he shouldnt be reacting to boos because hes taken off the striker who was giving Brentford kittens with his pace at the time. Thats not how the manager of this great club should be acting, there is NO excuse for it.
5

Damster added 18:53 - Mar 10 Can the season ticket price list be reconsidered. All the child £10 season tickets are lower tier and cannot be obtained in top tier seats. ???
2

thebeat added 19:10 - Mar 10 osborne1nil you cant ask the lower BR to move to the Alf Ramsey. The old North Stand has long been the section of the ground with the most loyal Town fans in it who actually like an atmosphere and dont turn up with their picnic baskets. Makes sense to move the away fans back down that end, it would be so much better for the whole atmosphere and would bring a better matchday experience for everybody.

2

david_d added 20:03 - Mar 10 It's disgraceful that mm swore at the crowd in the manner that he did...he shoud be above that and setting an example...Yes he may have been booed but that's no excuse and he should be man enough to rise above it .If it was a player acting like that they would be in serious trouble. An apology and donation to a local charity would be appropriate I think!!
4

essex57 added 20:51 - Mar 10 David d,thebeat,1967blue,roystheboy 1 if fans get offended by players and management reacting they should surely stop the 90minute barrage of foul and abusive language aimed at the them with regards the family enclosures i would not bring a young child/adult to portman rd in the present climate the language and aggresison is appalling and before all the ante team and mm brigade get on my case team selection and substitutions mean nothing when your players miss 4 open goals

3

thebeat added 21:38 - Mar 10 essex57 if adults are swearing in the family enclosure then thats wrong but anywhere else in the ground is fair game. Call me old school but the match is where working class people go at the end of the week to enjoy being with their mates in a tribal enviroment and let all the stresses out of the week gone by, if this includes swearing then so be it. The gagging of fans these days is the reason atmospheres are poor, all the funs being sucked out of the game and football is poorer for it.

2

blueboy1981 added 22:11 - Mar 10 ......... this Club has certainly changed, and not for the better - we have people on this forum condoning the Manager for yelling F--- Off to the Family Area fans. And NOT just once either - allegedly. This proves to me that the Manager has no respect at all for the Supporters - and that includes YOU people who condone such behaviour. I am shocked and amazed that ANY true ITFC Supporter would be anything other than totally disgusted by this. This would NEVER have happened in the past, when this Club was owned by certain people. Remember - this was the FAMILY ENCLOSURE.

5

MaySixth added 08:09 - Mar 11 I love the way go to football, with kids, and not expect to hear swear words. Then moan about it all piously on a forum. Utter melts.
2

Nazemariner added 08:20 - Mar 11 Excellent idea to use the training pitch to entertain the youngsters on a match day. While they're shifting folk around, it'd be nice if they moved the away fans nearer to the more vocal SBRL.....or vice versa?
3

Nazemariner added 08:26 - Mar 11 On the subject of Mick swearing at the fans..... It's not right, and he should offer a statement of apology stating so. That said you can understand how it can happen as management can be extremely frustrating at times. My bigger concern would be the kind of person that takes his/her children to a game and then proceeds to give the bench dogs abuse. A lovely example to give to your kids don't you think? If you ask me a football ground is no place for under 11's anyhow!

3

WindsorBlue added 08:42 - Mar 11 @trueblue1981. Is it a family enclosure behind the dugout? ANY TRUE ITFC supporter wouldn't boo or give the manager abuse for making a decision. I think the "but for" rule should be applied here!
1

PJH added 09:11 - Mar 11 Nazemariner/WindsorBlue-blueboy has made his ruling on the subject so the discussion is now over.
-2

essex57 added 09:26 - Mar 11 I reiterate my point in no other work place would swearing and abuse be tolerated by customers to employees so why should football be any different MM was doing his job if Murphy had put away any of the open goals he missed we wouldnt be having this debate carry on the way we are going MM will walk and who will replace be carefull for what you wish for. Whilst my self i am opposed to foul and abusive language walk through town or catch public transport you regularly hear young people using foul language and even worse parents swearing at kids.

3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls