The West Anglia Branch of the Supporters Club (WABITS) are raffling a signed 2006-08 away shirt in memory of Luton-based season ticket holder Mark Avery, who died suddenly at the age of 46 on March 28th 2008.
Mark was webmaster of the WABITS website (www.itfc-blues.com), and regularly travelled to Portman Road with his six-year-old son Matthew, where they sat in Block FF of the Britannia Stand.
His friends at WABITS agreed to raffle the shirt, which had originally been donated by the club to help towards branch funds, to raise money instead for a gift for young Matthew. The raffle is open to all, with donations of £5 earning each contributor five numbers in the prize draw, which will be held at the Supporters Club Awards Evening in Legends on Sunday 4th May. To enter, please email secretary@itfc-blues.com for further details.
WABITS chairman, Chris Robinson, hopes that Town fans from all areas will contribute towards this appeal: "Mark was a very special guy - a dedicated Town supporter, but also a real family man. He regularly made the 200-mile round trip to Portman Road, often with his six-year-old son, Matthew, who was recently diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome.
"Obviously, our thoughts are with his wife and two children at this time. We want to raise money for a gift for young Matthew - the exact details of which we will discuss at a more suitable time with Mark's widow.
"Some of our members shared the trip to Scunthorpe with Mark recently and his death has come as a shock to us all. However, we have been overwhelmed by the messages of support that we have received from the club and fellow Town fans, and we hope that as many people as possible will take part in the raffle.â€Â
Mark's funeral will take place at St Luke's Church in Leagrave, Luton, at 2.00pm on Monday 14th April. Town fans attending have been invited by his family to wear their Ipswich shirts as a mark of respect for one of the club's most loyal supporters.