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Town Open Day a Success - Ipswich Town News

Town’s annual Portman Road open day was attended by 5,000 fans with the players and staff signing autographs and having their photos taken before taking part in a training session on the main pitch.

Town MD Ian Milne says the event went very well with long queues having stretched around the ground prior to the gates opening at 9.30am.

"We’re well over 4,000 [at time of speaking] and 1,500 went through the autograph queues, so I think that was successful,” he said.

"The boys are training and there’s a big crowd in there and there’s a big crowd on the FieldTurf as well, so I’m very pleased, it’s been very successful.”

Manager Mick McCarthy admitted it was a touch unusual having supporters watching a training session but thought the day went well.

"You hope that you entertain them. It’s great though, it’s not surreal because it’s an audience at Portman Road, but it is watching training.”

Missing from the session were Brett Pitman, who suffered a toe injury in the Charlton friendly on Tuesday, and Luke Hyam, who hurt his knee at Cambridge on Saturday.

The duo are expected to miss Saturday’s final friendly at home to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise but will be fine for the season opener against Barnsley the following week.

Trialist Roland Lamah wasn’t involved in this morning’s session but is still at the club. McCarthy says the club is still in talks with the 28-year-old winger, who is likely to play in Saturday’s match.

Regarding further additions, McCarthy added: "We’re still trying, hopefully I’m going to get them in before the season starts.”

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