I am an ITFC supporter, born and raised in London, who now lives in Berkshire. I’ve never lived in or near Ipswich but do have family in the surrounding areas, who are season ticket holders. I chose Ipswich as a kid and have never looked back.

I go to fewer and fewer games as the years go by but in the late 80s through to the early noughties (the Lyall and Burley/Holland years) I was following the Town up and down the country on a regular basis, as well as to other countries such as Russia and Luxembourg.

I’m not laying claim to be the most ardent fan but feel I have 'done my time' and do still go every now and then, my last trip to PR being the 0-3 to Millwall at the end of last season

So that is my preface and this is my dilemma. I have recently spawned a young child, a boy. Who should he support?

Option 1 - ITFC. An obvious choice to many reading on here. His Dad follows them so he should too. I love Ipswich. I love our history, our ground and what we stand for, although this seems to be eroded as each day goes by.

I love the fact we are the only team to have supplied two England managers (and the two most successful ones at that), the fact that we won Division Two and Division One in successive years. That we won the FA Cup and Osborne had to be substituted after scoring the winning goal, just because he was overcome with excitement. Fantastic

Nowadays though, to an exiled supporter, Ipswich is a hard sell and I see no way out of the rut we’re in. I have a friend who tried to get his sons to follow the Town and was ridiculed in the playground. It’s all Premier and Champions Leagues now. No-one gives two hoots about FA Cups and England.

Also, to be frank, I live on the wrong side of London and it’s a pain in the arse to get across to Ipswich. Would love it if he travelled up there every week but would I want to impose that on him? Would I like to see my son go to fewer live games at Ipswich or follow a local team and go more often and at lesser cost? 'Support your local team' is what 'true' fans always seem to say. This leads me to my next option.

Option 2 - Reading. The local team. Non-descript outfit. No history. Horrible out of town ground, easily accessible by car but complete ‘mare if, heaven forbid, you wanted a drink on your day out at football.

Still, he’d be following his 'local team', he’d be able to attend regularly and maybe some in his playground would follow them too.

Option 3 - QPR. His mother’s family are all QPR. Genuine QPR. Season ticket holders etc. We live on the right side of London for QPR so local-ish.

Loftus Road has to be one of my favourite away grounds and, Magilton sacking aside, I don’t hold too much against them. Bit of a joke club with the wacky, rich, foreign money-bags owners but hate a lot of other clubs more.

Option 4 - A non-league team. I already attend local non-league fixtures. And can do without feeling I am cheating on Ipswich, because they are non-league. Can my son have a non-league team who he watches regularly and then go and see Ipswich every now and then?

Option 5 - Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool etc. A non-option in my view. Will get rid of Sky Sports if any of these picked.

My son is only six weeks old so doesn’t have to be a knee-jerk reaction. At the end of the day, he will choose himself, but which way should I guide him? People are already asking.

This is my debut blog, so feel free to rip to shreds. Thanks for reading and will see you at the Amex on Tuesday.

poringlandblue added 22:59 - Oct 4 i was lucky enough to of grown up watching the town during the robson years off my own back my dad was into rugby. ive lived in norwich nearly 30 years now and have a 16 year old son. ive never pushed him to follow ipswich knowing the grief he would get from his peers but always lived in hope. then a couple of years ago he asked to come with me to a town game and the rest is history, he gets loads of stick from his mates but hes made his mind up. he goes to norwich games with his mates so enjoys the banter and atmosphere with them but hopes they lose. for me now a trip to portman rd with my son is special, bonding, even though the football on show has been dire but every now and then a game comes along that sticks in the memory. to the day i die i will never forget the sheer joy of both of us jumping around like lunatics, hugging each other, shouting at the top of our voices after tamas had scored against arsenal. im a lucky guy.

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Michael11 added 23:39 - Oct 4 1) ITFC have the most history of success out of them clubs. You support them so you'll be keeping a family tradition going. Oh, and WE NEED THE FANS!! 2) Reading will probably be back in our league in the next year or so but it is your local team i guess. 3) Give it 3 years (at most) QPR will be going into turmoil because none of their high earning players are on relegation wage drops. Plus, like Reading they will probably be in the championship within a year or so, so no different to supporting us. 4) Would be a good education of seeing live football until he has his own choice of club. 5) Total write off.

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captaincrunch added 01:38 - Oct 5 Don't know about everyone else here but I like the fact that I support a team that isn't your standard Man Utd Chelsea etc because it shows that you are a proper supporter and not just along for the ride glory hunting. It is different in England but where I live everyone supports Man Utd etc and it just seems like a cheap option to me. Maybe your son will appreciate supporting a team that isn't top flight because it is not glory hunting as I say but lets face it, any team can go up or down in the coming years so it is hard to predict. Although it is always nice to say you supported a team before they were good too (and actually be telling the truth) so I would recommend ITFC because you can really get behind them and call yourself a true fan. The other teams you mention are Premier League (apart from option 4) which may not be a good thing if you share my view. Option 4 seems like a good option in so much as it lets him watch a lot more matches. Be prepared that your son may end up supporting the non-league side for his own reasons and end up not sharing your love for town. I do believe you should go for Ipswich and he is impressionable enough to support any team you choose for him lets be honest :)

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Thetfordtractor added 11:44 - Oct 5 Well done on a good blog. The method I have used with my four children is simple, Love the blues through thick or thin, or go and live in the shed! Hey presto four town fans proudly wear their shirts whilst shopping in Narwich! COYB
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KembleBlue added 12:20 - Oct 5 Excellent blog and congratulations to you and yours. I read the first page of responses, and if I'm to be honest, I think I may have read a little between the lines of your blog.. I think you want him to be a Town fan! I'm a third generation Town fan and had been going with my Dad and Grandad since I was 6. Before this I lived in Hampshire, too far away from Town, but the moment we moved more East, I was taken to PR on one of the first weekends we moved and never looked back. It's not a decision (who'd chose it!) it's a birth right, a history, a tradition and I wouldnt have it any other way, despite all the Man Utd and Chelsea fans when I was a kid. It is father-son (or daughter) bonding beyond anything you could ever buy. My Grandad and Father had the Glory days, the highlights you've described - but I still feel a part of that history and pride. I understand your thoughts though, regular football is important - it develops you as a youngster, as a footballer, as a man. Petrol, tickets, beers are all so much more expensive than when I was young, and it's a different world, but can you imagine going to Reading, with your son, as a home supporter? It would feel weird. The best away trip I think I've had was Leeds during the petrol shortage - my dad was determined to go! We went so slowly, so fuel efficiently it must have took an extra hour, but travelling long distances on the motorway, scarf out the window, stopping off for a Burger - it's what Saturdays are about! No matter what team, he will not thank you for it - even if he went Utd, what is the joy, the participation?, he won't thank you when he's older. So, it's decided, he's a Town Fan, welcome to the fmaily little one!!

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happybeingblue added 08:34 - Oct 6 well i remember when my son was little and had an affection for liverpool as they had just won the treble of sorts under houllier,i remember standing in lillywhites in london and him trying on a liverpool kit i said " it doesnt look right son too big " etc etc basically it was turning my insides to think my son was going to support another team other than the town.and the rest is history as hes now a season tkt holder and shares the pain and joy with me, i think supporting the same team is the way forward as you will share so many memories TOGETHER which is the important factor here its not just when they are little but when they get into their teens etc and basically it means you can spend time together, i have more respect for norwich fans who support their local team than the GLORY HUNTERS who without influences from their fathers support whoevers just won the premier league etc! i never used to see many man city shirts in ipswich a few years ago!thats my take on it and i think i made the right decision,all those that say let him make up his own mind etc etc obviously were never really that bothered about the town in the first place!!

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