| We've been let down. 12:25 - Mar 25 with 796 views | warkandpeace |
I’m a British Asian fan. Born in Ipswich Hospital and going to Portman Road since ’92, when I was eight or nine. I live in London now but get back for as many home games as I can. I love the club and, to the frustration of my family, I’m in a foul mood when we dick a game up.
Growing up, I was of course aware that I looked a bit different. In the slightly macho atmosphere that comes with any football ground, that made me anxious at times. But as I got older, that feeling faded. I came to see what Ipswich really is, which is a genuinely friendly, inclusive club. I’ve had very few issues over the years, none I can think of in the last decade or more. 'm so proud of the club and love the feeling of supporting it along with 30'000 others .The run from ’22 to ’24 will stay with me for life.
That’s why this Farage incident has genuinely shaken my relationship with the club in a way nothing else has. It’s sad and deeply disappointing to see Ipswich allow someone so divisive and opportunistic to use the club for their own ends.
I know some will say people are overreacting, that it’s a free country, that others need to lighten up. But I don’t think you can look at Farage in those terms. His whole career has been built on stoking division. He has made comments about not wanting Romanian neighbours, about feeling uneasy hearing foreign languages, about denying NHS treatment to migrants with HIV, and has repeatedly framed black and brown communities in a negative light. That context matters.
What’s most disappointing is that the club doesn’t seem to understand how symbolic this is. For many of us, it’s not abstract. It lands personally. The statement yesterday evening felt completely inadequate, a failure to grasp the seriousness of it, both for supporters and in terms of how the club presents itself. Even if this began as a mistake at a junior level, it needed calm, thoughtful leadership to resolve. That hasn’t happened.
I can’t quite believe I’m saying it, but for the first time I don’t feel like going to the game next Saturday.
What I will say is that the response from supporters on here has been wonderful. It’s kept that sense of pride alive. The majority have been thoughtful, empathetic and clear about how they feel. Yes, there are some who see it as a storm in a teacup, and I think it can be hard to understand how this feels if you haven’t grown up non-white. But reading the comments over the past day, it’s obvious that this fanbase is, at its core, a really good one. And it deserves better than this |  | | |  |
| We've been let down. on 12:32 - Mar 25 with 704 views | _CliveBaker_ |
Well said.
I'm sorry that this absolute cluster fk has made you feel that way, but I understand why.
Hopefully you can take some comfort knowing its the consequence of a massive misstep from a handful of staff, and not the want of the people of Ipswich or the fans of this club. |  | | |
| We've been let down. on 12:41 - Mar 25 with 599 views | Norfolk_north |
Reminds me of the recent election they lost to the greens. Rather than assessing why some might have voted for a different party to them they claimed election fraud and family voting.
It seemed lost on them that the demographic they have been demonising and hating might not be too favourable towards them.
This is what their racism and division causes and why this visit of Farage should be strongly condemned. The fan base is not just a bunch of white little Englanders yelling stop the boats. It's a diverse fanbse with people of different backgrounds, some of which they have promoted hate and intolerance towards and have made the country and much more dangerous place for them to live in.
I don't want to see any reform supporters ask the tired and boring questions of "how are they racist?" Or "how are they divisive?" We only need to look at their statements, policies and actions to see why. | | | |
| We've been let down. on 12:41 - Mar 25 with 597 views | Steve_M |
Yes, I can understand that and it's exactly why Reform's deliberately divisive populism is so damaging.
I hope you can reconcile yourself to going to matches again after a few days because I would hate Farage or those running the club at the moment to take your club away from you. |  |
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| We've been let down. on 12:46 - Mar 25 with 547 views | urbanpenguin |
Well said, and thankyou. Not dissimilar to how I felt with the club standing by Morsy for actions I personally perceived as homophobic. I hope you have emailed Mark Ashton also, it is important he (or his PA, at least) reads such testimony. |  | | |
| We've been let down. on 12:47 - Mar 25 with 531 views | jayessess |
I'm pondering the same and frankly it breaks my heart that I honestly don't have any appetite to go to our next game.
Feel like if I'm going, it'll be out of spite, because it's our club and I'm not giving it up to sodding Nigel Farage, to Mark Ashton or to anyone else who thinks it's theirs. |  |
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| We've been let down. on 12:49 - Mar 25 with 504 views | tractor_lady |
have you emailed the club with this if not please do, they will have had lots of messages i know but this one for me epitomises why this entire situation is so wrong...... I am a white English lady born and bred and i detest Forage with a passion and it terrifies me what would happen if he got in, he almost makes Trump look like a pussy cat (i say almost). I love my club and the way they approach diversity of all kinds, this has therefore left a really bad taste in my mouth..... im feel absolutely gutted tbh | | | |
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