In response to complaints after a number of incidents involving a small group of fans during Town’s pre-season games, the Supporters’ Club, via chair Elizabeth Edwards’s column in tomorrow’s programme, are calling on those involved to “grow up or stay away”.

This is the first time I have ever asked Simon Clegg to agree my [programme] column before it is published. Read on and you will understand why.

I am proud to be an Ipswich fan — I am proud of our heritage and historic success, and I am proud of the way, as fans, we have kept loyal despite it being the best (or worst) part of a decade since we played in the Premier League.

Like many other fans, I follow Town home and away, not discriminating between the glitz of the Emirates and the somewhat more historic ‘charms’ of Selhurst Park. I also go to a lot of other games, around the world, both club matches and internationals.

And there is one thing that I always notice about following Ipswich — that makes us stand out from most others. It’s a simple thing, but it’s vital, and it is called respect.

Respect means knowing not to cross the line between ‘banter’ and ‘abuse’. It means avoiding racist, homophobic or obviously offensive chants. It means sitting down in the right seat, when stewards, police or other fans ask you to do so. It means making sure that anyone can happily follow Town, whatever their age, from the youngest to the oldest, from teenager to parent.

Sadly, over the last year or two, but especially recently, I have been getting a lot of complaints - from people who have been going home and away for years and from others who are just getting the habit.

They are all complaining about one, tiny group of antisocial so-called fans. Most of the time, their behaviour is low-level annoying (inane and sometimes abusive chanting) but occasionally it breaks out into more serious stuff, such as letting off smoke bombs, abusing police, stewards and other fans, let alone their ignorant and disgusting booing following the serious injury to Colchester player Andy Bond the other week.

They know who they are, and if you go to away games, especially, you will know who they are too. And, like me, you would be pretty upset to hear some of the complaints that I get.

I never, ever again want to get the kind of phone call that followed the Col U game. One of our most loyal fans, a friend to many of us, who called me straight after the game and said, “Tonight, I am ashamed to call myself an Ipswich fan”.

So, I have a message for that little group. The club are watching every move you make, because they don’t want that kind of fan. As a Supporters’ Club, we don’t want that kind of fan either — your silly childish behaviour, and your style of ‘support’ that is making others think twice about going to games.

Because of you, and your behaviour, we risk losing the kind of policing style that is reserved only for those who know how to behave and respect others. So, I'll give you a choice - either grow up, or stay away.

Let’s make this a season to remember for the right reasons.

Elizabeth Edwards

Chair, Ipswich Town Supporters Club

Photo: Action Images

Talbs77 added 21:33 - Aug 12 Everyone has a right to support town within the law and to have a go at town fans is completely out of order, football has always had fans who sing what other people find offensive, people this is not a recent occurance! Younger fans should be encouraged, we were that age once and if it irritates older fans then they ill have to deal with it, um 34 and find them funney (but not really in funny way) but they make a noise which is more interesting than areas of the ground that I swear think are feeding the ducks down christchurch park so lets not knock em.

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Plums added 21:44 - Aug 12 Oh dear, some children think they've invented singing at football...
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bluearmy4life added 21:45 - Aug 12 To get the atomsphere back at PR I think the short answer is we need success. We haven't had any since 2000-2001 being promoted and qualifing for the uefa cup. I've been very lucky I still rememeber the late 90's under Burley and we were building success. It's been so long and since 2006 under Royle there hasn't been anything to shout about which isn't an excuse but it is how some of are supporters are and It will be difficult to change.

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huddersfielditfc added 21:46 - Aug 12 "it only works for eastern european teams and man city" This comment sums up exactly why I shant value your opinion. And nice pic... cringe.
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Tractamatt added 21:51 - Aug 12 I have read this article and the rebuttle by commando north and they are both well written and and put across their points very well, Byt comparing people who sing rude songs to the scum who destroyed one in every 3 shops on my local high street,the people who have put at least 3 of my friends out of business by destroying their premises and property ,To compare them to the people who burnt people out of their homes and all because they were bored is insulting, insensitive and bloody wrong the people making these comparisons obviously dont live in or near any of the affected areas so it is so easy for them to make these sort of sensationalist statements and you should seriously think about your next statements with much more care.i at one stage had rioters and police fighting running battles no more than 100yrds from my front door.As for the guys this is about remember , ipswich town supporters have always enjoyed a reputation about decency and respect, we have had mentions in european parliments for our freindly and trouble free behaviour this is a reputation that needs to be upheld and so what is being asked is that you think about those around you and those that you represent in your actions, You do a great job of whipping up an atmosphere but please lets make it the right atmosphere.

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townietilidie added 22:06 - Aug 12 FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT .... LOL Only joking all . Seriously though compare the so called " bad fans " of Ipswich to the "bad fans " of alot of other clubs and i dont think we really have that much to worry about . Yes i know that some of the chants/songs may be a little harsh sometimes but this and alot worse has been goin on in football grounds for many many years . If these people at the heart of all this were so bad then why havent the club already taken action and banned them ? Prob cos its not as bad as what its being made out to be . Football is a passionate game , try and take anymore passion away from portman road and there will be less atmosphere than there is already . Yes im all for any trouble makers being kicked out and prosecuted but you rarely see Ipswich fans being kicked out of any ground . Nuff said ...

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Steelmonkey added 22:22 - Aug 12 I have been a season ticket holder for the last three seasons in the SBR lower. Having spent my youth in that stand as a pay per match fan, right up to getting married, buying a house and starting a family when the money got tight and I had to stop going. My first impression on returning after a break of some 30 years was that what in the hell had happened to the atmosphere.Not that there has been alot of encouragement from the what has been happening on the pitch. I'm sure back then we had more to sing about than just cursing our friends up at carrot road. If some think that todays problem of a lack of vocal support are caused by a small group of foul mouthed teens can I humbly suggest they give a bit more themselves rather than sit/stand there in stony silence and just perhaps the community singing will make a re-appearence. There are pockets of fans around the ground who will give it a go. I think that was evident at the Emirates when 6000 of us made it a good night despite the loss! Let's see what tomorrow brings. Come on you blues.

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NathItfc added 22:44 - Aug 12 Tractamatt: Wow, very interesting points, I totally understand and praise your opinion, and your post is one of the very few on here that take a look outside the box, I also hope your streets are put back to its original state or better as quickly as possible.
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power19 added 23:08 - Aug 12 As has been stated - if the noise levels and amosphere increased at PR to get behind the team - the noise of the 2% of numpties would be drowned out! It also might give us the benefit of having the '12th man' and make a postive impact on our exciting season ahead! Let's get behind the boys tomorrow and put this theory to the test!
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kellyjo added 23:12 - Aug 12 Fao byrne16.... All went downhill in north lower for you when I moved to Britannia with the kids ;) Miss ya buddy! Whilst I didn't make it to many away games last season, I only missed 3 the season before.....in general, the young'uns who were at the back singing were all good spirited, however, last game of the season at Leicester was a bit embarrassing with the "slapper" chants... I fear Elizabeth, you would find it more disturbing sitting with Leicester fans in the family stand at the KP stadium and having to listen to CHILDREN swearing like it's part of their normal vocabulary.....

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Notts_tractor added 23:24 - Aug 12 Has anyone from S6 actually come out and supported racism/homophobia and sexism? It seems to me that S6 started as a group of fans who were fed up with PR being a morgue and decided to bring some noise and colour to games. Who can argue with that? I don't believe the idiots who would sing offensive sh*te about Justin Fashanu are in any way connected with this original ethos. I've been going to PR since 1975 and quite frankly it's never been so dull, soulless and over-commercialised. It lost its soul when they took down the old North Stand. If anyone had given it any thought they would have realised that splitting a stand like that into two tiers ruins the dynamics of a "Kop" -style end. I'm going tomorrow but fully expect the place to be dead (apart from S6). Roll on the next away game I go to where the fans actually give the team some backing. By the way, I'm 49. Good luck to young fans who want to show their enthusiasm - I'm absolutely certain that the majority of S6 are like this and totally reject offensive chanting.

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Premiertown added 23:42 - Aug 12 More passion on this subject than any other> Perhaps the fans should sit and text each other their strongly held views at the match tomorrow? Lol
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bobble added 23:47 - Aug 12 they are probably staunch keanites who are still messed up.........
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SE1_ITFC added 00:06 - Aug 13 Is it just me, or has this comment by Ms Edwards been made strategically, at a time when the majority of the public are perceiving a lot of young people as 'yobs' or 'hooligans'? My point is similar to those made by many others - our club has supporters from all backgrounds - class, ethnic background, gender, sexuality, age etc etc. The thing we all have in common is that we're Ipswich fans and very proud of it. It's a fact of life that people chose to be passionate about and celebrate the things they love in different ways - football is no exception. I think Ms Edwards may just have to accept that some of fans enjoy a few pints before a match and enjoy a bit of banter. Agreed, sometimes people can lose their inhibitions at matches and forget that not everyone shares their views. They can also say and do things they dont really mean - this has always been part of terrace culture and likely always will be. In my mind, everyone pays their money to get in - surely they should be free to express themselves pretty much how they please? Let's not lose perspective here - no one's been hurt, no one's died, things are so much better than they were back 20-30 years ago. We're a great club with passionate fans - we just sometimes differ in how we demonstrate our passion, and nothing written in the matchday programme will ever change that. COYB

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SammyT added 00:10 - Aug 13 Well done Liz for further driving a wedge between the fans. For all of you posters resorting to ageist comments please do take note that 2 x 50+ Ipswich fans were ejected and subsequently arrested from the Norwich away game for fighting last season and another for throwing a seat. Slice of humble pie available on request...
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LancsBlue added 00:11 - Aug 13 Dg188 - it doesn't work for Ipswich because its not original. Man City fans, who are well known for their wit and good humour, joined in the 'Poznan' during their Europa League match with Lech Poznan last season and then brought it home and made it their own. They call it the 'Poznan' in deference to its originators. To copy it and then call it the 'Ipswich' is laughable, pathetic and embarassing.

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Dg188 added 00:25 - Aug 13 And sitting staunchly in a seat for 90 minutes clapping along is 100 times worse. I didnt say its perfect, I said its better than nothing.
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Brockleyblue added 02:02 - Aug 13 Well put Elizabeth. Sadly there are quite a few stupid people in the world. Unfortunately the law of averages says that some of them will live in and around Suffolk and hence pretend to support ITFC. Anybody who was caught booing a player who suffered a head injury should be given a life ban from the club. Simples.
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Tractamatt added 02:35 - Aug 13 Nathitfc thanks..
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huddersfielditfc added 04:11 - Aug 13 thanks notts tractor. Sensible post. As a co-founder of s6, i hate the ease of which we are being lumped together with other fans. While i dislike the "racist & homophobic" chanting that happens, we as the youth are the future of the club, and should be encouraged. We all support the same team, so perhaps if we all stood and sang together we wouldnt have such a division between our fans?

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ITFC_Budapest added 07:18 - Aug 13 Wow what an over zealous sensitive lot people have become! Not defending the minority here but just saying this sort of thing has always been around, so why only bring it up now?!
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Kitman added 07:53 - Aug 13 ..given the horrific news of the last week another reflection on British society as a whole? The lady that penned this. Does she really go to Selhurst? Nobody SITS down there when I go, even when "asked".
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Back_The_Boss added 08:11 - Aug 13 Indeed, its the same 'bunch' of silly, immature 14-21 year olds I'd say.
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strikalite added 08:26 - Aug 13 Of course it's a society as a whole thing, it seems there is no respect anymore because most of 'these' people have never had discipline...some of the Songs about Delia Smith were pretty sick to be fair but because of who she is and who she represents then it seems to be Ok.. We're only talking about a few 'kids' here(they'd be known as the under 5's in the 80's and squared up by the main 'crew' as it were)but they are embarrassing to our Club no doubt.....Sitters, you and your lads are the only atmosphere we have so keep that going...

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StochesStotasBlewe added 08:51 - Aug 13 As a Town fan of 42 years (i,m 50), i can never remember Portman Road being so quiet or sterile as it is now. I,ve moved seats after 5 years of sitting in Brittania upper tier with my 11 year old son as all i hear is dads moaning & whinging, not encouraging the team in any way, so we have seats in the lower section where there will be some noise. While i dont condone any kind of racist chanting etc, we both want to sing, shout & have some fun. There have always been an element of our support who are shall we say are a little more "industrial" in their vocal encouragement of our team, but thats the same for nearly every club in the land, so some kind of perspective needs to be put here. Perhaps this afternoon, Portman road can be an intimidating cauldron of noise, however i very much doubt it!!!!!!.

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