FA Praise for Town Wednesday, 16th Oct 2013 18:27 Joint-MDs Ian Milne and Jonathan Symonds have revealed that the FA gave the club a glowing report after last night’s England U21s international at Portman Road. Just over 17,000 fans turned up to watch Gareth Southgate’s men thrash Lithuania 5-0. Milne paid tribute to those who were working at the game, particularly as the attendance was higher than had been expected. “Last night was a great testament to the staff here, of them being very adaptable to putting on something like they did," he told TWTD. "We initially thought we might have 10,000 people, at lunchtime it was 16,000 and 17,000 rocked up. “The FA have said to us that they were so impressed with what they’d done. They rolled up and said that everything was done compared with other clubs, Premier League clubs. “That shows the quality and professionalism and hard work of our staff and it’s a privilege to work with them.” Symonds concurred: “It was a good night for the club, Ipswich showing what it does best, putting on a fantastic display and people came out and watched it." The event wasn’t a huge money-spinner for the Blues, who are understood to have made a low five-figure sum from the game. “It was a dry hire arrangement with the FA," Milne explained. “We hired it out to them for which we get a fee and we get income from what we earned from on concourse catering and things like that. “It was a great crowd, we understand there was a comparison made with Reading, who recently got 5,000 for an U21 game, and we got just over 17,000, which we’re very pleased with. “When we were asked to do this, we thought it was great for Ipswich, the town, and for the club. I think the local support that turned up proved that. “I think the big thing for all of us was to hear the kids shouting ‘England, England!’ right at the front of the stands and standing up and cheering the players off.” The FA told the club they would receive a “brilliant report” and Milne says they’d love to stage another U21 game in the near future: “Hopefully we might get another opportunity.” The Portman Road playing surface also received plaudits: “The UEFA officials plus the two national teams spoke glowingly about the pitch, so the investment we put in during the summer is paying off. “[Groundsman] Ben Connell and his team have done a really great job, we’re really pleased with what he’s done.” Symonds added: “The proof will be in the middle of winter if we’ve still got grass on it, which we hope we will. This weather’s been great for us as well. “[ex-Town groundsman] Alan Ferguson [who now works at the FA’s St George’s Park] was down with the FA and said it was looking great. He nurtured Ben and took him on and it’s good to see that coming to fruition.”
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