Town Respond to Under-Fives Ban Anger
Wednesday, 11th Mar 2015 16:01

Town have responded to criticism of the decision to prohibit fans aged under five from the lower tiers of Portman Road’s stands for safety reasons from next season.

A number of supporters reacted angrily to the move, which was announced yesterday, with several threads started on the TWTD forum with some posters concerned that they would have to pay an additional £110 per adult season ticket for upper tier seats.

However, Town media manager Steve Pearce told TWTD: “We have written to everyone concerned [along with their season ticket renewal packs] asking them to speak to the Ticket Office on an individual basis and in most cases the club will honour the price that they would have paid in the lower tier for next season. Each case will be assessed on its individual merits.

“The club has had situations where babies have been brought into the lower tier of stands this season, leading to safety concerns.

“After consultation with safety bodies it was decided that under five should be the cut-off point. More people are hurt by footballs flying into the crowd than anything else on a match day and there have been incidents where children have been hurt this season.”

Those season ticket holders affected by the move are asked to call the Ticket Office helpline on 03330 05 0503.

There are currently 76 season tickets registered to fans aged under five (meaning those aged four and below) in the stadium as a whole, while a number of those aren’t used having been bought as ‘symbolic’ gifts with under-11 season tickets costing £10.

Some other clubs are understood to take a similar approach to Town regarding housing younger fans in upper tiers.

Photo: Action Images

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MaySixth added 16:13 - Mar 11 Same people moaning here that would moan when their 3 year old is accidentally smacked in the face by an errant ball. Makes total sense.
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theipswichman added 16:17 - Mar 11 Don't think you can disagree with the reason however I can totally understand why you would be annoyed to pay an extra £110, they should have said this as soon as they were going to make the change.
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ButtyPtarmigan added 16:27 - Mar 11 Lower price only given for this season too. So just delaying an enforced £110 increase....
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Paulc added 16:32 - Mar 11 @ButtyPtarmigan by the season after next the child should be over 5 so they can move back, unless people were taking 2 year olds to PR this season? I'm all for hooking them young but i'd question why you'd take a 2 year old in the first place.
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naa added 16:32 - Mar 11 Butty: that's true. But your child will be another year older by then and quite probably 5. Can't think too many people seriously bring a 3 year old to most games.
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ipswich4life added 16:36 - Mar 11 With our style of football wouldn't the lower tiers be the safest place?
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ButtyPtarmigan added 16:38 - Mar 11 Changes are making upto 9 people move in some cases from seats they've had for a long while. No guarantee they will be able to move back and why should they get worse seats? Age restriction at 5 seems too high. Maybe 3?
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alfromcol added 16:40 - Mar 11 Look at the numbers. Only 76 season tickets registered to under 5's and some of them aren't used. No big deal then? Not a great deal of money to keep your under 5 away from danger?
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naa added 16:41 - Mar 11

Butty: the restriction is the under 5s, i.e. 4 and below. Your suggestion of 3 means that 2 years and below are not allowed. Who on earth brings a child that young to a game?

I would say that 5 is actually pretty much the youngest you should be bringing a child to a game anyway. Any younger than that they've got no idea what's going on and get bored and end up kicking the chair in front for most of the game.

RobbieBobson added 16:49 - Mar 11 Ipswich4life - your comment made me giggle. I have 3 kids, why anyone would want to take their under 5 to a football match - and expect to see more than 2 minutes watching the game - is beyond me. Clearly I am not affected directly by this, but think its a sensible suggestion.
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bluefeast added 16:54 - Mar 11 Is Tabb under 5 , he needs to be removed from the pitch and placed in the upper section of the stand if it is the case. Hahahahahahahaha
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muhrensleftfoot added 16:55 - Mar 11 Health & Safety gone mad, but not the club's fault. Don't know how I've managed to survive until now, despite sitting on the terrace wall on the edge of the pitch at the Churchmans end as a youngster in days of old (and footballs were a lot heavier then, especially in the wet!)
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RegencyBlue added 17:03 - Mar 11 "Most cases" and "next season" Sounds a bit disingenuous to me!
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MattBatt69 added 17:06 - Mar 11

I have only just seen this thread and emailed the club earlier. It seems ill thought out.
I have twins who will be 3 soon and was planning on season tickets for the first time next year. Not to bring them many times maybe but at £10 I don't need to bring them often and if they do get bored I haven't lost a huge amount. I have had a season ticket 25 years and have always looked forward to the Dad and kids football thing.

My main concern is not flying football's but the h and s of them and other fans when we are getting up and down the stairs to the upper co op before/after the match with lots of other people! I asked them if they would offer £10 seats in the upper Sir Alf where we could use the lifts and was told nope. I would have to pay the full child rate. A lot more expensive for me with twins and a price I am not prepared to pay.

naa added 17:10 - Mar 11 MattBatt: I assure you, 3 is way too young. I know you're keen to take your kids to the football but really, don't bother just yet. At least not with a season ticket. Regardless, why not just take them to the £1 kids games, of which there are 2 or 3 a season? They can sit anywhere then.
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sotd78 added 17:17 - Mar 11 This does not resolve the question raised where whole families have grown up together seated as best possible close together in the Lower tiers of the stadium. If "safety" really is the issue then this is "at owner's risk" and should be made plain at point of sale. Or is this another "litter problem"? It affects the families associated to the 76 youngsters.
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naa added 17:21 - Mar 11

sotd78: what do you mean? This only affects under 5s. What's that got to do with whole families growing up in the same place? I'd argue that under 5s are too young to have any idea what's happening anyway.

I agree however that the stance taken by pretty much all businesses these days is to stop something rather than saying "You can if you like, but we won't take responsibility if anything happens" and it is a bit of a cop out.

MattBatt69 added 17:25 - Mar 11 Naa. Definitely take your point but would rather pick and choose myself for a tenner. I still think asking parents with small kids to take them up and down sets of stairs with lots of people is much more of a hazard (and to more people) than a flying football.
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naa added 17:30 - Mar 11 MattBatt: fair enough. I get your point about the stairs. My lad is 7 and he still causes hold ups on the staircase which can be a problem. I still think 3 is too young though!
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sereneblue added 17:42 - Mar 11 Why doesn't the club just put a disclaimer on the ticket to cover themselves and keep the kids in the lower tier. Let's face it I would pay good money to see a kid get a ball in the face, could even be more entertaining that what is going on on the picture." happy days".
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emergencylime added 18:08 - Mar 11 Perhaps they are making it awkward so as to deter any famies from bringing U5s in, then they won't have to officially enforce a ban on U5s like Barnsley did (then undid).
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braveblue added 18:53 - Mar 11 What a load of rubbish. Stuff the fans. Increased prices after one year. Tell us how many real injuries there have been then. They just got it wrong yet again. Where is the MD and Supporters Club?
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johnwarkstache added 19:10 - Mar 11 Don't give them seats near the front. Might fall out I have a 2 1/2 year old and yes, would be waste of time taking him to watch a game at PR. I take him to non-league games where the pitch is often next to a field or something and he just kicks a ball about in there
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