Ipswich Town 1st, the independent Supporters Trust, has hit out at the Blues’ recently released 2017/18 season ticket prices.

While praising the introduction of the new under-23s season ticket, the Trust says that positive development is “lost in the detail of the overall price rise for all other season ticket holders”.

In particular Ipswich Town 1st is unhappy that the under-11s season ticket which has cost £10 for the previous nine seasons has been replaced with an under-12s ticket costing an initial £50 but with a rebate of £2 which can be spent at Planet Blue for every game a child attends, the club citing abuse - seats being purchased and not used except when upgraded to adult tickets for big games or just for additional space - as the reason behind the change.

“We believe that the increase of price for U11s from £10 to £50 is a very poor move for a season ticket campaign which claims to focus on the next generation — especially when as part of the 2016/17 season ticket launch these £10 tickets were billed as the key highlight,” the statement continues.

“What has changed in a year to justify this 400% increase? Some of the language used with regards to fans ‘abusing’ these tickets is insulting to season ticket holders and the club does not appear to understand that a season ticket for an under-11 is the gateway to supporting ITFC and, at a time when there are 15,000 empty seats on a regular basis, these fans are the future and need to be enticed to the club, not have unnecessary barriers put in their way.

“Punishing all under-11s for the alleged behaviour of a few seems at odds with the message of ‘One Of Our Own’ and the headline when the season tickets were announced on the official website of ‘Town Target Young Blues’.”

Ipswich Town 1st, which was set up during the club’s period in administration in 2003, is also unhappy with the manner in which the club is switching the age at which fans are entitled to a senior citizens concession from 60 to 65.

Fans who were previously entitled to concessions but will be 64 or younger on Thursday 10th August will have to switch to an adult ticket but with increased price of their seat subsidised by 50 per cent for the season ahead.

“We understand the club’s reasoning for this, but feel that the transition could have been managed far better — and that nobody over 60 should be paying significantly more for their season ticket next season. Anything that has the effect of turning long-term fans away from the club cannot be right.”

The Trust says mature students have been overlooked with the under-23s ticket replacing the previous student prices.

“In a town with a new university which has a large percentage of mature students their concession rate has been lost.

“As attendances dwindle the club needs to ensure that we are in a position to attract new fans, which includes mature students at the university.

"This change in policy again adversely affects current season ticket holders who in many cases will not be able to afford to renew.”

Reflecting on adult prices for the season ahead, the statement adds: “The overall price increase of 1.5 per cent seems to be an unwise decision when a number of season ticket holders are currently not attending due to the poor season on the pitch, and many more are in two minds about renewing.

“The club must be well aware of this as it has been from the reaction voiced on all forms of social media since the new prices were announced.

“Other clubs in the Championship are keeping season ticket prices at lower levels than ours, and there is even the example of Huddersfield who are offering adult season tickets for £199 next season across the whole ground when they currently sit third in the table.

“We urge the club to reconsider the changes to the under-11 season ticket, the transition for those aged between 60 and 65 and the case for mature students to ensure that no season ticket holders will be paying significantly more than they are this season if they renew.

“This is an opportunity for ITFC to show that they really believe all fans are valued as ‘One Of Their Own’, and not just those aged between 12 and 23.”

The full statement can be found on Ipswich 1st’s website here.

Photo: Action Images

Westy added 11:42 - Mar 30 A target of 12,750 Season Tickets! No way will the Club sell that many. Perhaps they know that and have set the target as such so they will not have to give refunds. I can see the most they sell as 10,000 which would equate to crowds of 12,000 next season assuming we stay in the Championship which is by no means guaranteed. In recent years the Club have alienated many long-standing loyal supporters by their pricing policy. Tickets were already too expensive and the pricing policy generally too complicated. Rule No.1 - 'keep it simple'. Say, for adults £25 per ticket irrespective of seat - first come first served, with appropriate confessions for younger and older people. The Club are in for a shock when they learn of how few have renewed. Invariably the Early Bird deadline is extended but this Season needs to be extended until we know what division we will be playing in and who the manager will be. I welcome the Supporters' Club involvement but a pity they weren't able to influence the prices before publication.

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Ferguson added 12:27 - Mar 30 You want Season Ticket ? I know this bloke in Brazil......only five grand ! Only Joking. Honestly.
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superblues9 added 14:55 - Mar 30 I agree that the kids tickets get bought and upgraded to adults by a lot of people I know people who do it but does it really matter ? Fact is the ground never sells out so why can't these people do this ? If it was stopping people from getting. Tickets then I could understand stopping them but the ground never sells out so why not let these people do it ? End of the day the clubs lucky who ever buys a season ticket as I wouldn't disagree with anyone who didn't bother anymore with one the club should count themselves lucky at every single one they sell whether it's child adult or whatever when the club starts selling out Portman road week in week out then yes maybe it does need changing but I. Can't see that happening

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Wickets added 15:14 - Mar 30 Yes superblues9 i cannot see why this is such a big problem? Mayby someone can explain!
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happybeingblue added 17:16 - Mar 30 once Evans and his cronies started the idea of a new strip every year , that was a real sign to me what he was all about, he doesnt give a flying f--k about itfc fans , its all about the money.this season tkt campaign is diabolical, after the season we have had. Heads up arses spring to mind!
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Seasider added 17:30 - Mar 30 As Mark says,well done the Trust.I joined several years ago at their inception because I felt the supporters club was just another department of the club,as all season ticket holders are members.. Tractor Roy agree.The ITFC supporters club is just a glorified social club and fundraiser for Mr Evans.How can it be anything else with its chairperson Liz Edwards on the board.I have heard her husband Tim make the odd criticism;but Liz never.Having said that she does a very good job on the social side,and devotes a lot of unpaid time to ITFC;but does she pass on the current views of many of her members I wonder about their concerns Muccletonjoe says our owner is out of touch;but I would agree with rubbleblue that he doesn't care;and as Chairman he never attends a meeting AGM or otherwise,and hasn't even bothered to write to season ticket holders in the renewal 'bumf'! Rubbleblue also makes a good point about building land.I presume he is referring to the training ground,which I think Evans owns;and is right on the Northern edge of Ipswich where development has recently been mooted. Somebody also mentioned 'honesty'.Well don't think you will get that from this absentee owner,as he is basically a glorified ticket tout;who has managed to upset the Tennis,Rugby,Athletic and Olympic Associations,and now the ITFC supporters,with his refusal to budge on this issue!

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warwickblue added 17:35 - Mar 30 58 years old this year - season ticket since 1968, retiring this year. Massive drop in income. No concession to look forward to for years. ITFC? Do one!
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ChestnutSe added 17:37 - Mar 30 The problem is that Marcus's companies don't appear to have any experience in dealing with a consumer business. All their business is B2B so they don't have a clue how to price to sell to consumers. sadly it shows. I agree with the poster who says "so what" about people reserving seats for a £10. £10 is better than nothing and invariably its reserved so they can take along a friend, relative or neighbour who probably can only go infrequently. Now it means those seats won't get upgraded and the supporter can't enjoy the game with friends etc, giving him less reason to renew himself. As regards the age move for seniors I can understand the motive but believe its been really badly handled. As a suggestion why not switch to a system that rewards loyalty rather than age. how about a 1% discount for every year you have continuously had your season ticket? So if you have been a season ticket holder for 30 years you get a 30% discount off the headline price, irrespective of your age. Such a policy would make people think twice about jacking in their ticket because they would lose all that built up loyalty discount. You could have a 5 year qualifying period so the minimum discount is 5% after 5 years i.e. no discount for the first 5 seasons (irrespective of age) Come on Marcus, its not rocket science.

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