Town will not be playing a home friendly during their pre-season ahead of 2017/18, TWTD understands.

Traditionally the Blues have played a game against foreign opposition on the Saturday prior to a season’s start with Belgian visitors Royale Union Saint-Gilloise winning last year’s match 2-1.

Having initially planned to do the same this summer and after holding preliminary discussions regarding potential opposition, Town instead arranged their final friendly away against League One Charlton.

The Blues visit the Valley on Saturday 29th July with the Championship campaign starting a week later on Saturday 5th August.

Town will learn their opening day opponents and their other league fixtures when they are announced on Wednesday 21st June.

We understand the Blues have been keen to get their pre-season programme set in stone early this summer with no further senior friendlies still to be announced. The full list, including some of the U23s games, available here.

As has been the case in previous summers, the squad, which is due back from their close season break on Monday 26th June, will spend a week at the Carton House Hotel in Co Kildare prior to an Ireland-based friendly, this year at Drogheda on Saturday 8th July.

The lack of a late July home friendly will be good news for Town’s groundsmen as it will give them further time to work on the pitch following the Elton John concert on Saturday 17th June.

The Portman Road surface, which showed significant signs of wear and tear in the latter half of the season, is being renovated, as has been the case in previous summers.

Meanwhile, Town sources have again dismissed reports from the North-East claiming that the club received an additional £1 million for Daryl Murphy following Newcastle’s promotion to the Premier League.

The Blues previously rejected the claims when they first appeared in August shortly after the Irish international joined the Magpies for £3 million.

Photo: TWTD

TR11BLU added 14:49 - May 25 Is the dinosaur still here...
3

Suffolk_n_Good added 15:36 - May 25 Pathetic..... I would think Elton will be delighted to know he his the highlight of our home fixtures!!?? Jas you yet again sum up my thoughts perfectly
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12th_Man added 15:36 - May 25 This club is a joke get the f*** out of our club Evans 😠😠😠😠😠ðŸ˜
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RegencyBlue added 16:38 - May 25 One assumes we would have to pick up the oppositions expenses at the very least if a friendly took place? Don't think I need three guesses to work out why there will be no home friendly this year then. To say this club is Mickey Mouse at the moment is an insult to Disney!
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happybeingblue added 17:21 - May 25 no one wants to play a team that put 10 men behind the ball...... meanwhile up the rd they have just employed a forward thinking coach who wants to dominate possession whereas we are happy to let the other team have possession... roll on the end of next season and we may get OUR ITFC BACK
4

EatonBlue added 17:56 - May 25 I have a plan. Time-travel back to the 1960's and have a public trial match Blues v Reds with free entry.
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Cloddyseedbed added 17:59 - May 25 The truth of the matter is probably that it cost too much to open the ground up in wages, insurances, etc. Owner treating the fans and ITFC with contempt. Everything next season will be the same as this season was as owner and manager will not change their direction. FA cup games will be treated with the same contempt towards the fans also. You just wait and see if I'm right. We sold Murphy for 3 million with an add on bonus of 1 million and we are offering £500,000 for a replacement, give me strength!

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MicksZzzTactics added 18:11 - May 25 @happybeingblue & also just EVERYONE inherently in the 'Anti-Regime' camp! Regarding that super delightful spot-on "no one wants to play a team that put 10 men behind the ball" ( + "roll on the end of next season and we may get OUR ITFC back") ..... As I reported earlier elsewhere on TWTD a local Facebook site called 'The Blue Monday Podcast' -- which is a 1hr of Ipswich Town chat available every Monday presented by Benjamin Bloom and David Dymond that "Make your Monday a Blue Monday" -- have posted this here truly **FABULOUS** video clip of musician Mr. Bloom I presume driving in his car and while apparently listening to a classic golden hit on the car-radio suddenly starts to sing along with his own purely ITFC & Dino McCarthy related replaced version of lyrics & chorus: UP IN THE AIR NOT ON THE FLOOR, EVERYBODY DO 'THE DINOSAUR' KEEPING IT TIGHT BUT WE MIGHT NOT SCORE, EVERYBODY DO 'THE DINOSAUR' 10 AT THE BACK AND SHUT THAT DOOR, EVERYBODY DO 'THE DINOSAUR' PINNING YOUR HOPES ON KIEFFER MOORE, EVERYBODY DO 'THE DINOSAUR' (Which another local based Facebook group 'Marcus Evans Out of Ipswich Town FC' very rightly thinks is the quote "Perfect team chant ready for next season! An one that fans can get going during the 0-0's for a bit of off field entertainment" lol) For those that are "Anti-Zuckerberg" for various imho GOOD reasons! and thus simply do not have any Facebook account .... Well I guess you will have to settle for my Zzz reciting above :-), but otherwise for those still on FB here is the direct link: PS: Please remember to check if the speaker icon is turned ON in the video itself as it might be set to OFF initially!

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happybeingblue added 18:38 - May 25 that is hilarious made me chuckle somewhat :)
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Europablue added 18:46 - May 25 Isn't it Inter Milan, not Lazio that owe a match?
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Europablue added 19:04 - May 25 I'm getting mixed up. We beat Inter in the UEFA Cup, and sold Serini to Lazio.
0

Tufty added 19:32 - May 25 Why all the moaning most wouldn't go anyway The rest just saved a tenner
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Seasider added 19:56 - May 25 Like Pilgrim & Howdon Blues and Suffolk n Good,agree that JAS once again has summed up situation perfectly. Perhaps the friendly is being saved for the new Manager lol
0

brittaniaman added 20:40 - May 25 Just been reading the managerial merry go round in the green-un I got dizzy reading it,, but it did say that Dino is staying at PR. He has obviously talked Evans round to let him stay, and Blow the fans, they are only customers who will have to put up with Dinos selection ,tactics and boring so called football !!!! Evans change the manager and see how the Season Tickets will rise dramatically nearly 5yrs of this current manager is far to long

2

Pip50 added 20:47 - May 25 Silvia, Monk come on Mick time to fall on your sword!
3

runningout added 20:49 - May 25 Lazio has been binned I believe, due to lack of interest from them. Probably similar view from other clubs, as don't want their fans watching usual dull display from us
2

stonojnr added 20:50 - May 25 Phil, theyd know exactly what last seasons friendly cost, it will be broadly in line with those numbers, they had 3713 people turn up, they charged £10 a ticket...I can guarantee it costs more than 40k to open the stadium up for that kind of game even if you close half the stands.
0

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 20:53 - May 25 Well, at least McCarthy will be able to brag about a flawless home record leading into the season.
1

itfchorry added 20:56 - May 25 Won't get a pre-season friendly unless it's 10 minutes from McCarthy's home - Please leave - Evans McCarthy Milne Liz Edwards
3

dirtydingusmagee added 21:50 - May 25 everything about ITFC is a crock of sh#t under present regime, they show NOTHING but contempt for the supporters, they have suffocated the Suffolk Punch. I just hope and pray that the fans don't just settle for it, and come start of season STAY AWAY . If you need to watch a game go elsewhere ,let the season kick off with empty seats , let them know WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH, and CANT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED REARDLESS OF THE CRAP WE ARE GETTING SERVED UP. ..

3

Suffolk_n_Good added 22:50 - May 25 1. Have previously attended pre season home friendly at PR Haven't for the last two seasons. 2. Have previously pre ordered the new shirt Haven't bought a new shirt for 3 seasons 3. Our family of 4 have all previously held season tickets Now none of us do, I only attended 3 games last season 4. Have previously taken the children to the pre season open day to meet the squad Haven't been for 3 seasons 5. My sons bedroom was a shrine to ITFC for the last 4 years After Christmas he asked me if I could decorate his room, he didn't want an ITFC room anymore, when I asked why, he said "Just fed up with them" My point is, after 16 years of Championship football that hasn't delivered, you can't keep expecting people to cough up for sub standard entertainment, none of us would keep going back to a restaurant that served sub standard food, but we're expected to keep paying & attending by those in charge at ITFC, to be honest my interest is dwindling by the week, sad times....

5

blues1 added 00:25 - May 26 For heaven's sake guys. It's not the 1st time weve had no home friendly. And the reason we haven't this year is simple. Due to the Elton John hug, with the pitch being reseeded, the groundsman needs as long as possible to get the pitch ready for the new season.
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blues1 added 15:32 - May 26 Ah so I get downmarked for stating the facts. Oh well. Just goes to show some don't like the truth. I agree it seems odd after saying we'd get a free ticket for a home friendly. But it did say if there was one. Was not guaranteed. And the groundsman requested we didn't. But guess it just another chance for some people to slag off the club. Why let facts get in the way.
1

Razor added 17:24 - May 26 This is so so sad and a terrible reflection on the club and the way it is run. The home friendly gives fans a chance to look at the new signings (!?) in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere---that is now being denied us. And what about pre-season----is MM on a promise in Ireland or something? Most fans I know would love a Belgium or Dutch for example, or even Scotland for heavens sake------this club frustrates the life out of me just now---Evans is just like a bad disease that wont go away and is gradually killing the patient.

2

Bluetone added 18:42 - May 26 This always was our club, our team and as such had a proud record and reputation Now it is an Evans business asset and a McCarthy bragging project. As far as I am concerned they can stick it where the sun don't shine. Now just go so we can start restoring our club's tarnished record before it is too late.
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