Town are providing 1,000 free tickets to nurses and other NHS staff at Ipswich Hospital for the season opener against Birmingham City at Portman Road a week on Saturday.

In addition to those tickets, which will be in the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, the hospital will be represented in the directors’ box as VIP guests, while the first community champion of the new season will be a member of staff who goes above and beyond their daily role in order to help the community. ""

Town will also be paying tribute to the work of the fire, ambulance and police services at the game against Fulham on Saturday 26th August, which will be labelled 999 Day, where they will similarly be handed free tickets, be represented in the boardroom and as community champions.

“It’s been a challenging year for the emergency services in this country, with the terrorist attacks in Manchester and London as well as the Grenfell Tower fire,” MD Ian Milne told the club website. This is our small way of showing support for the fantastic work they all do.

“The club has a close relationship with Ipswich Hospital, using their expertise for our players and the opposition on occasions when injured and we look forward to welcoming the nurses and other staff against Birmingham next week and the fire, ambulance and police services at Fulham.”

""Milne was joined by midfielder Luke Hyam, who was born at Ipswich Hospital, as he handed over the tickets.

Photos: ITFC

CanadianBlue added 20:43 - Jul 28 Excellent initiative. It'll be well received by all those invited. Hopefully there's similar events as Town continued their community outreach.
10

jas0999 added 20:48 - Jul 28 Don't get me wrong, this is a very good thing. BUT can't help asking whether we would have done this if season ticket sales had not been so poor? Let's give the benefit of the doubt ... good stuff.
9

upthewallpaul added 20:50 - Jul 28 Haven't nurses got it bad enough right now?
4

Sporall added 20:54 - Jul 28 Who's the lovely lass on the left? 😉
3

Michael11 added 20:54 - Jul 28 Great stuff. Starting to feel like we're getting our identity as a family/community club. Keep up the good work ITFC & Ipswich hospital.
9

blueboy1981 added 21:34 - Jul 28 Credit where it's due - great gesture by the Club.
8

BlueMachines added 21:40 - Jul 28 Great gesture. Will also help mask the low crowd and get those all important figures up!! I know it's cynical but that's how the club leaves fans feeling these days.
1

Kesgraveblue57 added 21:49 - Jul 28 Unfortunately a desperate way of putting bums on seats
-5

ITFCGloryDays added 22:14 - Jul 28 Have to agree with jas0999. Good initiative. But would such a gesture have happened had season ticket sales been better. The cynic might think it's one way of filling seats up.
2

Mark added 22:53 - Jul 28 A good idea, and I think the club should roll out giveaways this season. Empty seats are a total waste, so fill them up and help us get an atmosphere. Do the same for West Suffolk Hospital, other NHS staff, care workers, police, firefighters, council staff, schools (teachers, pupils, parents)...do a giveaway every match. Those people might come back IF they enjoy what they see, so that means positive football please Mick McCarthy and that means investment in a new striker Marcus Evans.

7

lightingblue added 23:14 - Jul 28 I think this is a great idea. Let's get the police, fire service and nhs involved with some kind of promotional deals. This could include the surrounding military personnel in places such as colchester along with schools and football/ social clubs etc. As far as I'm aware business is about building relationships. Personally the club has become detached from its bread and butter. We are not and probably never will be something like a Chelsea or Man Utd. Evans and Milne have to understand that at present, that from Ipswich to Stratford to watch premier league football is not that far. We have to do something different to attract fans. They are on good money. It's about time they re-think their strategy and business plan to bridge the gap,to West Ham. We've done it before so why not do it again.

3

lightingblue added 23:23 - Jul 28 It's all about being different to the others. What makes Richard Branson different. Why have Ryanair' been successful in low fares airlines. What made ray orouke one of the biggest construction companies, why is Norman foster the best architect, what did Alan sugar do from an inner city up bringing to be where he is. The point of the matter is, what can Ipswich do differently to everyone else to strive to be the best. Why can't we do it. There are many many options and opportunities out there for the club to re ammerge

2

hollywoodginge added 00:29 - Jul 29 Excellent news this, this country is treated by NHS staff that always get hammered, protected by police who are hated, and served by fire brigade who are under valued. These people earn a pittance to do the job they have to, so those that can't DONT have to! They get NO Xmas bonus or meal at the end of the year, no summer ball, nothing! Yet they do not moan! None of them do their job to get rich, else they would do something a darn sight easier!!. So just little things like this are huge and should not be without due credit!! And should be applauded! Well done ITFC 👍

5

muccletonjoe added 07:52 - Jul 29 I dont think there is any need to be cynical about this. The attendance next saturday will be 16k + in any case.
2

blues1 added 07:53 - Jul 29 Sorry Jas0999 Kesgraveblue and all others being cynical about this, but does it really matter why they're doing this. The fact is that the club are making a great gesture and doing something that many have said should have been done in previous years (giving free tickets to get bums on seats). Simply the club should be applauded for this but guess ur unable to do so without making critical comments.

2

Marcus added 08:08 - Jul 29 >> Sporall: Who's the lovely lass on the left? I believe it's Ian Milne ;) **gets coat**
3

carlisleaway added 09:06 - Jul 29 We may have loads of space available, but that is a very good PR stunt by the club and for a well deserved cause.
3

Superblue95 added 09:12 - Jul 29 Hyam being there is hardly a big deal. He's so crocked he probably never leaves the place 😂
2

BlueArrow added 09:32 - Jul 29 @lightingblue. If the powers that be hadn't changed the criteria for the 60 to 65's ie making them pay full price they would have had more bums on seats. The reason they did this apparently was to bring us in line with other championship clubs... So there goes your theory.
3

jalapenosteve added 13:34 - Jul 29 Excellent initiative. A great PR gesture - let's hope it's the start of a new era, where the club recognises the importance of the fans.
5

essextractorboy93 added 14:17 - Jul 29 Great gesture by the club. Agree with others about doing this more often!
2

nineteenseventyeight added 14:43 - Jul 29 Evans will be reselling the tickets on the black market. wink wink
2

bluelady added 17:53 - Jul 29 To be fair whilst I agree it's a lovely jesture - will they really want to come
0

peteswindon added 19:14 - Jul 29 I would love to see more incentives like bring a kid for a quid Free to tickets to charity organisations. NHS Emergency services. Helps fill the ground lets face it we have 10-15k empty seats every home ground. Get the atmosphere back up it will make the players play. So win win all around.
1

runningout added 19:50 - Jul 29 Not sure we'll be able to give them away with performances of late
1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls