Hull Match Off
Friday, 2nd Mar 2018 10:58

Town have confirmed that Saturday's home game against Hull City has been postponed for safety reasons.

The pitch is expected to be playable but areas inside and around the ground are dangerous with further bad weather forecast for later today and freezing temperatures continuing at the weekend. The game will now be played on Tuesday 13th March (KO 7.45pm).

Speaking yesterday before the final decision to postpone was made at a meeting this morning, the club's stadium manager Greg Pillinger outlined the concerns.

""“The safety of the supporters is priority and if we can’t guarantee that with the conditions, then the game can’t go ahead," he told the club site

“All the concourses and seating need to be safe for the public to view the match along with the perimeter of the stadium and routes to and from bus stops, car parks and the railway station. This has involved consultation with the local authorities.

TICKETS: Supporters who purchased a match ticket for Saturday can use that ticket for the rearranged fixture.

Those who purchased a ticket but are unable to make the new date can get a refund providing they request a cancellation before the match on 13th March kicks off. #itfc– Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) March 2, 2018

“Likewise the police and the Highways Authority have been consulted for their views on the major road networks leading to and from Portman Road.

“Importantly, our own matchday staff, both stewards, catering and corporate, all need to be able to get to the stadium safely and in the correct numbers, in particular the stewards to ensure we meet the minimum numbers to adhere to the Safety Certificate."" So, there is much more to it than getting the pitch playable.”

Manager Mick McCarthy's scheduled pre-match press conference will now not be taking place at 1pm.

Saturday's U18s and U16s matches at Bristol City have also been postponed, while all academy PDP trials and training sessions were also victims of the weather and have been rescheduled for next week.

'The safety of fans is our priority' says Club Secretary Stuart Hayton @Official_ITFC after the club postpone their game this weekend. Groundsmen are working hard to clear the snow. pic.twitter.com/VbCMIygbBH– BBC Look East (@BBCLookEast) March 2, 2018

Tonight's Ex-Players' Association Hall of Fame Dinner has also been postponed and rearranged for Friday 4th May, while Tuesday's Legends of Darts event was called off and will now take place on Wednesday 18th April.

Portman Road's last postponed first team fixture was the game against Watford on Boxing Day 2010 which was surprisingly called off 90 minutes before kick-off due to a frozen area of the pitch.

The Middlesbrough match in February 2012 was abandoned after 37 minutes with the score 0-0 as sections of the pitch had become frozen.

Photos: ITFC

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TJS added 12:40 - Mar 2 Will be Tuesday 17th or 24th April now I would imagine.
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terryf added 12:41 - Mar 2 Totally the right decision. Parking and watching the match in sub zero temperatures would not have been pleasant. Plus if the game had of been on those present would probably have been part of the lowest league attendance for over 20 years. Much better to re-arrange for April.
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pragmatic added 12:41 - Mar 2 What posters on here agreeing with a decision the club has made!!!!!
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black_shuck added 12:51 - Mar 2 You should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so.
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Paulc added 12:59 - Mar 2 I love the fact that so many have turned on Cornish Mick's post and assumed he was serious. The stupidity of some people on here baffles me!
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blue75 added 13:25 - Mar 2 It's good they've made an early decision so not to mess people about!! But I'm very surprised that today they've continued with the blood donor thing if it's so dangerous down there!!
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blueboy1981 added 13:41 - Mar 2 pragmatic ....... pathetic post, uncalled for.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:51 - Mar 2 Originally planning to come over for this match. Changed to Villa instead. Looks as if I made the right decision. (OK, I wait for some of you to tell me I shouldn't bother at all, but sorry, the call of the Town is too great.)
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bluebare added 14:00 - Mar 2 saves me a minimum 5hr trip each way. so those who purchased tickets can get a full refund if cant get to rescheduled game. so can I get a refund as I cant get to mid week games as have a season ticket.
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Toepunt added 14:29 - Mar 2 Does that mean Harry won't be posting his excellent pre-match write up? B0ll0cks, that means I'm going to have to do work now!
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BluePatriot added 14:29 - Mar 2 The Beast from the East won this encounter
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MickMillsTash added 14:40 - Mar 2 Well done Town- common sense prevails I had a 3 1/2 hour journey (and 3 1/2 hr back) to both the previous called off games and remembering being pretty annoyed when the matches did not go ahead. March 13th sounds like short notice - it takes 10 days to organise a cup replay - a warmer night in mid April might be nicer.
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shakytown added 14:48 - Mar 2 swn98. How far up Mick are you??????
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carlisleaway added 15:04 - Mar 2 April would make more sense
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rabbit added 15:05 - Mar 2 Great posts Cornishnick and Pragmatic some very humourless posters but for those who a bit of banter went down wellðŸ˜€
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1RWR added 15:12 - Mar 2 Play it next season, we'll both still be in the Championship. Means one less hoof game to watch!
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karls_dad added 15:15 - Mar 2

Lets just think about this for a moment? the groundstaff erect a tent over the pitch and all week have had electric heaters blowing hot air into said tent! i,m pretty sure that was not cheap!! i,m glad i,m not picking that bill up!
The pavements in and around the ground have snow on them!? now there is a surprise!!just how much is a wagon of road salt and a coupleof guys with a shovel each,
Which of the two is greater?
When will common sense prevail at ITFC? to quote our man MM "Totally Bonkers"

philwhelansdegree added 15:25 - Mar 2

Karls dad. It's not just the pavements around the ground. It's the transport network. Do u expect ME to pay for every road between here and Hull to be cleared? I live in Lowestoft and wasn't looking forward to the journey down the A12, so god knows how the Hull supporters were thinking.
For once, the club make a sensible decision in good time to avoid any wasted journeys, but there are still some smart alecs who will look to knock everything the club does even when they get it right

1RWR added 16:00 - Mar 2

Karls_dad has a point to be fair.
Please take this with a little 'tongue in cheek', I really don't have a problem with the game being called off, & perhaps it is the the best thing to do.......but.......we have two separate identities here. ITFC-v-Local Council. One has pulled it's finger out & got the stadium reasonably ready for a game [fair play to all concerned], the other 'our council' cannot, for whatever reason, grit a few carparks [which I assume they have to by law because they are charging] & three or four pavements surrounding the ground......how difficult is that?
If the game is off because of a frozen pitch, I fully understand. If a blizzard & minus 10 are imminent, again I fully understand. But a few paths & roads? C'mon give me a break!

Apologies for 'bashing the local council' but to be fair, they are fair game!
As a final ps I'll be more than happy sitting in front of the log burner come Saturday 3pm :-)

Blue_Moses added 16:10 - Mar 2

Not saying it's not a sensible decision but I work in the old Willis building next door and have had no issues driving to work or walking around the immediate area this week. Certainly nothing on the roads and paths now and the snow forecast for today hasn't arrived. I get guess for the home fans who live outside of Ipswich it's journey tjeu would rather not make and am certain away fans will agree. £25 down the drain as I can't make the rearranged fixture.

Elto added 16:26 - Mar 2 You can get a refund Blue moses.
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ChestnutSe added 16:41 - Mar 2

What a terrible state our club is in. Sad days. MM out and ME as well. Would never have happened under Bobby. Presumably this is some sort of tax fiddle by ME. Why can't the "proper blokes" clear the snow from the surrounding area. Why can't we use some of that toxic atmosphere to clear the snow and ice? Can anyone think of any other negative comments? Oh yes, the people boycotting won't have the opportunity to boycott this weekend! Sad times.......

Seasider added 16:49 - Mar 2 Call off good for my health,as we were planning a fry up at seaside café prior to travelling from Essex. Wouldn't be very pleasant in the stands if this biting Easterly continues either.
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