Town and the EFL are urging fans to stay off the pitch at the end of Saturday’s final home League One game of the season against Exeter City.

The Blues could confirm promotion to the Championship after four years away by beating the Grecians in front of a sell-out home crowd, but the club and EFL are stressing the importance that any celebrations are kept to the stands. Any supporter who enters the pitch could face a ban or police action.

“Everyone surrounding the club knows how much it would mean to supporters should the team get promoted,” Neil McCluskey, Town’s matchday safety officer, told the club site.

“It is of paramount importance that everyone inside Portman Road can enjoy any potential celebrations safely, which will only be possible if supporters remain in the stands.

“Recently, Burnley and Sheffield United have gained promotion to the Premier League, with no pitch invasions or encroachments allowing their respective supporters to share in that moment with their players and coaching staff.

“Similarly, I hope our potentially significant day will not be marred by safety issues or negative stories.

“This will allow our players to take part in the planned lap of appreciation, and also ensure any potential celebrations can take place uninterrupted.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Razor added 11:01 - Apr 28 I am not sure whether Ashton really knows the Town fans----there is a lopt of hurt and emotion tied up in this game and there is no way of guaranteeing what will happen when the final whistle is blown. I hope he has had a word with the police and the stewards (many of who like to get involved cos they have an orange coat on) to instruct them to lay off if the banks burst and people get on the pitch-----it is being dug up anyway!!!!

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:17 - Apr 28 I expect it is just me but The Club have been brilliant in every way this season, they ask us, the Fans to oblige them by staying off the pitch and the response of some is "stuff you I am going to do what I want cos I know better." I struggle with that. Its the Clubs property, they carry all of the risk, they have to clean up any mess or problems, they may even have plans of their own. Lets just do what they ask.

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tractorboybig added 11:34 - Apr 28 tarricco fan .........you are a moron
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virginblue added 12:04 - Apr 28 Love the attitude of some idiots on here. Some people can't actually get on the pitch, and the selfish actions of those who think it is their right means they won't get to enjoy a lap of honour. The club have asked people not to do it, so it should be respected. It's really not complicated. And I'm not a bed wetting do gooder, but I'm also not a selfish prick.
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Gcon added 12:14 - Apr 28 I'm amazed people feel so strongly about this. I find it weird, frankly. Of course fans will be expressing deep joy tomorrow and if they do so by running on some grass to celebrate so be it. The pitch is being replaced, I don't anticipate any aggro, just joy. Personally, I'll be in the stands but I don't begrudge the next generation of fans, that have endured years of torrid football, having their fun.

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BlueMoolay added 12:22 - Apr 28 Who's up for creating a "fan wall" to stop the idiots invading the pitch at full time.??
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EssexTractor added 12:25 - Apr 28 What exactly is the point of going on to the pitch? To Celebrate ? Or show off, like crazy arm waving morons. The sensible supporters are there to see the Players do their Lap of a honour and be presented with Player of the Year Awards, not to see them jumped on,and mauled by the very foolish . Supporters celebrate , off course they can AFTER this , as they will when walking / dancing/ singing as they leave the ground and head for a pint or two, three cheers for that . Also It's nothing to do with “ may as well “ as pitch being dug up , it's to do with being real true supporters and letting the PLAYERS celebrate, not those who believe 20 or so many years of waiting permits nonsensical selfish behaviour . Yes we all want to leave this wretched LeagueOne , but let every supporter leave it properly. Let's hope the minority do not spoil it for the majority No one wants to hear one set of supporters booing others on what hopefully will be a wonderful Saturday.

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Bluearmy_81 added 12:27 - Apr 28 Gcon, I think for a lot of these fans, who are so vehement in their objections of what others do (I agree. I find it quite bizarre) it is about envy and jealousy. They wish deep down they weren't so conformist (possibly in life in general) and were a bit more carefree. No harm is going to come from people spending five minutes on the pitch realistically, but as I say the really strong objections of what others do is really quite telling.

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virginblue added 12:34 - Apr 28 Obviously Bluearmy - I want to be just like you and I'm so jealous 😂 I've made my point about it spoiling things for those who can't get on the pitch, but obviously as a selfish prick you've completely ignored that.
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blueboy1981 added 12:46 - Apr 28 First and Foremost - Please or Offend - the Game v Exeter HAS to be WON. There is no such thing as a foregone conclusion result in League 1 - so let's WIN it first. Then, if we WIN it - STAY OFF THE PITCH - this is a CLUB REQUEST for sensible and logical reason. RESPECT THE INSTRUCTIONS OF OUR CLUB. Hissy Fits will no doubt mark me down, and completely ignore - but they are not REAL SUPPORTERS !

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blueboy1981 added 12:51 - Apr 28 Morons Self Identifying as always - and we have some !!
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BlueMoolay added 12:52 - Apr 28 Bluearmy and all others saying no problem going on the pitch.....The club, management, staff, players and officials have requested that fans stay off the pitch. What more is there to say.?? I think this is the least we can do to say thank you for an absolutely amazing season all at ITFC and let the players and staff enjoy a lap of honour without having to run for cover to avoid dick heads.

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ImAbeliever added 13:13 - Apr 28 The crux is ‘the club has requested'. Respect it.
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tempzzzz added 13:38 - Apr 28 I've never experienced being able to run on the pitch and celebrate, I'd love to, I'm not worried about the "ban" or the "fine" cos it will never happen, but it sounds like some jobsworths seem to think people are going to kill players or smash stuff up and vindicate me if I did go on there. D
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tempzzzz added 13:42 - Apr 28 Do people seriously think that it will stop the lap of honour? It would be 10 minutes or so of fans celebrating with the players on the pitch and then the players would be escorted back to the dressing room, as they do before the lap of honour normally, and come back out shortly once it has been cleared. Seeing a lot of vicious comments on here labelling people as morons, and brain dead etc simply for wanting to do this. Very judgemental to assume that just because someone wants to celebrate in a certain way then they must be a thug or an idiot. Respect your fellow fans as you would like to be respected. As long as nothing does happen that shouldn't if (when) fans invade the pitch then how does it affect you? The points deduction won't happen.

2

Bluearmy_81 added 13:57 - Apr 28 Virgin 😂 you're brave behind your keyboard. If you met me face to face you wouldn't be so brave you'd sh,it your pants. I can tell from here you've got zero bottle
0

grubbyoik added 13:58 - Apr 28 We were on the pitch in 1992 and there were no issues.. i do like a home fans pitch invasion to celebrate a fantastic season.. live a little...
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Bluearmy_81 added 14:10 - Apr 28 Grubb, absolutely. Theyre snowflakes, offended by and scared of everything. I don't do things which cause harm to others but equally I don't always follow every rule in life like a good little sheep.
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virginblue added 14:42 - Apr 28 Oh grow up Bluearmy. I'd happily tell you want I think to your face. You may still hang around school playgrounds and so act like a child, but don't assume we all do. You still haven't addressed the point around selfishness, but I guess you're just not bright enough to have a proper conversation about it.
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Juggsy added 14:50 - Apr 28 Guarantee there will be plenty of self-entitled spunk trumpets who do it though.
1

50yearsablue added 14:55 - Apr 28 I'm not going to name call the ‘invaders' but I would like them to think carefully. If (and I say if) we are in the fortunate position to get promoted what would you prefer? A pitch invasion where the players sprint for the tunnel and then can only come out to share their joy 30 mins later or a fairly instant mutual sharing of success with packed stands, as at Barnsley on Wednesday. It really is not that difficult but I can see from this thread that some are hell bent on following their own agenda and not do what is best for all

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50yearsablue added 14:57 - Apr 28 Sorry Tuesday
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pensionerblue added 15:38 - Apr 28 Having read through the earlier comments I totally agree that that all our fans should comply with the club request to stay in the stands and not invade the pitch. I do not understand one comment which suggests that a pitch invasion makes it a ‘special occasion'. Another suggestion that there are ‘no safety concerns' couldn't be further from reality with past instances of players being mobbed, carried head high, pushed to the ground and attempts to remove clothing as a souvenir. Although we have had a number of barren years and on the assumption that we will at last achieve our goal surely we can all celebrate sufficiently without going on the pitch. All that said I accept that there will be an element, hopefully minor, who will prove to be nothing more than an embarrassment to the majority of fans and indeed our Club itself.

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Bluearmy_81 added 16:06 - Apr 28 Ironically, I usually find it's the people that tell people to grow up at every available opportunity that actually need to grow up themselves. You were the one that started throwing insults around like you were at school. I don't think it's a case of selfishness, I'm not really bothered whether there is a pitch invasion or not. I just think in a time where peoples freedoms and rights are being eroded it's unnecessary for fellow supporters to start acting like the football police with fellow supporters, when actually, what other people do, isn't going to affect them. You're not gonna come to any harm if there's a pitch invasion or not it's not gonna effect you one way or the other.

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BlueMoolay added 16:20 - Apr 28 Bluearmy....you really are the biggest end to any bell i've ever come across. :-)
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