Town fans are being asked to back Hammers United's Save Our Concessions protest ahead of the game between the Blues and West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday.

Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks, the club’s sole affiliate to the Football Supporters Association, is calling for Town fans to stand with their West Ham counterparts in condemning the almost total removal of concessionary tickets across the London Stadium this season.

In April, West Ham announced price rises for all season tickets and the withdrawal of concessions (under-21, under-18 and over-66, including all disabled fans) for new season tickets for the 2024/25 season.

Price rises and the withdrawal of concessions across the board were subsequently extended to matchday tickets with all fans forced to pay significantly more with the youngest, oldest and disabled supporters hit most significantly.

Following a previous event in conjunction with Liverpool and Everton supporters, a protest is being held ahead of Saturday’s match with a banner set to be unfurled outside the National Aquatics Centre, just down from Westfield Shopping Centre on the bridge to the London Stadium, at 1.30pm, where fans will be gathering with their message ‘Stop exploiting loyalty’.

Elijah Aldridge, co-founder of Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks, is inviting travelling Blues supporters to join the protest: “Ipswich Town fans swallowed an eight per cent increase in season ticket prices with individual games up a massive 26 per cent on 2023/24.

“Whilst this was softened by promotion, we all have a duty to protect the next generation of fans and to prevent the loyalty of so-called legacy fans from being exploited.

“We hope that Town fans will stand in solidarity with the West Ham supporters fighting for their children, parents and selves.”

Paul Colborne, chair of Hammers United, added: “Football fans have always been the heart of the game, but our loyalty is being increasingly disregarded in favour of pure profit.

“Ipswich supporters are joining us in our fight for the rights of seniors, youths and disabled people, all of whom deserve respect and fair ticket pricing.

“This isn't just about money; it's about preserving the essence of football for future generations.”

For those unable to join the protest on matchday, a petition against the changes has already received the support of almost 20,000 people from across the footballing community.

Photo: James Nalton / X @JDNalton

BanksterDebtSlave added 17:24 - Oct 1 Shameful.
4

Chris_ITFC added 17:32 - Oct 1 Blatant and abysmal exploitation from West Ham. However, I see no need for the quoted comments conflating the issue with Ipswich’s price rises this season, which the majority agreed were quite legitimate in the context of our movements in prices and divisions over recent years. West Ham’s actions are very specific and different.
25

baxterbasics added 17:32 - Oct 1 Pretty disgusting. You know once one club gets away with it, the rest will follow.
8

Jugsy added 17:44 - Oct 1 Agree with @Chris_ITFC on this. Whilst it's awful what West Ham are doing, this shouldn't be conflated with our own ticket pricing policies. Very little ill will from our fans about it, understanding the increase costs of stepping up to the Prem
6

IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:47 - Oct 1 I am sad and surprised it is West Ham who have done this. They were such a community club in the day, very rooted and a club whole families watched over generations.
10

Europablue added 17:51 - Oct 1 Scummy practice. Clubs are supposed to be for the community. We respect OAPs by giving them a little discount and help out families to bring children to matches then they grow up and pay full price. If our club did this I'd me too ashamed. I'd encourage all to boycott replica kits and general merchandise too.
14

Mark added 17:52 - Oct 1 Good on them for protesting. The Premier League is awash with cash, with players paid obscene amounts of money, yet fans are charged higher ticket prices and bombarded with more and more advertising. I read Villa are charging £80 for Champions' League tickets. Ipswich's prices are fair in my view, at the moment at least.
18

Steelmonkey added 18:09 - Oct 1 I lost my concession ticket when Town scrapped it for under 65’s it used to be for over 60’s. I thought it a bit unfair to penalise those that were already receiving it.
9

Churchman added 18:37 - Oct 1 I think the point West Ham supporters are making is fair. I get that everything about the PL is expensive, but that is partly due to the choices clubs make. wHU was always a locality, family orientated club. It seems with the loss of the Boleyn Stadium and they way things are exploitation is the name of the game. There should be concessions to certain sections of the supporter base, especially children, and clubs should be endeavouring to include as wider span of supporters as possible, not just try and rinse those with the most money. Why? Because that’s their past, present and future. It’s not as if they cannot afford to do it, given the top of the game is awash with money.

4

Saxonblue74 added 18:39 - Oct 1 I find this a bit of a difficult situation. I'm not sure how affordability has a direct link to age? I know many U21's with lots of disposable income and many very wealthy pensioners. I also know many 30 or 40 somethings with big mortgages and families to support who are genuinely struggling.
1

Saxonblue74 added 18:39 - Oct 1 I find this a bit of a difficult situation. I'm not sure how affordability has a direct link to age? I know many U21's with lots of disposable income and many very wealthy pensioners. I also know many 30 or 40 somethings with big mortgages and families to support who are genuinely struggling.
3

billyrobinson3 added 18:50 - Oct 1 I would hope Ipswich Town would not follow West Ham with this. I believe loyalty should be rewarded, I will be 77 years old before next season starts. I first went to Portman Road in the 1950s in Division 3 South days, still a season ticket holder. Almost 70 years a supporter of our great club.
13

jollyroger added 19:25 - Oct 1 What would Alf Garnett say
4

Kickingblock added 19:43 - Oct 1 That's too harsh on the disabled supporters. Getting priced out of something they look forward to. As if life isn't tough enough for them. Ask whoever made this decision to "walk a mile in their shoes" utterly shameful.
13

Carberry added 20:12 - Oct 1 West Ham have the 2nd highest home attendances after Man Utd so there is no excuse to do this. We, as taxpayers, are already subsidising the club after they pulled the wool over the London Legacy Development Corporation and got a ridicously cheap deal for the stadium. They are truly having it away.
10

Edmundo added 20:28 - Oct 1 Morally corrupt owners. Not content with taking money from gambling firms, that exploit the vulnerable, now they too want to exploit kids, OAPs and the disabled. Take the bl00dy banner into the stadium and dare them to rip it down.
9

amdam81 added 20:39 - Oct 1 Anybody that thinks that this has nothing to do with us is wrong.Just because we are riding on the good will of the last few years doesn’t mean we are immune from the issue.If clubs see other clubs getting away with it,you can be sure they’ll come for you!
7

chepstowblue added 20:52 - Oct 1 Football is a truly vile industry. If it wasn't for my 50yr bond with this club I'd have nothing to do with it.....certainly not at the top level of the game.
5

flykickingbybgunn added 21:06 - Oct 1 This protest has my total support.
3

bobble added 08:19 - Oct 2 Football clubs were started by social minded communities but capitalism has killed that, like every other thing it touches...
-2

NottsTractor added 08:53 - Oct 2 I totally agree with @amdam81 It is very rare that clubs themselves push back on new income generation opportunities and generally fan voices are what prompts this i.e. The Super League and more recently the shameful National League Cup
2

Radlett_blue added 12:00 - Oct 2 Well, I was impressed when I bought a ticket for Watford - Ipswich last season (in with the home fans) & they changed my ticket price to an OAP discounted price after they helpfully updated my date of birth on their computer system. Maybe Watford value customer loyalty - a legacy from the Elton John - Graham Taylor days.
0

ronnyd added 12:35 - Oct 2 jollyroger......he'd call them a silly moo.
1

Monkey_Blue added 12:48 - Oct 2 West Ham are not unique in rinsing fans but I don’t see that this is a joint cause. All my ex in-laws are West Ham fans and complain about lack of transfer spending at the same time as saying prices are too high. West Ham fans benefitted from massively discounted tickets beyond any other London club when they moved into what was a tax payer funded stadium. They took advantage of prices that were designed to drag fans from clubs like Orient who are not blessed with premier league football. I don’t see that West Ham fans are treated worse than other Fans and have actually had some real benefits other clubs fans haven’t. West Ham have signed players we’ve all in part paid for by providing them with a huge new stadium. I’m not interested in West Ham’s issues beyond any other club.

2

LittleBoyBlue1 added 14:28 - Oct 2 As stated elsewhere under 21s are the not at all likely to have families and housing costs. OAPs get the triple lock and are the most likely to not have childcare or housing costs. Tell me why I should care.
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