Portman Road (Ipswich Town)

Welcome to the latest instalment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.

The Robins Travel Club took myself and AFC Finners all the way to Suffolk for some League One action at Portman Road, where Ipswich Town faced Cheltenham Town. The stadium has previously hosted Manchester United, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Roma, among others. Ipswich has also had a number of famous managers, including Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alf Ramsey, both of whom have statues at the ground, so the stadium has a rich heritage and history.

Ipswich is one of the oldest towns in England and is well-known for its maritime history. There are over 650 listed structures. Christchurch Mansion, the Ancient House, the Unitarian Meeting House, Isaacs, and a smattering of Victorian buildings line the high street. So there is plenty for visitors to do.

Ipswich is located on the Orwell River's estuary, about twelve miles from the sea. It is one of the oldest towns in England, with evidence of a Roman settlement nearby. Thomas Wolsey, better known as Cardinal Wolsey, was born in Ipswich and rose to power during Henry VIII's reign. Ipswich was, interestingly, one of the first towns in England to have gas-powered street lights. Ipswich won the award for cleanest town in 2007.

It's All In The Name

Ipswich Town's most recent nickname is "The Tractor Boys," which was coined during the club's brief stint in the Premier League between 2000-01 and 2001-02, when the team regularly competed against more fashionable clubs. The nickname refers to Ipswich's agricultural heritage and is an example of self-deprecating humour.

An Interview With Martin Lambert, Founder and Host of Ipswich Town Podcast: 'Talking Town'

GG: Could you tell us how long you've been an Ipswich Town fan and how your experience with the club has been?

ML: I've been an Ipswich Town fan my entire life, but I've only been attending games for about 22 years. It's a rollercoaster ride supporting my local club, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

GG: How has Kieran McKenna made an impression on the club?

ML: He is a genius who will one day manage a highly successful team at the highest level.

GG: Who is Ipswich Town’s star player this season?

ML: For me it has to be our striker, Conor Chaplin.

GG: Do you know anything about Cheltenham Town?

ML: I'm sorry for saying I know so little. However, as host of the fan platform Talking Town, I will conduct research in the coming days.

GG: Who is your favourite player of all time?

ML: Former midfielder: Matt Holland. He played for us and Charlton Athletic.

GG: What is the best football match you’ve been to as an Ipswich fan?

ML: Our Wembley win for the First Division Play-off final to get us into the Premier League. It finished Ipswich Town 4 Barnsley 2.

GG: Which managers have left the most impressions on Ipswich Town fans?

ML: They've all left their mark, mostly negatively, since 2005, but you have to mention George Burley for our Wembley win, the Premier League, and so on.

GG: Who, in your opinion, was the biggest team to play at Ipswich Town's stadium, and why?

ML: Choose your poison. We've hosted everyone from Inter Milan to Manchester United to Arsenal over the years.

GG: Finally, can you tell us how Ipswich likes to play in general?

ML: We like to play possession-based pressing (3-4-3, 4-3-3, 3-5-2). As the former Manchester United assistant manager, Kieran McKenna is a true student of the game and knows how to grind out a win.

Some Notable Former Players:

Alan Brazil

Terry Butcher

Hermann Hreidarsson

Darren Bent

Pablo Counago

Marton Fulop

Some Notable People From Ipswich

• Ralph Fiennes- Actor

• Titus Bramble-Footballer

• Kieron Dyer- Footballer

• Richard Ayoade-Actor

• Sam Claflin- Actor

A History Lesson From AFC Finners

Ipswich Town was founded in 1878 as Ipswich AFC, and they retained that name until joining forces with Ipswich Rugby Club ten years later to form Ipswich Town football club. They began as an amateur team, competing in the lower leagues and winning a number of local competitions before winning the Southern Amateur League in 1922. They won this league three more times before joining the Eastern Counties Football League. They turned professional in 1936, joining the Southern League and winning it on their first attempt.

They were admitted to the Football League in 1938 and remained there until 1954, when they were promoted to Division Two. In 1955, the legendary Alf Ramsey took over the club, and he would perform miracles at Portman Road. After being relegated to the third tier, Ramsey won the Third Division South in 1957 and the Second Division in 1961, allowing them to entelight for the first time.

Their first season in the Premier League was nothing short of a miracle.

Ipswich Town won the First Division in their first season as a topflight club in 1962, making them the most unlikely league champions in English football history. The following season, they competed in the European Cup, but were defeated by eventual winners AC Milan. In 1963, Alf Ramsey left to take over England, and Ipswich were relegated to the Second Division the following year. Ipswich won the Second Division in 1968, and the following year, another great manager, Bobby Robson, took over.

Robson returned Ipswich to the high life, with a fourth-place finish in 1973 qualifying them for the UEFA Cup. Over the next few years, they would frequently be in the top five of the league, and despite not having the resources of teams like Liverpool and Manchester United, they would still win silverware.

When a Roger Osbourne goal was enough to defeat Arsenal at Wembley in 1978, they won the FA Cup for the first and only time. In 1981, they narrowly lost the league title to Aston Villa, but they still added to their trophy cabinet. Ipswich won the 1981 UEFA Cup final on aggregate after a 5-4 victory over AZ Alkmaar. But, like Ramsey, they lost Robson when he became England's manager, and the Tractor Boys' dreams were dashed.

Ipswich Town were relegated in 1986. John Lyall would win them the Second Division in 1992, allowing them to compete in the Premier League's inaugural season. Their time in the new league, however, was unremarkable, and they were relegated in 1995. After defeating Barnsley 4-2 in the playoff final, they were promoted to the Premier League under George Burley in 2000. They resurrected in the Premier League, finishing fifth and narrowly missing out on Champions League football on the final day, and Burley was named manager of the year.

Despite competing in the UEFA Cup, the following season was a disaster as they were relegated and went into administration. After eight years in charge, George Burley was fired. They would spend 17 years in the Championship, with managers like Joe Royle, Roy Keane, and Paul Jewell unable to propel them to the Premier League. Mick McCarthy would be in charge for six years, leading them to the playoffs in 2015, but they were relegated to League One in 2019 under Paul Lambert. They remain in League One in 2022, but with a takeover from US investment group gamechanger and a successful season so far, hopes are high at Portman Road.

In addition, a fun fact, several Ipswich Town players appeared in the 1981 football war film Escape To Victory, with Kevin Beattie and Paul Cooper filling in for Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone, respectively.

Honours

🏆 Football League First Division (Champions: 1961–62) (Runners-up: 1980–81, 1981–82)

🏆 Football League Second Division (Champions: 1960–61, 1967–68, 1991–92)

(Play-off winners: 1999–2000)

🏆 Football League Third Division (Champions: 1953–54, 1956–57)

🏆 Southern League (Champions: 1936–37)

🏆 FA Cup (Winners: 1977–78)

🏆 Texaco Cup (Winners: 1972–73)

🏆 UEFA Cup (Winners: 1980–81)

🏆 Uhrencup (Winners: 1963)

An Interview With Ipswich Town Fan: Lynn Bowers

GG: Could you tell us a little bit about Ipswich Town?

LB: Ipswich Town are the Tractor Boys. We are a fantastic club. We do a lot for the community, and many visitors have said that we are very family friendly.

GG: How long have you been a fan of Ipswich Town, and can you recall your first game?

LB: I've always been a fan of Ipswich Town. I've been going since I was a little girl. I began attending when I was 13 years old and am now 47, so 34 years. Unfortunately, I can't recall my first game.

GG: Can you tell us something interesting about Ipswich Town?

LB: The shirt sponsor for Ipswich Town is singer Ed Sheeran, best known for his songs Thinking Out Loud, Perfect, and Photograph. He is a local lad who frequently attends games.

GG: How do you feel about supporting Ipswich Town in League One, and how does it compare to higher leagues?

LB: I was devastated when they were relegated from the Championship to League One, but I could never imagine not supporting them through thick and thin. The club Ipswich Town has a saying that you should "follow the town up or down."

GG: How important is the club to the community?

LB: Ipswich Town Football Club, in my opinion, is a very community-oriented club. In recent years, our players have been seen visiting local schools and hospitals and engaging with the public, which helps to connect the club with its supporters.

GG: What are the clubs' short-term goals?

LB: This season, the club's main goal is to gain promotion from League One to the Championship.

GG: What do you consider to be the most famous event at the stadium?

LB: I would argue that the most famous moment occurred at Portman Road when I was very young, as we had the most success during that era of football.

GG: Who would you sign if you could only sign one player to play for Ipswich Town for one game?

LB: It would be fantastic if we could sign Erling Haaland. If we're talking about ex-Ipswich Town players, I'd go with Daryl Murphy, our former striker.

GG: What is your favourite aspect of being a football fan?

LB: The best part about being a football fan is the game itself. Football stadiums have an unrivalled atmosphere.

GG: Who, in your opinion, is the best footballer you've seen play at Ipswich Town's stadium, and why?

LB: I once went to Portman Road to watch England play. England had David Beckham during that era of football, and what a player he was!

GG: Finally, could you tell us why people should come to Ipswich Town?

LB: Ipswich Town are fantastic! It's ideal for families because there's plenty for kids to do in the fan zone before the game. The atmosphere at Portman Road is unrivalled, and the football is fantastic right now.

Matchday: Ipswich Town 1-1 Cheltenham Town

As previously stated, the Robins Travel Club transported us to the ground. This convenience has proven to be useful when travelling long distances in football. You can travel directly to the game without having to worry about driving, which eliminates the stress of driving. They charged us £27 for this privilege, which seemed a little excessive, but ho-hum.

A lovely steward greeted us at the stadium and directed us to three different statues honouring three important figures in Ipswich Town's history: Kevin Beattie, Sir Alf Ramsey, and Sir Bobby Robson. After that, we walked the short distance to the Station Hotel, which was delighted to accommodate visiting fans. Because the fans were so friendly, we spoke with a few of them in the club shop (which sells a wide variety of merchandise, include canvases, replica shirts and yep you guessed it, pin badges). These fans were lovely and eager to talk about our club and theirs.

Portman Road is made up of four stands: the Cobbold Stand, The Magnus Group West Stand, The Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, and The Sir Bobby Robson Stand. They're all amazing in their own way. They are much larger than Cheltenham could ever hope for in their own stadium. We knew right away that this would be one of the best grounds we had ever seen.

There are numerous food options available on the ground. With a stall selling pies, hotdogs, and chocolate bars. However, the pies were over £5, and I refuse to pay that much for a pie, so I went hungry.

The atmosphere was very loud at the start of the game, with Ipswich fans leading the way. However, as the game progressed and the pressure mounted on Cheltenham, Ipswich fans became quieter, and it was primarily Cheltenham fans who made the noise. Ipswich fans were completely behind their team, but their efforts were focused more on complaining about Cheltenham's time wasting than on supporting their team.

Teamsheet

Ipswich Town

Manager: Kieran McKenna

Christian Walton

Janoi Donacien

Luke Woolfenden ⚽️

George Edmundson

Wes Burns

Cameron Humphreys

Sam Morsy (c)

Leif Davis

Conor Chaplin

Marcus Harness

Freddie Ladapo

Substitutes

Vaclav Hladky

Cameron Burgess

Richard Keogh

Kane Vincent-Young

Panutche Camara

Kyle Edwards

Kayden Jackson

Cheltenham Town

Manager: Wade Elliott

Luke Southwood

Sean Long (c)

Charlie Raglan

Lewis Freestone

Ryan Broom ⚽️

Liam Sercombe

Elliot Bonds

Ben Williams

Christian Norton

Dan N'Lundulu

James Olayinka

Substitutes

Shaun MacDonald

George Lloyd

Charlie Brown

Reece Hutchinson

Ellis Chapman

Tom Bradbury

Dan Adshead

The game quickly settled into a predictable pattern, with Ipswich dominating possession and launching attacks far outside of Cheltenham's defensive half in an attempt to break through a back five determined to keep them out.

Luke Woolfenden turned home Wes Burns' flicked header from close range, giving Ipswich a goal on their first shot. Marcus Harness then came within a whisker of doubling the home team's lead with a left-footed shot that ricocheted off the goal line and the underside of the crossbar before being cleared. Following the injury to Janoi Donacien, substitute Kane Vincent-Young was the next to have a shot blocked by Southwood, who was up to the task.

Southwood then made an incredible save to prevent Edmondson from scoring with a diving header, adjusting his body athletically to claw the ball away. Sean Long's release of Broom down the right wing provided the Robins with their first opportunity. Vincent-Young had to make a crucial clearance with Nlundulu lurking nearby because Broom's cross was dangerous. Lewis Freestone played excellent defence to prevent Ipswich from scoring. After Southwood misjudged a clearing punch, the ball was loose inside the six-yard box in front of an open goal. With an extended leg, Freestone was able to beat both Harness and Conor Chaplin to the ball and clear to safety.

The score was levelled when James Olayinka assisted Broom in scoring for the Robins. The Welshman equalised from a tight angle, slotting the ball past Christian Walton.

Moments later, Olayinka and Broom linked up again on the right side as Cheltenham came perilously close to taking the lead. Following that, Liam Sercombe received the ball from Broom, and Nlundulu came agonisingly close to converting Sercombe's errant shot. The Tractor Boys put Southwood to the test again just before halftime. He had to rush across to block Humphreys' follow-up after Burns' cross.

The hosts looked to retake the lead early in the second half. Both Freestone and Long played critical roles in denying Humphreys and Burns. Broom then made a crucial challenge to deny Freddie Ladapo as the striker looked to shoot from 10 yards out, before Burns' header went wide of the post moments later.

When another corner was flicked to the back post, Ipswich nearly duplicated their first goal, but Wolfenden was unable to direct his header on goal this time. Kyle Edwards' dangerous in-swinging delivery caused havoc in the six-yard box, but Southwood, Freestone, and Raglan combined with sheer willpower to repel several attempts in a row, most notably Southwood's initial reaction save from Ladapo's header. With four minutes remaining, Southwood made yet another outstanding save. He stopped Kayden Jackson from converting Vincent-Youngs' cut-back at the near post this time. Panutche Camara received a corner in extra time and appeared to have scored the hosts' heart-breaking winner, but he was stopped by the inside of the post. The final score was 1-1, a draw that will make one team happy and the other team angry. There are no prizes for guessing who is who.

Scores On The Doors

Atmosphere: 7

Food and Drink: 7

Stadium: 8

Welcome: 8

Overall Experience: 7

GG

P.S. Keep in mind that Cheltenham Town have something that Ipswich Town will never have: Wade Elliott (just kidding).