Away from Party politics, one of my main interests is sport and in particular – Ipswich Town FC. I still love the game but still very concerned about the way those who both run the game and those who own the clubs behave.
Recently the Borough Council supported us, the Independent Supporters Trust as we submitted an application to make Portman Road an ‘Asset of Community Value’ – this was successful and we are still waiting for a response from the Club.
The club also came under the media spotlight for the cost to watch football at Portman Road. Some of the criticism was unfair as it focused on our highest season ticket prices for certain sections and the club does offer some good discounts for season tickets in certain stands and the child’s season ticket is very good value. But where the club do let themselves down, is the extra cost to buy a ticket on the day, categorising games and the price away fans pay.
All the above concerns were highlighted this week as the BBC released its annual survey on the cost of watching football, but as a Trust we had already highlighted many of the issues back in July.
We will continue to seek to start a dialogue with the club as we believe the club is being very short sighted in their ticketing policy.
Back in July, we released this statement:
“Supporters understand that the club needs to make as much money as it can, but it’s saddening to read that the club is saving money by making staff redundant, whilst increasing ticket costs for matchday supporters and reducing the level of customer service by removing telephone sales.
“The high cost of matchday tickets at Portman Road means that many supporters, who perhaps can’t afford to commit to a season ticket but still want to support their team as often as they can, are put off from attending. The ‘grading’ structure complicates things further – we believe that this is unnecessary in a division with few ‘big’ teams in it and no local derby fixtures for Ipswich.
“Additionally, making tickets available only to personal callers or online sales will make it yet more difficult for supporters who don’t have easy access to a computer – a number which is relatively high in rural Suffolk – to get tickets for games. The website itself has some limitations in terms of flexibility and choice of tickets, despite the fact that it adds a ‘web sales fee’ onto the cost of the tickets.
“Going to football is a habit and Ipswich Town should be doing everything it can to encourage local people to get into that habit at Portman Road. Sadly, we feel that these recent developments will only serve to exclude and alienate potential supporters. The club needs to consider its pricing model not only in terms of the current balance sheet, but also with a view to the long-term – if people are put off from attending matches now, how much future revenue might the club be losing?”
The Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust requests answers from the Club to these specific questions:
1. What research was done to establish whether the increased ticket prices would deter supporters from attending games?
2. What research was done to establish how many supporters would be prevented from buying tickets by removing the telephone booking facility?
3. What’s the justification for “grading” fixtures in a division which lacks any real stand-out fixtures or local derbies?
At a time when many fans are feeling optimistic about the new season under Mick McCarthy, it’s a shame that the club have missed the opportunity to capitalise on that enthusiasm by being more innovative with ticket pricing.
What we do need to have is a strong independent supporter’s trust so we can put both pressure on the club where we feel we need to and also work with other supporter’s organisations on nationwide campaigns.
It only cost £5 to join the Trust > more details can be found here.
The club do seem to have a PR issue currently, whilst I was being interviewed by the BBC on Thursday, we were approached by the Stadium Manager to ask why we were filming, they would have been better off agreeing to be interviewed themselves by the BBC rather than just release a bland statement.
Ipswich Are ‘OUR’ team and will continue to be long after Marcus Evans (and his joint MD’s have left) and so it is left to us, the supporters to make sure we have a say in how our club is run.
Showing posts with label Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust. Show all posts
Sunday, 15 September 2013
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Portman Road becomes an Asset of Community Value
Portman Road has joined Old Trafford and Anfield in being officially recognised as an asset to its local community.
I was pleased to be involved with the Trust approaching Ipswich Borough Council to make Portman Road an Asset of Community Value, this seemed even more important when Ben Gummer the Tory MP for the town suggested selling it off cheaply. Fortunately for us the Council were happy to approve the Trust application.
Ipswich Town First, the independent Ipswich Town Supporters’ Trust, has announced that – following representations it has made to Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) – Portman Road has become an Asset of Community Value (ACV), recognising its importance to the town and its people. The ground is owned by Ipswich Borough Council and leased to the football club.
Colin Kreidewolf, the Secretary of Ipswich Town First, said “Supporters’ Trusts at Liverpool, Manchester United and Oxford United have recently been successful in having their club’s stadia recognised as ACVs, reflecting the value of those grounds to their respective local communities. Our view is that Portman Road is just as important to the people of Ipswich, and to Ipswich Town supporters generally, as Anfield is to the people of Liverpool. We’re delighted that the Borough Council agree – this is a fitting way to mark the 125th anniversary of Ipswich Town’s move to Portman Road on 1st October 1888”.
What does becoming an ACV mean for Ipswich Town?
ACV status means that the ground cannot be sold without the local community being told about it, and that they will be given the opportunity to bid for it themselves. Today’s announcement means that any future IBC administration would be required to consult the local community before selling Portman Road, and allow six months for the community to raise the money to buy it themselves.
Mr Kreidewolf added: “We appreciate that the current IBC administration have no desire to sell Portman Road, and are pleased to see it remaining in public ownership. Having ACV status means that any future administration at the council wouldn’t be able to change that situation without involving supporters and local people. It helps to safeguard the future of Portman Road as a part of the Ipswich community. We hope that the current owner of Ipswich Town will also recognise this as a positive move for the football club”.
Councillor David Ellesmere, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: “The current council administration has no intention of selling Portman Road. We are very happy to support listing Portman Road as an Asset of Community Value to give supporters the reassurance they need that ITFC will remain in the heart of Ipswich.”
Tom Hall, Head of England & Wales at Supporters Direct, the governing body for supporters’ trusts, said: “Ipswich Town First should be congratulated in their work to make sure that Portman Road takes its place alongside Old Trafford and Anfield, and the first two, Oxford United and Nuneaton Town, in having stadia successfully listed.
“We are seeing this trend escalate, and many more applications are being lodged from across the pyramid. This and all other successful listings are demonstrating that our view that clubs and their stadiums should be seen as community assets and not simply as part of an investment portfolio is being widely accepted.”
Notes
Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012, were approved by resolution of both Houses and came into force in England on 21 September 2012. Since the scheme came into force over 360 Assets of Community Value have been listed, of which five – the Kassam Stadium (Oxford), Liberty Way (Nuneaton Town), Anfield (Liverpool), Old Trafford (Manchester United) and now Portman Road – apply to football grounds.
I was pleased to be involved with the Trust approaching Ipswich Borough Council to make Portman Road an Asset of Community Value, this seemed even more important when Ben Gummer the Tory MP for the town suggested selling it off cheaply. Fortunately for us the Council were happy to approve the Trust application.
Ipswich Town First, the independent Ipswich Town Supporters’ Trust, has announced that – following representations it has made to Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) – Portman Road has become an Asset of Community Value (ACV), recognising its importance to the town and its people. The ground is owned by Ipswich Borough Council and leased to the football club.
Colin Kreidewolf, the Secretary of Ipswich Town First, said “Supporters’ Trusts at Liverpool, Manchester United and Oxford United have recently been successful in having their club’s stadia recognised as ACVs, reflecting the value of those grounds to their respective local communities. Our view is that Portman Road is just as important to the people of Ipswich, and to Ipswich Town supporters generally, as Anfield is to the people of Liverpool. We’re delighted that the Borough Council agree – this is a fitting way to mark the 125th anniversary of Ipswich Town’s move to Portman Road on 1st October 1888”.
What does becoming an ACV mean for Ipswich Town?
ACV status means that the ground cannot be sold without the local community being told about it, and that they will be given the opportunity to bid for it themselves. Today’s announcement means that any future IBC administration would be required to consult the local community before selling Portman Road, and allow six months for the community to raise the money to buy it themselves.
Mr Kreidewolf added: “We appreciate that the current IBC administration have no desire to sell Portman Road, and are pleased to see it remaining in public ownership. Having ACV status means that any future administration at the council wouldn’t be able to change that situation without involving supporters and local people. It helps to safeguard the future of Portman Road as a part of the Ipswich community. We hope that the current owner of Ipswich Town will also recognise this as a positive move for the football club”.
Councillor David Ellesmere, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council, said: “The current council administration has no intention of selling Portman Road. We are very happy to support listing Portman Road as an Asset of Community Value to give supporters the reassurance they need that ITFC will remain in the heart of Ipswich.”
Tom Hall, Head of England & Wales at Supporters Direct, the governing body for supporters’ trusts, said: “Ipswich Town First should be congratulated in their work to make sure that Portman Road takes its place alongside Old Trafford and Anfield, and the first two, Oxford United and Nuneaton Town, in having stadia successfully listed.
“We are seeing this trend escalate, and many more applications are being lodged from across the pyramid. This and all other successful listings are demonstrating that our view that clubs and their stadiums should be seen as community assets and not simply as part of an investment portfolio is being widely accepted.”
Notes
Part 5 Chapter 3 of the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012, were approved by resolution of both Houses and came into force in England on 21 September 2012. Since the scheme came into force over 360 Assets of Community Value have been listed, of which five – the Kassam Stadium (Oxford), Liberty Way (Nuneaton Town), Anfield (Liverpool), Old Trafford (Manchester United) and now Portman Road – apply to football grounds.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
My week ahead, 25 - 31 August 2013
Tuesday 27 August 2pm - Labour campaigning, Rushmere Ward
Thursday 29 August, 11am - Agenda setting meeting, North East Area Committee - Grafton House
Saturday 31 August, 10am - Labour campaigning, South West Ipswich
Plenty of campaigning in the week ahead as we make the most of the late Summer weather and the break from regular meeting.
No surprise this week that Ben Gummer was re-selected to stand for the Tories in the next General Ele3ction - I am sure he will fight hard to try and hold the seat. I expect him to try and bring outside support as the local Tory group seem far from united and with the possibility of them losing further council seats next May it will make it harder for Gummer. the trouble is, that once it gets harder, Ben Gummer resorts to ill thought out attacks on the Labour run council.
I have recently been elected Chair of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust, the trust will be hoping to more visible (and vocal) over the next few months. there are still concerns about the plan for the club that the owner has (or if there is a plan) and a big concern is about ticket prices and the difficulty of purchasing ticket on the day of the match.
Thursday 29 August, 11am - Agenda setting meeting, North East Area Committee - Grafton House
Saturday 31 August, 10am - Labour campaigning, South West Ipswich
Plenty of campaigning in the week ahead as we make the most of the late Summer weather and the break from regular meeting.
No surprise this week that Ben Gummer was re-selected to stand for the Tories in the next General Ele3ction - I am sure he will fight hard to try and hold the seat. I expect him to try and bring outside support as the local Tory group seem far from united and with the possibility of them losing further council seats next May it will make it harder for Gummer. the trouble is, that once it gets harder, Ben Gummer resorts to ill thought out attacks on the Labour run council.
I have recently been elected Chair of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust, the trust will be hoping to more visible (and vocal) over the next few months. there are still concerns about the plan for the club that the owner has (or if there is a plan) and a big concern is about ticket prices and the difficulty of purchasing ticket on the day of the match.
Sunday, 2 June 2013
My week ahead 2 - 9 June 2013
Monday 3 June – 4pm, Culture Portfolio meeting
6pm, Labour Group meeting
Tuesday 4 June – 5pm, Sidegate School, Full Governing Body
Wednesday 5 June – 6pm, ‘Hope not Hate’ meeting
Saturday 8 June - 10am, Labour campaigning, South East Ipswich
Last week was quite positive with a meeting of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust, where I was honoured to be made Chair. We will be launching a number of campaigns that we feel will be supported by most Ipswich Town fans over the coming season.
On Thursday we had our regular councillor training session, this time the topic was the use of social media. Disappointingly not one Tory or Lib Dem turned up- I will give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they will be attending the second session on this topic.
They both obviously need training on the use of social media, as both the Lib Dem and Tory websites and twitter feeds are so out of date. The Lib Dem website now just features posts about the Lib Dem MP for Colchester! Not even in the same county.
Whilst the Tory twitter feed has not been updated for over a month!
I was disappointed to see an EDL March take place in the town over the weekend, at least it went by peacefully. But both the Army and more importantly the family of the murdered soldier had asked for the EDL not to march- their wishes were ignored by the Far Right group. Only 50 turned up in Ipswich some would say that is still 50 too many! This week I will be attending a ‘Hope not Hate’ meeting in Ipswich as we look at ways to campaign against the menace of far right extremists groups. It is hard to understand why anyone would support the EDL but we have at least one local Tory supporter willing to use twitter to pass on the EDL message and even act as an apologist for their leader. She also seems to like to re-tweet supporters of UKIP!
On a far more positive note, I write this post just after returning from the Brunswick Road residents ‘Big Lunch’ or better described as ‘Big Picnic’ – all were having a great time in the park, with a larger attendance than the EDL had in the town yesterday – this says far more about how great our town is to live in than a far right march.
6pm, Labour Group meeting
Tuesday 4 June – 5pm, Sidegate School, Full Governing Body
Wednesday 5 June – 6pm, ‘Hope not Hate’ meeting
Saturday 8 June - 10am, Labour campaigning, South East Ipswich
Last week was quite positive with a meeting of the Ipswich Town Independent Supporters Trust, where I was honoured to be made Chair. We will be launching a number of campaigns that we feel will be supported by most Ipswich Town fans over the coming season.
On Thursday we had our regular councillor training session, this time the topic was the use of social media. Disappointingly not one Tory or Lib Dem turned up- I will give them the benefit of the doubt and believe they will be attending the second session on this topic.
They both obviously need training on the use of social media, as both the Lib Dem and Tory websites and twitter feeds are so out of date. The Lib Dem website now just features posts about the Lib Dem MP for Colchester! Not even in the same county.
Whilst the Tory twitter feed has not been updated for over a month!
I was disappointed to see an EDL March take place in the town over the weekend, at least it went by peacefully. But both the Army and more importantly the family of the murdered soldier had asked for the EDL not to march- their wishes were ignored by the Far Right group. Only 50 turned up in Ipswich some would say that is still 50 too many! This week I will be attending a ‘Hope not Hate’ meeting in Ipswich as we look at ways to campaign against the menace of far right extremists groups. It is hard to understand why anyone would support the EDL but we have at least one local Tory supporter willing to use twitter to pass on the EDL message and even act as an apologist for their leader. She also seems to like to re-tweet supporters of UKIP!
On a far more positive note, I write this post just after returning from the Brunswick Road residents ‘Big Lunch’ or better described as ‘Big Picnic’ – all were having a great time in the park, with a larger attendance than the EDL had in the town yesterday – this says far more about how great our town is to live in than a far right march.
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