Ipswich Town: Away supporters' guide

RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.

---

THE OPPO Ipswich Town
DATE – Saturday 24 January
KO TIME – 3pm

THE GROUND – Portman Road, Ipswich– click here and here for maps of the area - the arrow points to where the ground is.

Ipswich is in the county of Suffolk in south-east England, about 12 miles from Harwich and Felixstowe on the coast and around 40 miles east of Cambridge. The ground is pretty much right in the centre of Ipswich, close to the river and also handy for Ipswich rail station.

AWAY SUPPORTERS

Away supporters are accommodated at one end of the Cobbold Stand (upper and lower tiers), in blocks V1 and V2.

DISABLED FACILITIES

There are 9 designated areas for disabled supporters in the Britannia Stand Lower, Greene King Stand Upper and Lower, and North Stand upper/lower; within those areas, a total of 300 supporters in wheelchairs can be accommodated. There’s an additional area in the Cobbold Stand with 12 seats for visually impaired supporters and their escorts, and commentary via headphones is provided to these seats. Contact disability@itfc.co.uk for further details. 50 car parking spaces at Portman Road are set aside for disabled supporters, sold on a first-come-first-served basis: contact Aaron Claxton on 01473 400517.

TICKETS

Season ticket holders have until 5.30pm on Tuesday, 13th January, 2004 to apply - voucher 55 required. General sale will commence from 10.00am on Friday, 16th January, 2004 - subject to availability. Season ticket holders: (up to 5.30pm on 13/1/04) adults £21, OAP £14 and junior £4. General sale: (from 10.00am 16/1/04) adults £23, OAP £16 and junior £4
Day of the match: (subject to availability) adults £24, OAP £17 and junior £4.

GOING BY CAR?

Travelling from the north east, get yourself onto the A1/A1M southbound and stay on for about 190 miles – until you get into Cambridgeshire, past Peterborough and just before Huntingdon.
Look for signs for the A14 signposted ‘London E, M11, Cambridge’ and stay on that road for nearly 70 miles, until you reach jcn 51.
Turn left onto the A1156 (signposted Ipswich West and North) and at roundabout take 1st exit
After 2 miles turn right ,onto the A1214 (signposted ‘Colchester’)
At the next traffic lights go straight ahead onto the A137 West End Road; stay left, then at the next lights turn left into Princes Street then left again into Portman Road.

In total there are 5,800 spaces in the various town centre car parks – three of those car parks are on Portman Road itself; also a multi-storey next to the station.. A Park & Ride service operates from the junction of the AI2/AI4 with connections every 10 minutes to the town centre (7.00am to 7.00pm).

GOING BY TRAIN?

Sorry, it’s a long old journey from the north-east.

The 07.54 GNER service from Newcastle gets you to Peterborough at 10am then the 10.14 Anglia Railways service will get you to Ipswich just before noon.
Or you can go via London: get the 08.32 GNER from Newcastle which will get you to London Kings Cross at noon; take a tube to Liverpool Street (Northern Line to Moorgate then Circle Line to Liverpool Street) then catch the 12.45 First Great Eastern service to Ipswich, arriving just before 2pm. Trains leave Liverpool Street for Ipswich every 15 minutes.

From the station go straight ahead on Princes Street across the river, and you’ll see the ground on your left.

Heading home, take the 18.16 Anglia Railways service to London Liverpool Street, a Tube back to King’s Cross, then a GNER service back to Newcastle: they leave at 19.15 and 20.15 and take around four hours to get there

For full timing details, fares and to book, go to National Rail’s website.

STOPPING OVER?

- Holiday Inn Express, Old Hadleigh Rd, Ipswich – tel 01473-222279
- Travel Inn, Bourne Hill, Ipswich – tel 08701 977 143
- Travelodge, A12 Capel St Mary, Ipswich – tel 0870 191 1542
- Station Hotel, Burrell Rd, Ipswich – tel 01473 602664
- Highview House Hotel, Belstead Rd, Ipswich – tel 01473 601620

SCRAN AND BOOZE

You’ll find the usual array of chips and burger bars along Portman Road. Most pubs in the area welcome away supporters. The Station Hotel (as the name suggests, close to the station!) is a regular meeting place for away supporters. The Greyhound on Henley Road sells Adnams beer and comes highly recommended, and the Milestone Beer House on Woodridge Road does a wide range of food and the ‘Fat Cat’ pub has won the Suffolk Pub of the Year award more than once. In the town centre there’s a Hogs Head selling Caledonian Deuchar's IPA, and two Wetherspoons pubs.

Head into the town centre area and there are loads of places to eat – click here for a list.

LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH

There’ll be cash machines at Kings Cross Station if you’re taking the train down, and more at Ipswich station.
There’s a Barclays and also a Co-Op and a Bank of Scotland on Princes Street that has ATMs, and are quite close to the ground, also close by is the Tesco on Ropes Drive which has a Royal Bank of Scotland ATM.

IN THE NEWS

Jim Magilton, 35 – who took over as skipper when Matty Holland left – is set to be offered a contract extension.

Ipswich knocked Derby out of the FA Cup at the 3rd Round stage recently.

ITFC defender and former Sunderland player Chris “Shoooooot” Makin recently had an exploratory operation on what’s thought to be a trapped nerve. He hasn’t played since the Horses’ match against West Ham last August.

Elton John will give a concert at Portman Road this summer which is expected to see a capacity crowd in attendance.

LAST SEASON

Finished 7th out of 24 with 70 points

THIS SEASON

Currently 6th of 24 with 43 points:
P27 W12 D7 L8 F47 A39 Pts 43 GD 8

HOME FORM

P13 W7 D2 L4 F27 A18 Pts 24 GD 9

HEAD TO HEAD

We’ve played Ipswich 41 times in the League in recent years, once in the FA cup but not in the league cup: from all of those, we’ve won 17, they’ve won 19, and we’ve drawn 6.

LAST 6 MEETINGS

30/09/03 Sunderland 3 Ipswich 2 (Breen, Oster, Kyle)
29/12/01 Ipswich 5 Sunderland 0
18/08/01 Sunderland 1 Ipswich 0 (Phillips)
27/01/01 Sunderland 1 Ipswich 0 (Dichio)(FA Cup R4)
01/01/01 Sunderland 4 Ipswich 1 (Arca, Phillips, Dichio, Schwarz)
26/08/00 Ipswich 1 Sunderland 0

TRIVIA

- Best league win: 7-0 vs Pompey in 1964.
- Worst league defeat: 1-10 vs Fulham in 1963.
- Record transfer fee rcvd: £6.5m from NUFC for Kieron Dyer (July 99)
- Record transfer fee paid: £4.5m to Sampdoria for Matteo Sereni (Aug 01)

Two former Ipswich managers have both left their post to take over as England manager, and both were later knighted by the Queen: Alf Ramsay and Bobby Robson.

George Burley, who managed Town from 1994 for eight years, played for Sunderland for three years in the mid-1980s, after a 12-year spell playing for…..Ipswich, his first employers in football.

Our own Marcus Stewart signed for them from Huddersfield in February 2000, for the club’s then record transfer fee of £2.75m. He stayed for two and a half years, scoring 37 goals in 93 appearances. He was a crowd favourite but in his last season at Portman Road, scored only 10 goals compared against 21 the season before.

The first president of the club was T C Cobbold; there’s been a member of his family on the board ever since.

The club was founded in 1878 as Ipswich AFC, as a rival to one already playing, known as Ipswich FC They didn’t settle at Portman Road until 1884, but Ipswich FC also laid claim to that ground, so the two sides joined forces in 1888, becoming ‘Ipswich Town’.

Famous ex-Ipswich players: Alun Armstrong, Marcus Bent, Chris Bart-Williams, Matt Holland, John Moncur, Tony Mowbray, Martijn Reuser, Alan Sunderland, John Wark, Richard Wright.

Ex-Ipswich players with an SAFC connection: Ian Atkins, Rod Belfitt, Keith Bertschin, George Burley, Terry Butcher, Alec Chamberlain, Lee Chapman, Pat Curran, Eric Gates, Danny Hegan, Lee Howey, Chris Makin, James Nelson, Marcus Stewart.






Credits Ipswich Town FC, London Clarets, Ipswich borough council, Pride of Anglia, Link, Multimap, Rough Guide to English Football, Soccerbase, streetmap.co.uk, The AA, BBC.

Feedback on this article? Spotted a mistake? Something we've missed? Did you find this guide useful? Or as useful as a chocolate fireguard? Email us! angels@readytogo.net.

Thornton and Breen: update

As we confirmed last week, Sean Thornton and Gary Breen are making significant headway for a return to competitive action.

Metro FM confirmed today that Thornton has already returned to full training with the rest of the squad.

As for defender Breen, he's been doing some 'ball work' and is currently scheduled to return to full training on Monday 12th January.

Looking at other injuries within the squad, John Oster - who is in talks about a new contract - missed today's defeat of Nottingham Forest with a calf strain, as did Paul Thirlwell.

Matty Piper, who hasn't seen first team action since Sunderland's 2-0 win at Preston in August, is hoped to be available for selection in around 6-8 weeks.

Cureton: not signing?

It seems that Kevin Cooper's fellow trialist at SAFC, Jamie Cureton, will NOT be signing on loan after all.

The two started a week's trial with Sunderland within days of each other, and Cooper started a three month loan period earlier this week - but it seems that Cureton won't be following suit.

Cureton left Reading to join South Korean team Busan Icons in the summer but hasn't settled successfully and is looking for a return to English football.

Metro FM's Simon Crabtree said this afternoon that he'd heard from the club that Cureton has now finished his trial with Sunderland, but will not be signing a loan deal.

Our opponents this weekend Nottingham Forest, and Bristol City are said to be keeping an eye on the player's progress.

Brown back to Doncaster

From SAFC.com:

Chris Brown has gone to Doncaster for the rest of the season after recovering from a broken toe.

But the 19-year-old will miss their game against Leyton Orient today because of a groin strain.

The Sunderland striker scored six goals in eight appearances for promotion-chasing Rovers in a two-month loan spell at Belle Vue before Christmas.

His time in South Yorkshire was cut short after he suffered a broken toe in Doncaster's 3-0 win over Boston United at the end of November.

Mick McCarthy, however, had already decided to allow the striker to go out on loan for the rest of the season and he only returned to Sunderland for treatment.

The Black Cats boss said: "Chris is fine. He's gone back to Doncaster and hopefully he'll do as well as he did in his spell there last year."

*Sunderland midfielder Richie Ryan has undergone his second hip operation since the start of the season.

The youngster, who made his debut in Sunderland's game against Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light last season, was forced to go back under the surgeon's knife after suffering a set-back while on his way back from the initial operation.

He said: "This season has been a nightmare for me. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this operation will sort out the problem."

Millwall FC: Away Supporters' Guide

RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.

---

THE OPPO Millwall FC
DATE – Saturday 17 January
KO TIME – 3pm

THE GROUND – The New Den, Zampa Road, London– click here and here for maps of the area - the arrow points to where the ground is.

Millwall is in south London, close to Rotherhithe, Bermondsey and Deptford, and the main A2 London – Dover road, South Bermondsey railway station and Surrey Quays tube station. It’s about 1km south of the river, south from Canary Wharf. It’s also conveniently close to the Surray Quays shopping centre so if you have an other half who doesn’t fancy the match (or doesn’t have a ticket), give them your credit card to look after while they pass some time there.

Away supporters are accommodated in the North Stand of the Den; there are plenty of spaces for disabled supporters in the West Stand and booking isn’t necessary.

Millwall seems to have quite a reputation as a venue for hooliganism, so it’s advised to keep your colours well hidden outside the ground, and drinking in the nearby pubs might also be something to miss unless you’re absolutely certain that visiting supporters are welcomed.

TICKETS
Tickets for this fixture are still on sale, £22 for adults or .£17 for kids/OAPs.

GOING BY CAR?

Travelling from the north east, get yourself onto the A1/A1M southbound and stay on for about 190 miles – until you get into Cambridgeshire, past Peterborough and just before Huntingdon.
Look for signs for the A14 and stay on that road for 15 miles - look for signs for the M11 southbound (the junction is 3 miles after the Travelodge at Cambridge).
When the M11 runs out, go straight ahead onto the A406 then shortly afterwards turn left onto the A12, signposted ‘Central London’.
Stay on the A12 for 5 miles then take the A13 signposted ‘The City’.
Turn left into the Rotherhithe Tunnel then at the roundabout take the first exit, onto the A200.
Go straight over at the traffic lights outside ‘The Caulkers’ pub, then at the next lights turn right into Rotherhithe New Road, then a sharp left onto the road for Peckham.
Stay on the A2208 then after you drive under the railway bridge , turn left into Ilderton Road and you’ll be able to see the stadium.

There’s no dedicated car-parking for Millwall FC so either park at a railway/tube station further out, and travel in – or use on-street parking in the streets near the ground (Juno Way, Cold Blow Lane mentioned by the London Evening Standard) – please park considerately for local residents!!

GOING BY TRAIN?

For the major part of the journey it’s another Newcastle to King’s Cross job. The 08.33 gets you there at 12.03, the 08.57 gets you there at 12.23 or the 09.31 gets you there at 13.03.

From Kings Cross, you’ve got a couple of options:
- Take a Tube train on the Hammersmith & City line to Whitechapel, then change to the East London line for a Tube train to Surrey Quays, then walk to the Den.
- Northern Line to London Bridge, change to BR line for South Bermondsey, then walk to the Den using the new 'secure' route.

Coming home: if you can get back to Kings Cross in time, the 17.45 will get you back to Newcastle for 21.18; or the 18.15 gets you there at 21.50, and the 19.15 gets you there at 23.11.

ALS are, as usual, running their coach service – click here for details.

STOPPING OVER?

- Holiday Inn Express, Bugsbys Way, Greenwich – tel 0208 269 5000
- Holiday Inn Express, Old St, Islington – tel 0207 300 4300
- Comfort Inn, South Vauxhall Rd, Vauxhall – tel 0207 735 9494

SCRAN AND BOOZE

As you’ll probably be aware, Millwall has a reputation for trouble, so it’s probably best not to drink in the pubs in the immediate vicinity of the ground itself.

You could have a quick drink at the London Bridge station; or within 5 minutes’ walking distance of there are The Wheatsheaf on Stoney Street or the Market Porter on the next corner. Also in the area are The George, The King’s Head, the Royal Oak and The Ship. There's also a pub called the Barrow Boy & Banker - it's a Fullers' pub but also sells Guinness. You'll find it directly opposite London Bridge station.
Or wait until you get inside the ground, and The Den sells the usual burgers, chips, pies and beer.

LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH

There’ll be cash machines at Kings Cross Station if you’re taking the train down.
Otherwise using most of the ATMs closest to the ground involve paying a charge. There’s a Travelex ATM at the McDonalds on Evelyn Street (£1.25 charge), one in the Post Office on Rotherhithe Road (£1.25 charge), a Barclays ATM on Plough Way (no charge), or a Nationwide ATM at the Shell petrol station on Southwark Park Road (£1.50).

IN THE NEWS

Defender Ronnie Bull has gone to Brentford on a month’s loan.

They had striker Nick Chadwick on loan from Everton until recently, but he’s been recalled to have surgery on a hernia problem – but they’re hoping he’ll be back when he’s recovered.

Dennis Wise was recently keen on signing Carl Cort.

LAST SEASON

Finished 9h out of 24 with 66 points

THIS SEASON

Currently 10th of 24:
P26 W9 D9 L8 F29 A26 Pts 36 GD 3

HOME FORM

P13 W6 D5 L2 F14 A7 Pts 23 GD 7

HEAD TO HEAD

We’ve played Millwall 29 times in the League in recent years, once in the FA cup and twice in the league cup: from all of those, we’ve won fourteen, they’ve won ten, and we’ve drawn 8.

LAST 6 MEETINGS

16/08/03 Sunderland 0 Millwall 1
09/12/95 Sunderland 6 Millwall 0 (Gray, Russell x 4, Scott)
23/09/95 Millwall 1 Sunderland 2 (Scott, Smith)
10/12/94 Millwall 2 Sunderland 0
04/10/94 Sunderland 1 Millwall 1 (Gray)(League Cup)
21/09/94 Millwall 2 Sunderland 1 (Russell)(League Cup)

TRIVIA

- Best league win: 9-1 vs Torquay in 1927.
- Worst league defeat: 1-9 vs Aston Villa in 1946.
- Record transfer fee rcvd: £2.3m from Liverpool for Mark Kennedy (March 95)
- Record transfer fee paid: £800,000 to Derby County for Paul Goddard (Dec 89)

Our own Mick McCarthy was manager at the Den from March 1992 to February 1996, when he left to take the reins for the Republic of Ireland national team, succeeding Jack Charlton – he was there for over six years.

The Den is the location for the external views needed for Sky One’s football-based soap, 'Dream Team' – The Den doubling as Harchester Utd’s ground, “The Dragon’s Lair”.

The club was formed in 1885 as Millwall Rovers, by workers from the Morton’s Jam Factory on the nearby Isle of Dogs. Because most of the workers were Scottish, the team used blue and white as their colours. They later changed their name to Millwall Athletic then later to just Millwall FC, and moved to The Den in 1910.

Famous ex-Millwall players: Teddy Sheringham, Colin Cooper, Ben Thatcher, Mark Kennedy, Alex Rae, Kasey Keller, Kenny Cunnigham, Stephen Reid, Steve Claridge, Lucas Neill, Tony Cottee, Darren Huckerby, Ray Wilkins, Anton Rogan.







Credits Millwall FC, London Clarets, Link, Multimap, Rough Guide to English Football, Soccerbase, streetmap.co.uk, The AA, BBC.

Feedback on this article? Spotted a mistake? Something we've missed? Email us! angels@readytogo.net.

Oster in contract talks

Rejuvenated midfielder John Oster has confirmed that he's involved in talks to secure a new contract with Sunderland.

Oster signed for Sunderland from Everton in August 1999, in time for Sunderland's first season back in the Premiership - but made only 10 league appearances that season, 8 in 2000/01 and none at all in the red and white during 2001/02.

Only weeks after Howard Wilkinson's arrival at the Stadium of Light, Oster went to Grimsby on loan and spent three months there, returning shortly after Mick McCarthy's appointment - and hasn't looked back since, playing an influential part in Sunderland's efforts for promotion back to the Premiership.

Oster said, "This is a club that is going places and I want to be a part of that - we're looking at the top two.

"There have been a few peaks and troughs this season, but now we've started on another good run which we're looking to continue against Forest."