Town have unveiled details of next year's season ticket campaign with prices frozen for the fourth year, five and 10 year debentures on offer and an Under 11s season ticket available that works out at just £2.50 per game in the First Division.

Under the title of 'Back the Young Guns', referring to the fantastic success of the Club's Academy in producing first team players for Joe Royle's squad, Town have produced a range of prices that reward the continued support of existing season ticket holders as well as revealing a wide range of pricing that looks to encourage continued family support.


Much to celebrate - Dean Bowditch and Darren Bent

Season ticket holders, in effect, will continue to watch one in four League matches free of charge and will benefit from season ticket prices being frozen for the fourth year in succession.

New for the 2004/05 season is the introduction of a season ticket for the Under 11s. Priced at just £57.50, young supporters will watch home games for just £2.50 per match.

The Club is also introducing a limited number of five and 10 year season tickets that will allow fans to fix their costs of watching the Blues for the corresponding periods.

Town Chairman David Sheepshanks has made the following statement:-

Exciting times are here again and suddenly the future looks brighter.

At the time of writing, we are challenging strongly for the play offs in one of the most competitive and stimulating ends to a Division One campaign seen for ages.

We are now witnessing the arrival on the scene of a whole new generation of star players for Ipswich Town . the YOUNG GUNS from our own Academy. 

Our carefully planned policy of major investment and commitment to our youth Academy over the last 10 years is now bearing fruit . and the prospects for the future are very encouraging. 

Darren Bent, Matt Richards, Ian Westlake and Dean Bowditch are the four graduates who have featured most regularly in the team so far . but following hot on their heels there is plenty more prodigious young talent to come and next season, amongst others, we hope to see more of Scott Mitchell, Aidan Collins, Gerard Nash and Scott Barron. 

With a reputation building for consistently operating one of the best Academies in the country, we are now able to recruit some of the finest young talent in the British Isles, as parents and boys become more discerning and look to choose Ipswich Town as their club, one that is wholly committed to professional youth development and one that gives every boy the opportunity to flourish


                   Fantastic Town support

Financially the club's situation is also much improved and by far the strongest and most vital factor in our revival has been YOUR SUPPORT.  You have stuck with us . and seen us through . and for that you all deserve the greatest credit, so on behalf of everyone who loves this special club, I want wholeheartedly to thank you all for such steadfast loyalty.

Now I hope you will stay and help us assure Ipswich Town of the bright future that Joe Royle confidently predicts.

We plan to retain all our YOUNG GUNS and see them starring for Ipswich Town next season.  However, our ability to do that will, in part, be down to the number of you who renew or purchase season tickets.  Next season we will have no Premier League 'parachute payment' and so we have to generate over 90% of our income ourselves.

So please renew your season ticket and enjoy watching our own home grown Young Guns attempt to fire us back into the Premiership under Joe Royle's inspired leadership. 

You can expect energy levels to be high and apart from high degrees of skill, I anticipate that the grit, running and fearlessness so associated with a young team will be very much to the fore . the qualities that make us extra proud.

Off-field, our investment in the younger generation is just as important in attracting families and the supporters of tomorrow.  So I am pleased to announce a new season ticket for Under 11s available in certain parts of the ground at £57.50 (or £2.50 a game in Division 1).  This will enable a parent and two young children to buy season tickets that will cost them less than £20.00 per match.

Although match day ticket prices will rise again, we have held season tickets for the fourth year running for all those that renew by 28th May, meaning that many of you will, in effect, see one game in four free of charge.

We are also making available a limited number of five and 10 year season tickets, frozen at today's prices.  This will produce valuable capital for the club, but the number issued is capped so that we do not detract from future season ticket revenue.

Last season many of you kindly helped us by avoiding the use of credit cards and we are asking you to do the same again.  The standing order initiative introduced last year proved to be an administrative nightmare and open to abuse.  In an effort to help ease the burden this year, we are offering payment by three cheques at zero finance cost as well as all the other usual methods, including credit cards if necessary.

I hardly dare say that, depending on the next few weeks, next season could yet offer something even more exhilarating than a promotion chasing pack of young guns . with a few older hands to show them the way!

Whatever, I hope you will join us for the ride . and enjoy a new, action packed season supporting Joe Royle and his team.

Thank you again for your stalwart encouragement and support.

Yours sincerely

David Sheepshanks,
Chairman