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Town turns blue and white ahead of promotion match

Ben Parkerin Ipswich
News imageBen Parker/BBC A wooden horse statue wearing a blue and white Ipswich Town Football Club scarf. In the background is a shop window with cars parked outside. There are also items on a shelf.Ben Parker/BBC
Shops have put displays in their windows supporting Ipswich Town

Ipswich town centre has been decked out in blue and white, as the Tractor Boys hope to seal promotion to football's top flight.

Venues have been putting up posters, balloons and bunting after Ipswich Central called for a show of support.

Town sit second in the Championship, and a win against QPR at Portman Road on Saturday will see the side promoted to the Premier League.

But if they fail to win, they will need Millwall to drop points at home to Oxford and Middlesbrough to fail to win at Wrexham.

News imageBen Parker/BBC An old building with artwork of Ipswich Town players posted in the windows.Ben Parker/BBC
Artwork from a Suffolk artist is being used to show support for the football club

Mark Ashton, Ipswich Town's chairman and chief executive, said seeing the town adopt the team's colours meant "a great deal" to the club and players.

"The connection between the club and the town is incredibly special, and campaigns like this show exactly what Ipswich Town means to the wider community," he said.

News imageJamie Niblock/BBC James Cole with short hair and a dark top. In the background are shirts hanging in a window.Jamie Niblock/BBC
James Cole said the football club was helping to unite the town

James Cole, who runs a clothes store in the town centre, said the staff were "big fans" and "love the town".

He said he wanted to put a display in his store window to "bring a great feel to the community".

News imageJamie Niblock/BBC Tina Leamon with shoulder length hair and a blue top standing behind a bar. Bottles can be seen in the background.Jamie Niblock/BBC
Tina Leamon is expecting a big turnout at her bar on match day

Tina Leamon owns a bar and restaurant in the town. She said they had been preparing for three weeks for the match day, including buying in extra stock and bringing in more staff.

"Every game this season we've been getting busier and busier," she said.

Ipswich fans have been loyal to the football club but also to local venues, she added.

She expected about 200 people to fill the bar on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Stowmarket artist Louise Cobbold's player portraits, which have appeared on the front of match day programmes, have also been placed in many shop windows, with large banners on the front of Town Hall.

News imageOliver Ward/BBC Ipswich Town Hall, with banners of Ipswich players either side of the entrance.Oliver Ward/BBC
The Town Hall has been decked out to show support, with the lights turned blue for the occasion
News imageBen Parker/BBC A railing outside a building. There is blue and white bunting on the railing, and in the window are posters supporting Ipswich Town.Ben Parker/BBC
Blue and white can be seen across the town centre
News imageBen Parker/BBC A shop window with posters supporting Ipswich Town.Ben Parker/BBC
Different types of venues have been getting involved in putting up displays
News imageBen Parker/BBC A pub window with a flag that reads Ipswich Town, Pride of Anglia and The Tractor Boys.Ben Parker/BBC
Ipswich fans are hoping for an instant return to the Premier League
News imageBen Parker/BBC A sign outside a venue that reads "Big Game, Ipswich vs QPR, Come on you Blues".Ben Parker/BBC
Tens of thousands of people are expected in Ipswich to watch the match at Portman Road and in venues across the town
News imageBen Parker/BBC Banners posted on fences that read "Come on you Blues".Ben Parker/BBC
Banners have also been put up on fences outside a former department store
BBC Radio Suffolk Sport: Matchday Preview

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