IPSWICH TOWN and Leicester City fans are putting rivalries to one side on Saturday to back the Football Supporters Association’s (FSA) national Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign.
Before Town’s late defeat at Brentford on Saturday afternoon, supporters gathered in opposition to rising ticket prices in the Premier League and beyond.
Similar banners were seen at every match in the Premier League, with every club represented.
Although price rises at Ipswich have been widely understood by fans given their back-to-back promotions, Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks are calling on fans to stand in solidarity against the trend in extortionate ticket prices rises.
Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks, Leicester City Supporters Club and the Foxes Trust are calling on fans to gather for a photo with the #StopExploitingLoyalty banner at 1.30pm on match day in front of the Sir Bobby Robson statue.
They will be showing solidarity with fellow fans who have seen eye-watering ticket price rises and the wholesale removal of concessions.
Elijah Aldridge, from Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks, said: “Sir Bobby’s famous quote of a small child clambering up stadium steps for the first time, gripping their parent’s hand must not become a fairy tale but continue to be our communities’ reality.
“We hope Town supporters will turn up in their numbers to support the campaign.”
The Foxes Trust’s Steve Mould was keen to emphasise the importance of match-going supporters.
“The powers-that-be in football are keen to repeat the mantra ‘football is nothing without fans.’ As Sir Bobby Robson also said: ‘What is a club in any case? It’s the noise, the passion, the feeing of belonging, the pride in your city.’
“That very lifeblood is in danger of being drained from many clubs.”
Amy Ginnetta of the Leicester City Supporters Club said: “Fans are the heartbeat of our football clubs, and the importance of players being able to celebrate with packed stadiums in those moments of jubilation must be protected.”
Other fixtures where fans will be protesting on Saturday are: Newcastle v Arsenal; AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City; Liverpool v Brighton; Nottingham Forest v West Ham; Southampton v Everton; Wolves v Crystal Palace.
