Woody Welcomes Ipswich Town FC
Guess who’s back? Woody is back welcoming super fans and celebrating the inclusion and diversity of the visiting football clubs at the Gtech.
Today the Bees play host to back to back promotion high flyers, Ipswich Town FC. The Blues or The Tractor Boys were part of the inaugural Premier League season in 1992 and secured promotion in to the League last year.
Playing their home games at Portman Road, wearing the signature blue colours, the crest of the club proudly displayed on their chests... And why is that important? Well you know how much horses play an important part in our lives and the crest includes that of the Suffolk Punch. This is an English breed of draught horse and was added to the crest following a competition run by the club. The competition winner, Treasurer of the Supporters Club, John Gammage, said of the design,
“I regarded the Suffolk Punch as a noble animal, well suited to dominate our design and represent the club.”
So, lets jump in to the charitable arm of Ipswich Town, the Ipswich Town Foundation. The Foundation aims to work within the community promoting healthy recreation, education, social inclusion and social welfare. The Foundation works with over 6,000 young people and vulnerable adults each week, and works ‘The Ipswich Way’ which is:
Innovation
Progression
Sportsmanship
Willingness
Integrity
Creativity
Honour
Welcoming
Ambition
Better Yourself
Some of the actitivies and programmes provided by the Foundation are really exciting.
Let's start with Frame Football, which allows children who use walking frames or crutches to play an adapted version of football in an inclusive space and to be themselves.
These sessions not only provide a safe space for the children to enjoy sport but the parents also benefit from being around fellow parents without having to explain their child’s disability.
What a beautiful space to have created.
One of Woody’s favourite things is Powerchair Football and Ipswich Town offer session in 12 week blocks for those who require a chair for mobility, meaning they can enjoy robust, fast paced game of football, in a safe space.
Woody and I loved hearing about the Golden Days Cafe, which is named after the success of Sir Bobby Robson, who managed the club between 1969 and 1982, winnning the FA and UEFA cups.
The cafe provides lunch and refreshments and caters for those within the community who have dementia, their carers and those who have lost someone to the condition.
The Club demonstrated their ongoing commitment to supporting those with dementia back in May 2022 when they raised awareness of Dementia Action Week.
The week is run by the Alzhemiers Society and Ipswich Town are part of the Ipswich Dementia Action Alliance (IDAA), which along with other local business aims to raise the profile of those living with the condition and to provide safe and supportive environments for them to socialise in.
Finally, we wanted to talk about Ipswich’s involvement in the ‘Unite For Action’ initiative as part of the Level Playing Field campaign.
Launched in March this year the club provides inclusive stadium tours with sign language interpreters, sensory packs and subtitles on any video footage. The initiative also includes Soccer Sights which provides audio description of all league and cup matches.
Woody and I have been extremely impressed with what we have seen of The Tractor Boys programme to welcome those with disabilities or varying needs into their community.
Ipswich Town have a superfan in a little-known singer song writer called Ed Sheeran. Ed has a minority stake in the club and is the official shirt sponsor. What will todays result be? Will we divide the spoils, or will we add a win to our 2024 / 2025 campaign? Will The Tractor Boys minus our goal difference or multiply their own? Whatever the result we hope we can equal our current home performance against Ipswich Town with at least a 2-0 win like when we last played them at the Gtech in 2019.
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