What to expect as Ipswich Town begin Championship campaign
How many games will Town play?
Town are facing more games this season compared to the Premier League.There are 24 clubs in the Championship and they each play 23 games at home and 23 away, a total of 46.Teams in the Premier League instead play 38 games in total.
Who are Town up against?
As Town had just got used to playing with the Premier League big boys, this season the competition looks a little different. Fellow relegated teams Southampton and Leicester may also be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking. This season Town will also clash once again with local East Anglian rivals, Norwich City, with a view to finally beating them after a number of years.Town will also face a touch of Hollywood as they go head-to-head with Wrexham, owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
What differences are there in the Championship?
As well as the extra games, there are some other differences with the Premier League.During matches, VAR (video assistant referee) is not used in the Championship.Town's chief executive, Mark Ashton, previously said he believed football had been "worse off" since VAR's introduction and called for more "consistency" around its use. Town fans also criticised its decisions last season, so many might be happier without it this season.Also for this upcoming season, Town has already seen a wealth of changes with its squad.The club said goodbye to captain Sam Morsy who led the Tractor Boys from League One up to the Top Flight.But fans' favourite Jens Cajuste has been re-signed on loan and the club has also welcomed 40-year-old Ashley Young on a one year deal.
Will fans notice a difference in and around Portman Road?
Changes were previously made to Portman Road stadium in accordance with Premier League rules when the club was promoted.This week the club announced it had decided to remove the safe standing in the E block of the Cobbold Stand following supporter feedback. It means traditional seating will instead be in place here for the upcoming season.Stadium tours are also available to book for this season after they previously sold out during the Premier League campaign.Outside of Portman Road, fans learnt this week the £15 car park charge, which is charged by Ipswich Borough Council, would remain in place this season.The £15 parking fee was introduced during the Premier League season, but the council said it will remain in place for match days after it said the rates were "good value for money".
Why has Ed Sheeran been named as number 17?
The squad numbers were recently released and some fans were quick to spot the name Ed Sheeran under number 17.Sheeran was previously offered the shirt number as a gesture of appreciation for his support of the club a number of years ago and the number signifies his date of birth of 17 February 1991. An ardent Town fan, he's most likely to again be in the stand at games.
'Dust themselves down and crack on'
Analysis by Brenner Woolley, BBC Radio Suffolk's match commentator and host of the Blue Hour programmeWe would have liked an extra week off to be preparing for Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, or Tottenham, coming to Portman Road at the start of the Premier League season, but the writing was on the wall from probably at least Christmas onwards that we were going to be back in the Championship come August 2025. And that's where we are.Town now have to dust themselves down and crack on. Hopefully like the last time when they were at this level they will only stay in the Championship one season. That was after that terrific moment when they went straight from League One to the Championship and Premier League.We have just got to hope that this is another nine month stay and come the end of the season we are celebrating again.This is a tough, tough game to start with and I do not think there are going to be any easy opponents out of the 23 that Town are going to face.They will all pose a challenge and we have got that intensity of that Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday which will come as the season progresses.If they can make a good start through August and September that will carry them a long way.
How are fans feeling?
Lee Pike, who is a season ticket holder, believed it was "going to be an interesting season".The 37-year-old said he was "looking forward" to the season but was "gutted" to see Sam Morsy, the club's former captain, leave the team."Obviously he has got a new chapter, so good luck to him," he said.Talking about playing against Norwich, he added: "We are going to beat them this time. We are going to beat them at home."
Peter Franklin, 64, a season ticket holder, expected a "tough season", but was hoping for a good start."We need to get a win at Birmingham, definitely, but it's going to be tough and we all know that," he said."McKenna has done really well. I have heard he has got some new tactics and hopefully that will all work out well."
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