Portman Road facts for kids
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Aerial view of Portman Road, 2015
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| Full name | Portman Road Stadium |
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| Location | Ipswich, Suffolk, England |
| Coordinates | 52°3′18″N 1°8′41″E / 52.05500°N 1.14472°E |
| Public transit |  Ipswich |
| Owner | Ipswich Borough Council own the land only. Stadium owned by club |
| Capacity | 30,056 |
| Record attendance | 38,010 (Ipswich Town vs Leeds United, 8 March 1975) |
| Field size | 112 by 82 yards (102 m × 75 m) |
| Surface | Hybrid grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1884 |
| Renovated | 2024 |
| Expanded | 2002 |
| Tenants | |
| Ipswich Town (1884–present) Ipswich Town F.C. Women (2024-present) |
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Portman Road is a famous football stadium in Ipswich, England. It has been the home ground for Ipswich Town since 1884. This stadium has hosted many exciting matches, including games for England's youth teams. It even hosted one friendly match for the senior England team in 2003.
Beyond football, Portman Road has been a venue for other sports like hockey. It has also welcomed big music concerts and important community events. The stadium's highest attendance was in 1975, when 38,010 fans watched a game against Leeds United. Today, it can hold 30,056 people.
In the early 1990s, all four stands were changed to have only seats. This was done to make stadiums safer for everyone. The stadium got a big makeover in the early 2000s, increasing its size. More recently, after new owners took over in 2021, the club invested a lot to make the stadium modern. This included a new playing field and other improvements. When Ipswich Town was promoted to the Premier League in 2024, even more upgrades were made. These changes helped the stadium meet the high standards of the Premier League.
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History of Portman Road Stadium
Ipswich Town started playing at Portman Road in 1884. Before that, they played their games at Broomhill Park. For many years, the ground was also used for cricket in the summer. The cricket club even built the first building there, a small pavilion.
Early Days and First Buildings
Ipswich Town was one of the first clubs to use goal nets in 1890. At this time, the team was made up of amateur players. The first professional team to visit was Preston North End in 1892. Later, Aston Villa played there, and a temporary stand was built for the large crowd. In 1901, a tobacco factory was built next to the stadium. This factory's name, Churchman, later became linked to the south stand.
The first permanent wooden stand, nicknamed the "Chicken Run," was built in 1906. During World War I, the British Army used the ground as a training camp. It took two years after the war to repair the damage. In the 1920s, the stadium even hosted whippet races to earn more money.
Becoming Professional and Major Upgrades
Ipswich Town became a professional team in 1936. This meant the cricket club had to move out. Work then began on building terraces, which are stepped areas for standing fans. The first Football League match at Portman Road was on August 27, 1938. Ipswich Town won 4–2 against Southend United, with over 19,000 fans watching.
The Supporters' Association helped fund many improvements. In the 1950s, they paid for concrete terraces and a new West Stand. This increased the stadium's capacity to about 31,000. Floodlights were installed in 1959, allowing games to be played at night. The first floodlit match was a friendly against Arsenal in 1960.
Television cameras first came to Portman Road in 1962. The BBC's Match of the Day visited for the first time in 1968. In 1968, the club signed a new 99-year lease for the ground with the Ipswich Borough Council.
Modernization and Record Crowds
In 1971, the two-tier Portman Stand was built, adding 3,500 seats. This brought the stadium's capacity to about 37,000. The record attendance of 38,010 happened in 1975 during an FA Cup game against Leeds United. After winning the FA Cup in 1978, the club added executive boxes. Safety rules also led to more seats being added, reducing the overall capacity slightly.
In the 1980s, the West Stand was updated and renamed the Pioneer Stand. However, the cost of this project meant the club had to sell some players. Following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, all standing terraces were converted to seats. This made Portman Road an all-seater stadium. In 1999, a statue of Sir Alf Ramsey was unveiled outside the stadium.
New Millennium and Recent Changes
When Ipswich Town was promoted to the Premier League in 2000, the club invested £22 million. Both the North and South stands were completely rebuilt. This added 8,000 new seats, bringing the total capacity to over 30,000. The South Stand was sponsored by Greene King brewery for a while.
After the death of former manager Bobby Robson in 2009, the North Stand was renamed the Sir Bobby Robson Stand. In 2012, the South Stand was renamed the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand. This honored Sir Alf Ramsey, who led Ipswich Town to win the First Division title in 1962. The West Stand also changed names several times due to different sponsors.
Since 2021, new owners have continued to improve Portman Road. These upgrades include new LED screens and better facilities for fans. A new hybrid pitch was installed in 2023. In 2024, after the club's promotion to the Premier League, more major improvements were made. These included new floodlights, changing rooms, and media areas.
Stadium Structure and Facilities
Portman Road has four main stands, all with seats and roofs. They are the Sir Bobby Robson Stand, the Cobbold Stand, the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, and the West Stand.
Sir Bobby Robson Stand
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The Sir Bobby Robson Stand was rebuilt in 2001 and holds about 7,500 fans. It has two levels. The lower level is often for the most passionate Ipswich Town supporters. The upper level is for a mix of fans. It was renamed in 2009 to honor former manager Bobby Robson.
Cobbold Stand
Built in 1971, the Cobbold Stand used to be called the Portman Stand. It has two levels and a roof that extends over the seats. This stand is where visiting team fans usually sit, with up to 3,000 seats for them. It also has special executive boxes and seats for home fans.
Sir Alf Ramsey Stand
The Sir Alf Ramsey Stand also has two levels and can hold about 7,000 fans. It was renamed in 2012 to celebrate Sir Alf Ramsey's achievements. Before 2000, it was often called the Churchmans Stand. This stand also has restaurants and bars for fans. The tunnel where players walk onto the pitch is located near this stand.
West Stand
The West Stand was first built in 1957 and became an all-seater stand in 1990. It has three levels for home fans and a family area. This stand has had several names over the years due to sponsorships. It also contains the directors' box and the press area. Behind the stand is a practice pitch often used by fans before games.
Portman Road has special areas for disabled supporters in three of its stands. These areas provide over 300 spaces for wheelchair users and others, along with their helpers. There are also seats for visually impaired fans with special radio commentary.
The pitch at Portman Road is known for being very good. The former groundsman, Alan Ferguson, won awards for its quality.
Outside the stadium, you can find statues of three important figures. These include Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Bobby Robson, and Kevin Beattie. All three were very important to Ipswich Town and English football.
Other Uses of Portman Road
Portman Road has hosted many different events over the years.
International Football Matches
On August 20, 2003, Portman Road hosted its first and only senior England match. England played against Croatia and won 3–1. The stadium has also been used many times by England's youth teams.
Other Sports and Events
Throughout its history, Portman Road has hosted various other sports. These include athletics events, an American football game, and several international hockey matches.
The stadium has also been a popular venue for music concerts. Famous artists like Elton John, Ed Sheeran, R.E.M., and Red Hot Chili Peppers have performed there. In 2005, a large Christian gathering took place at the stadium. This was the biggest Christian event in Suffolk since Billy Graham visited in 1984.
Portman Road Records
The highest number of fans ever at Portman Road was 38,010. This happened on March 8, 1975, for an FA Cup game against Leeds United. For modern, all-seated games, the record is 30,152. This was set on December 21, 2003, against local rivals Norwich City.
Ipswich Town played its first European football match at Portman Road in 1962. They beat Floriana of Malta 10–0, which is still a club record. Ipswich Town has an amazing record of being undefeated at Portman Road in European competitions. They went 31 matches over 40 years without a loss.
Getting to Portman Road
The stadium is very close to Ipswich railway station, about 450 meters away. This station is on the main train line from London to Norwich. There is parking available nearby for fans. However, many streets around the stadium are for residents only. There are other car parks and park-and-ride options a short distance away.
See also
In Spanish: Portman Road para niños
- List of stadiums in the United Kingdom by capacity
- Lists of stadiums
