What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are placed on one side of the upper tier of the Cobbold Stand at one side of the pitch, where up to 1,900 away supporters can be accommodated (or according to some - crammed in). 1,500 of this allocation are housed in the upper tier wing sections. If necessary an additional 400 'premium' seats can be made available which are more centrally located in the upper tier. The away allocation can also be supplemented by a further 400 seats in the lower tier of this stand.
Although the views from this area are generally not too bad (unless you are at the very back of the stand where there are some supporting pillars), the leg room is a little cramped and as with the rest of the stand the facilities are beginning to show their age. On the plus side, away fans can really make some noise from this stand, contributing to a real great atmosphere. Food on offer inside the ground include; Rollover Hot Dogs (£3), Various Pies, including the Chicken Balti Pie (£2.60), Pasties (£3) and Jumbo Sausage Rolls (£2.60). Chris Watkins a visiting Coventry City fan adds; 'I felt that I my visits to Portman Road that the stewarding was a little over the top with fans being persistently asked to sit down. There was also a sizeable Police presence, for what really is a low profile fixture'.
I have always found this to be a friendly place and pleasurable day out, even though I've never seen my team win there! I even on one occasion got accosted by some Ipswich fans, whilst coming out of the railway station and ended up accompanying them on a pub crawl before the game. Overall Portman Road is a good day out although it does seem to take an eternity to get there!
Where To Drink?
The main away supporters pub for many a season, the 'Drum & Monkey', has now declared itself a 'home supporters only' pub, following refurbishment. This makes the choice of drinking establishments for away fans very limited. The Station Hotel, which is near to the ground and train station, is where most visiting supporters will congregate. Otherwise the Punch & Judy pub on Cardinal Park, which is close to the ground has also been recommended to me as a pub which is family orientated and where both sets of fans can enjoy a drink. Other pubs in the area such as the Victoria, the Hare & Hounds and the Swan, are very much home pubs and are best avoided by visiting fans.
If you arrive in good time then you can take the walk into the town centre where there are plenty of pubs to be found. Of particular note is the CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed, Lord Nelson in Fore Street. Which is an interesting pub that sells Adnams beers. Otherwise alcohol is on sale inside the ground in the form of bitter and lager, at £3.10 per pint, plus Aspall Suffolk Cyder. Please note that alcohol is not available to away fans at half time.
How To Get There And Where To Park
Follow the A14 around Ipswich, until you see the turning for Ipswich (A137). Stay on this road and you will eventually see the ground on your left. Bill Leggate adds 'there is extremely limited on-street car parking around the ground. There are however three pay and display parks in Portman Road with a total of about 800 spaces. It costs £3.50 to park your car there for the Saturday afternoon. Early arrival is recommended to ensure a space close to the ground. There are several town centre car parks within 10 minutes walk all of which are well sign posted,' plus there there is a multi storey car park located next to the railway station, which costs £5 on a Saturday afternoon and £3 weekday evenings.
By Train
The ground is only a quarter of a mile away from Ipswich train station. You will see the ground as you come into the station. Ipswich is served by trains from London Liverpool Street and Peterborough.