Matches played at Portman Road, Ipswich

 

Date of matchType of matchName of teamName of teamScoreAttendance
4 October 1890FA Cup 1st qualifying roundIpswich TownReading2-0-
15 November 1890FA Cup 3rd qualifying roundIpswich TownHunts County5-2-
12 December 1890FA Cup 4th qualifying roundIpswich Town93rd Highland Regiment1-4-
15 October 1892FA Cup 1st qualifying roundIpswich TownOld Wykehamists4-0-
1 January 1938International Trial matchEnglandThe Rest1-06,000
23 January 1939Division Three (South) Cup 2nd round replayIpswich TownNorthampton Town1-0400
19 December 1949International Trial matchEnglandThe Rest1-35,079
11 August 1962FA Charity ShieldTottenham HotspurIpswich Town5-120,067
25 September 1962European Cup preliminary round 2nd legIpswich TownFloriana10-025,287
28 November 1962European Cup 1st round 2nd legIpswich TownAC Milan2-137,000
24 November 1971International under-23 matchEnglandSwitzerland1-117,530
12 September 1972Texaco Cup 1st round 1st legIpswich TownSt Johnstone4-211,849
24 October 1972Texaco Cup 2nd round 1st legIpswich TownWolverhampton Wanderers2-114,245
10 April 1973Texaco Cup semi-final 2nd legIpswich TownNewcastle United1-018,817
4 May 1973Texaco Cup final 1st legIpswich TownNorwich City2-129,698
18 November 1980UEFA under-21 championship preliminariesEnglandSwitzerland5-03,808
6 May 1981UEFA Cup final 1st legIpswich TownAZ Alkmaar3-027,532
10 September 1985International under-21 matchEnglandRomania3-02,093
15 October 1985International under-21 matchEnglandTurkey3-03,826
16 September 1986Full Members Cup 1st roundIpswich TownPlymouth Argyle3-25,752
2 December 1986Full Members Cup 3rd roundIpswich TownAston Villa1-08,224
10 November 1987Simod Cup 1st roundIpswich TownMiddlesbrough1-06,108
1 December 1987Simod Cup 2nd roundIpswich TownWest Bromwich Albion2-15,308
25 January 1988Simod Cup 3rd roundIpswich TownWatford

5-2

(aet)

7,466
20 December 1988Simod Cup 2nd roundIpswich TownNorwich City

1-0

(aet)

18,024
10 January 1989Simod Cup 3rd roundIpswich TownBlackburn Rovers

1-0

8,155
24 January 1989Simod Cup quarter-finalIpswich TownNottingham Forest

1-3

16,498
25 April 1989UEFA under-21 championship preliminariesEnglandAlbania2-06,023
17 November 1998International under-21 matchEnglandCzech Republic0-113,768
21 November 1989Zenith Data Systems Cup 2nd roundIpswich TownWatford4-15,078
21 December 1989Zenith Data Systems Cup 3rd roundIpswich TownWimbledon3-17,918
23 January 1990Zenith Data Systems Cup semi-finalIpswich TownChelsea2-313,365
22 January 1991Zenith Data Systems Cup 3rd roundIpswich TownOxford United2-17,456
22 October 1991Zenith Data Systems Cup 2nd round

Ipswich Town

(win 2-1 on pens.)

Luton Town

1-1

(aet)

5,750
14 February 2002International under-19 matchEnglandGermany3-1tbc
20 August 2003International friendlyEnglandCrotia3-130,000
15 August 2006UEFA under-21 championship preliminariesEnglandMoldova2-213,556
15 October 2013UEFA under-21 championship preliminariesEnglandLithuania5-017,067

 

Portman Road, a council-owned recreation ground, was first used by Ipswich AFC in 1884. The club merged with rugby club Ipswich FC in 1888, forming Ipswich Town FC. Matches were first played on an area adjacent to the current football ground, which at the time was regarded as a bit of a wasteland.

 

The first game at the site of the new pitch was played in 1907. Unfortunately, Ipswich Town missed out on being the first to play there as their planned opening game was cancelled due to snow.

 

The club remained amateur until 1936. Before this, Ipswich was the largest town in England not to have a professional team. The club’s slow start ensured that Portman Road remained relatively undeveloped at a time when other clubs were building ambitious new stands that would accommodate generations of fans.

 

Redevelopment at Portman Road was spurred-on by a proviso in the ground’s lease renewal, resulting in three new stands being built between 1968 and 1984. In 1992 it became the first Premier League ground to have all-seat stands on all four sides.

 

The financial rewards for reaching the Premier League in 2000 helped to finance the construction of new, two-tiered stands at either end of the ground. They are named after two club legends, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson, former managers who went on to lead the national team.

 

This aerial view from 1933 shows the recreation ground at Portman Road and Ipswich Cattle Market. Ipswich Town played matches here until 1907 when a new pitch was formed on land just beyond the cricket pitch boundary. 

 

Portman Road's first playing area is now a training pitch. This view shows the ground before the stands behind each goal were redeveloped in the early 2000s.