Sorry to be a killjoy, but a game against Ipswich's Academy side, plus a few reserves, isn't going to be the sort of pay day we need, in which case why bother to include the clause in Tyrone's deal. If we aren't going to get the first team and some significant financial benefit, the clause is worthless. (No doubt they'll be technically a very gifted side and a good test, but that isn't the sort of team we get to play in the Southern Premier League).
 

Good Morning Everyone

I am an Ipswich supporter, and I would hope that somewhere around 500+ of us will come along for the game. We normally take 1,000 - 1,500 to away games, but West Country Blues get few games, and will all turn out, plus a goodly number from East Anglia, who are desparate to see any football at all.

As for the team, it will be a mix of youth and experience, but Mick McCarthy will probably do this for all our pre season games. Mick did this in our last game of the season against Burnley, when Tyrone played at left back behind Arran Cresswell. He was up against it, with Kieran Trippier marauding down the right flank, but played very well against difficult opponents.

Most of us think that Tyrone would step up to the first team if we were to lose Cresswell (our first choice left back) to a top flight side. It is a question of gaining experience rather than a question of his ability, which is obvious. He is lucky in that Mick is an outstanding defensive coach. He took our car crash of a defence under Jewell and turned it into a unit that didn't concede for five straight games in the spring. He is in safe hands.

I would welcome any advice on good pubs and car parks, and I will put this up on our TWTD forum, which will help to swell the numbers. Ipswich fans (with the odd numpty) are pretty friendly and us West Country fans are really, really happy about this game taking place.

Many thanks for this feedback, which I have copied and pasted back to our forum. I apologise if I set alarm bells off with the 500 estimate, but they won't all be baying at the doors of the bar threatening beer or death!

I have asked our lot for their estimate of numbers in case I have this wrong, and will report back. Hopefully we will get some decent weather to go with a nice pint or two and an enjoyable game. I have to say that the lack of football is causing some withdrawal symptoms at our end.

Having spoken to a few mates, the 500 figure might well be a bit on the rich side given the lunchtime kick off, but I will bump this thread up closer to the date with any useful feedback on numbers.

I am sorry to hear of your previous experiences with these games, Dauntsey. Mick will definitely use this game to try ideas out. He inherited an absolute mess from Paul Jewell and had little chance to develop the squad last season given the relegation mayhem in the Championship. There is a higher than normal interest in this year's pre-season, as we want to see what his real plans are.

Apologies, but I didn't realise that Russell Osman's son played for you. I normally put a blog together for TWTD getting the oppositions thoughts ahead of each game, and will come back closer to the game to ask for people's views. The game will probably be odd for both sets of supporters, as we will both be trying to get to know our own line-ups.