Fans' Information | Ipswich Town (H)
Home Park will play host to its biggest crowd for a league fixture since 2008 when in-form Ipswich Town visit to take on Ryan Lowe’s table-topping Pilgrims on Saturday afternoon.
The Greens haven’t lost in Sky Bet League One since the opening day of the season, but they’ll face stiff opposition in Paul Cook’s Tractor Boys, who have recovered from a sluggish start to the campaign to feature in the top half.
With a capacity crowd expected, we encourage supporters to arrive in plenty of time – not only to soak up the atmosphere, but to also ensure that large queues do not form at the turnstiles.
In order to help supporters get the most of their match-day experience, as well as ensuring the safety and security of fans, players, officials and staff inside the stadium, we have compiled a handy guide below ahead of the fixture against Ipswich.
Spectators are also advised to read the updated 21/22 Code of Conduct before attending Home Park. Click here to do so.
Turnstiles open early, discount for first supporters to arrive
To ensuring that queues are processed as quickly as possible, the entry turnstiles stadium-wide will open 15 minutes earlier than usual, at 1.15pm.
Want to grab a bite? There will be a discount of 25% on all products purchased from food and beverage kiosks inside the stadium between 1.30-2pm.
Family Fun from 11am
Our outstanding Argyle Community Trust team will be providing a whole host of free family friendly sports and games just outside the stadium, beginning at 11am.
Activities include inflatable football, dodgeball, tennis and archery, and the event can be accessed outside of the Devonport End, very close to the entrance to the seated family area in block 6, and adjacent to the main car park.
Families interested in participating in these free activities can simply turn up from 11am and get involved. However, for specific queries or further information, you are welcome to email community@pafc.co.uk.
If it is your first time visiting the Theatre of Greens, please click here to check out our first-time fans guide.
Paying Tribute to Paul Mariner
Paul Mariner, who sadly passed away during the summer, is revered at both Home Park and Portman Road for his exploits in Green and Blue, and a fitting tribute has been organised by PAFC Displays to mark his huge contribution.
Dedicated volunteers have been hard at work preparing the heartfelt display at Home Park in the build-up to the fixture, tying sheets to seats in the Devonport End, Lyndhurst Road Stand, and the Barn Park End. Given the iconic status Mariner achieved at both clubs, it seems only appropriate that Town fans would also participate in the activity.
A minute's applause will be held in Mariner's honour prior to kick off. Once the applause is finished, supporters will be prompted to untie the sheet found on their seat and hold it aloft – if they are physically able. For the display to have full effect, complete co-operation is requested, and we thank supporters of both sides in advance for their help in paying tribute to a legend.
Mayflower Grandstand Fan Zone
From 1.15pm, the popular Mayflower Grandstand Fan Zone is once again open, with live pre-match music and entertainment performed by Plymouth duo Fever FX, who perform covers of a range of popular songs across many genres.
Located within the gated area behind the Lower Mayflower, the Fan Zone aims to provide the best-ever match-day experience for the Green Army seated on that side of the stadium.
Having changed our working arrangements with the NHS to erect a smaller marquee to double up as a versatile space for supporter use on match-days, supporters will notice the return of a number of food kiosks, bars, and a covered area with tables and chairs.
The new catering vendors located within the Mayflower Fan Zone will serve a range of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks, as well as offering fresh and delicious food – including hot dogs, fries, pasties, pulled pork baps and baguettes.
Build-up for kick-off
As trialled for the 3-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers last time at Home Park, we will continue to reduce the match-day music in the minutes leading up to kick-off, allowing the Green Army to generate the atmosphere on their own terms in a packed Theatre of Greens.
Sing loud and proud, Green Army.
Match-day programmes
Copies of our award-winning match-day programme, The Pilgrim, are once again available around the stadium for purchase at £3, while a limited number will also be available to purchase from the Argyle Superstore.
The Superstore will be open until 30 minutes after full-time, selling a range of Argyle memorabilia, replica kits, and souvenirs.
Disabled supporters
For any accessibility or match-day support queries, our dedicated Disability Liaison Officer can be contacted on disability@pafc.co.uk.
Sensory packs available
Sensory packs, which include a drawstring bag, ear defenders, fidget spinners, a sensory ball, an awareness card and lanyard, as well as further match-day information, are now available for children who need them – free of charge. Click here to find out more.
Turnstiles and ticketing
Turnstiles will open at the earlier time of 1.15pm, and supporters are advised to enter through the turnstile identified on their match ticket. However, if neighbouring turnstiles have shorter queues, supporters are permitted to enter these to speed up access to the stadium.
However, please note that transit between stands is not permitted once inside the stadium, and so supporters must always enter the stadium via a turnstile in the stand they hold tickets for.
There is a limited pay on the day function for away supporters. Ipswich Town fans will be able to purchase tickets from the turnstiles at the Barn Park End. All home tickets have been snapped up for this fixture. Thank you for your incredible support.
For those collecting tickets, please note that the Home Park Ticket Office is likely to be extremely busy. Please attend in plenty of time to ensure that you make it to your seat before kick-off.
As always, we encourage supporters to make use of digital tickets wherever possible, reducing queuing times at the Ticket Office, as well as the impact of ticket production.
Should supporters arrive late for the fixture, there will be one late turnstile open in the Devonport End stand, and it will remain open until half-time.
Refreshments and facilities inside Home Park
Concession kiosks will be open, serving a range of food and beverages.
There will be a discount of 25% on all products purchased from food and beverage kiosks inside the stadium between 1.30-2pm.
Meanwhile, toilet facilities will continue to operate with a one-way system. In order to avoid large queues at peak times (e.g half-time), we advise supporters to plan ahead for toilet breaks, using facilities when they are likely to be less busy.
We encourage fans to pay using contactless methods wherever possible to reduce queuing times. Supporters are advised that the concessions in the Upper Mayflower Grandstand operate on a cashless basis.
Half-time entertainment
In the build-up to their first match at Home Park since taking on a new identity, Argyle Women will tour the pitch at half-time ahead of their fixture against Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Continuing the theme of Argyle and Ipswich, David Norris and John Peddelty, two players who played for both sides, are the half-time guests.
Security
Supporters should be prepared to be searched by our security team as they enter the stadium. Contact searches are undertaken by security members of the same gender.
Wherever possible, we will ensure that 'wand' searches are also undertaken by members of the same gender. If that is not the case upon entry, and you feel at all uncomfortable, please raise this with a member of the security team - who will make the necessary arrangements.
As with all major sporting events, bringing bags to the stadium is actively discouraged. However, fans arriving at Home Park with a small personal bag (for example, medical bags or handbags) capable of being stowed under seats is permitted. Please note, supporters should expect this to be searched before entry.
We ask that supporters arrive in plenty of time to avoid queues forming as kick-off approaches.
For more information on what we are doing to keep you safe, and how you can help make attending Home Park a great experience for all, please check out our Return to Stadium Guide.
Persistent standing
Home Park is an all-seater stadium. By buying a ticket and entering the ground, spectators agree to abide by the ground regulations; these regulations forbid persistent standing.
To maintain our excellent safety record and to protect our safety certificate the regulation in relation to persistent standing will be enforced and we ask spectators to refrain from persistently standing. Those failing to comply may be subject to ejection. Your assistance is very much appreciated.
COVID-19 guidance
Despite the changes to government guidance on coronavirus, we will continue to encourage all supporters in attendance to wear a face covering while traversing through turnstiles, concourses and enclosed spaces. These can be removed once in the stadium bowl and seated.
While this is not a condition of entry, we ask those attending the stadium to consider the health of fellow supporters, as well as Argyle staff, all of whom will be wearing face coverings for supporters’ benefit, when deciding whether or not to comply with this request. As per government guidance, supporters are reminded to try and remain in their social bubbles wherever possible.
We would also ask all supporters to consider taking a COVID-19 lateral flow test before attending Home Park – these can be ordered online here. Again, while this is not a condition of entry, club staff are committed to undertaking regular tests to ensure that we play our part in making Argyle matches as safe an environment as possible for our supporters. We ask that our fans contribute to this effort.
The Argyle Superstore will take the same approach, with retail staff wearing face coverings. However, the capacity of the Superstore will be raised to a maximum of 30 supporters at any one time.
We are keen to reiterate that the above considerations are not conditions of entry, and will not be enforced by our match-day operations team. However, we do consider it our duty to provide the safest possible environment for supporters, and we ask fans to contribute towards this goal by following guidance.
For more information on what we are doing to minimise risks at Home Park, and how you can help make attending Home Park a great experience for all, please check out our Return to Stadium Guide.
Feedback
As always, we encourage supporters to provide feedback on their experience at Argyle to feedback@pafc.co.uk.
We can’t wait to see you on Saturday, and hope you have a fantastic match-day experience at Home Park.
