Ipswich Town Fans: A Garden of Remembrance Gets a Premier League Makeover
A lifelong Ipswich Town supporter has described it as "a real honour" to help keep the memories of the club's fans alive after giving the memorial garden at Portman Road a Premier League-worthy makeover.
Stuart Andrews, a plant buyer at Notcutts Garden Centre in Woodbridge, is part of a team of gardeners who have refreshed the garden of remembrance, which was created in November. Located behind the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, the peaceful space provides a resting place for the ashes of fans previously interred within the pitch.
Andrews, himself a passionate Tractor Boys fan, was keen to ensure the garden was looking its best ahead of Ipswich's return to the Premier League, with their opening fixture against Liverpool taking place on Saturday.
"We've given it a freshen up to make sure everyone sees this fantastic memorial garden looking at its best for the rest of the season," he said. "It's an amazing project to be involved in and a real honour to make sure these people and their memories are served and their families can contemplate their loved ones."
He added that the garden's transformation also served a broader purpose, highlighting the club's commitment to the wider community.
"It's very important we give visiting fans a great impression of what the town is about and I think it shows Ipswich thinks about other fans and the community," Andrews explained. "We now feel we belong with the club, where maybe a few years ago we were side-lined a bit. These projects show the fans come first and that's a good thing."
Ipswich Town's return to the Premier League follows back-to-back promotions, a remarkable turnaround for the club. While replicating last year's success might be a tall order, Andrews remains optimistic about manager Kieran McKenna's team's prospects, believing they can at least secure their Premier League survival.
"After years and years of misery, the last two years have just been phenomenal, and we are on a roll now and have momentum with us," he said. "Nobody is under any illusion and it is going to be a tough season, but a good result tomorrow could set us on the road."
Despite the daunting challenge ahead, Andrews is confident in the team's ability to rise to the occasion. "Your heart says they can probably do better, but your head says finishing 17th would be like winning the league," he concluded. "They need to go out there and enjoy it and do all the things they've done for the last two years. It's not going to be plain sailing, but we are all behind them 100%."
