THE hottest tickets in town went on sale yesterday, as football fever spread across the region.Ipswich Town fans snapped up their seats for the club's play-off semi-final against West Ham United at Portman Road on Saturday.

By Jonathan Barnes

THE hottest tickets in town went on sale yesterday, as football fever spread across the region.

Ipswich Town fans snapped up their seats for the club's play-off semi-final against West Ham United at Portman Road on Saturday.

Joe Royle's side booked their place in the play-offs, and a shot at the Premiership, with a draw against Cardiff City at the weekend, sparking dreams of a top-flight return.

Their fifth place finish in Division One means a two-legged semi-final with West Ham, with the return leg at Upton Park next Tuesday.

Gold Club members were at the front of the queue yesterday to buy tickets for the first leg, expected to be a 30,000 sell-out. Kick-off is at 12.15pm.

Paul Clouting, commercial director, said: "It's been incredibly busy and we are absolutely flat out – the demand for tickets has been fantastic.

"We've been given a very narrow window to sell these tickets for both the home and away games and it's been a real challenge, but we are doing our best and we would ask people to be patient."

He added: "We would also like to reassure our season ticket holders that their seats will be reserved for them until the end of tomorrow."

Tickets are being sold using a strict priority system and on a one-per-customer basis.

Sales will be carried out as for a cup match and all season ticket holders who pre-pay for tickets will automatically receive them, subject to the club being able to take a payment from their registered card.

The on-line ticket facility was temporarily suspended yesterday due to the volume of visitors, but should have been restored at 8pm last night.

It will be available until tomorrowand is only available to those who have registered for ITFC Websales. Gold Club members who applied for tickets this way will have their applications processed first.

Today, season ticket holders can book their seats by calling 0870 4441062 between 9am and 8pm or visiting the Constantine Road ticket office (all home tickets bought by telephone will be subject to a £1 per ticket transaction charge). Callers need to quote the customer number from their season tickets.

Tomorrow and Thursday, Silver Club members can buy their ticket by phone (on the above number) between 9am and 3pm or calling at the ticket office between 9am and 8pm.

Ipswich Town customers – those on the club's database – can book their seats from Thursday, but all ticket sales from 3pm onwards and on Friday will only be by visiting the ticket office.

For the away leg, away match passport holders will automatically be sent their tickets and debenture holders should apply through the direct line given to them with their renewal packs or email address they have previously used.

Tickets for the away leg will be sold from the main ticket office from 2pm to 8pm.

They are available for season ticket holders from today by phone on 01473 400555 or by calling at the ticket office.

Silver Club members can book their seats tomorrow and any remaining tickets will go on sale to fans on the club's database (personal callers only) on Thursday and Friday.

jonathan.barnes@eadt.co.uk