EXCLUSIVEHUNDREDS of Blues fans will enjoy free travel to Sheffield United as a 'thank you' gesture from Ipswich Town.The club, along with main sponsors Powergen, will fund six supporters' coaches going to Bramall Lane in a fortnight's time for the last away game of the regular season.

EXCLUSIVE

HUNDREDS of Blues fans will enjoy free travel to Sheffield United as a 'thank you' gesture from Ipswich Town.

The club, along with main sponsors Powergen, will fund six supporters' coaches going to Bramall Lane in a fortnight's time for the last away game of the regular season.

The move comes in the wake of terrific backing the club has had at home and - even more noticeably - away this season.

Derek Bowden, Ipswich Town's chief executive, last night said: “Our away support this year has been absolutely fantastic and so we wanted to make a gesture of thanks to those fans who, week in, week out, support the club across the land.

“It seemed appropriate to us, especially now that our last away league match has been brought forward from Saturday afternoon to Friday night, to offer free transport to supporters travelling by coach.

“To this end, and with Powergen's generous support, we will provide six coaches free of charge for travelling fans. Those supporters who have already purchased coach travel to Sheffield United from us will receive a rebate from the club.”

More than 2,000 Town fans are expected to make the trip to south Yorkshire, even though the game has been rearranged to the Friday and will be shown live on television.

The free offer will be restricted to those travelling on official coaches only

The club also took notice of angry Nationwide Natter readers who wrote to the EADT complaining of being inconvenienced at the switch in the fixture date to accommodate television.

While they could not help those fans directly the club have looked at ways of doing something for as many supporters as possible and with the additional backing of sponsors Powergen decided on the free coach travel.

Many opposition clubs' supporters have been impressed with Town's travelling support especially when they have turned out in large numbers on long trips in midweek.

Nearly 800 were at Stoke and Walsall on dank Tuesday nights, and more than 2,100 made the awkward journey to Crystal Palace in October.

Reading and Wimbledon saw more than 3,000 Ipswich fans at their grounds while 2,781 went to West Ham over Christmas.

Town's ticket allocation for Gillingham tomorrow is sold out and the hosts have now restricted sales of tickets.

derek.davis@eadt.co.uk