'It's an honour to keep memory of Town fans alive'

Stuart Andrews is proud to be involved in the garden of remembrance project at Ipswich Town Football Club

A lifelong Ipswich Town supporter has said it is “real honour” to help keep the memories of the club’s fans alive after giving a memorial garden a Premier League makeover.

Stuart Andrews is one of a team of gardeners who contributed to the creation of a garden of remembrance at Portman Road in November.

The peaceful space, positioned to the rear of the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand, contains the ashes of fans which were previously interred in the pitch.

Mr Andrews, a plant buyer at Notcutts Garden Centre in Woodbridge has helped give the garden a new look ahead of Ipswich’s return to Premier League against Liverpool on Saturday.

The garden of remembrance at Portman Road

He said: “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.

“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."

Mr Andrews added: “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.

“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.”

The garden of remembrance has been given a makeover by the expert horticultural team from Notcutts in Woodbridge

Ipswich Town are returning to the Premier League after back-to-back promotions.

Replicating success again this year will be a tall order, but Mr Andrews is optimistic Kieran McKenna’s side can at least avoid relegation.

“After years and years of misery the last two years have just been phenomenal and we are on a role 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."

He added: “You’re heart says they can probably do better but your head says finishing 17th would be like winning the league.

“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%."