Fred. Olsen becomes Official Cruise and Travel Partner of Ipswich Town Football Club

Ipswich-based Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Fred. Olsen Travel are delighted to announce that they have become Official Cruise and Travel Partner to Ipswich Town Football Club (ITFC).

As well as giving Town supporters discounts on holidays, cruises and sporting trips, such as match breaks and an official supporters' trip on pre-season tour, this two-year deal will benefit ITFC directly, as every trip booked by Blues fans will see Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Fred. Olsen Travel invest funds back into the Football Club.

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We may offer cruises to all four corners of the globe from ten ports around the UK – including Harwich – but we are a local Ipswich-based company and have been supporting Town for many years.

“We’re delighted to be reinvesting our earnings on every cruise booking made by Town fans back into the Club, so hopefully supporters can go on their cruise holiday knowing that they helped to develop the next young player or Mick’s next star signing.”

The new Partnership will also see Fred. Olsen Business Travel look after the Club’s travel requirements, including hotels, domestic and international flights, and even the players’ medical trips.

Fred. Olsen will also continue to support the development of the Academy by sponsoring the Under 10s team until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Steve Williams, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Travel, said:

“We are delighted to be involved in the partnership. As a local, independent travel company celebrating over 25 years on our high street, it is important to us that we work as closely as possible within our community.

“As the Club’s Official Travel Partner, we will be able to showcase our exceptional knowledge, experience and customer service with all of the Club’s players, staff and supporters. Local businesses will also be able to benefit from our corporate travel department, which delivers myriad services, cost savings and time efficiency.”

Ipswich Town Football Club Partnerships Manager, Shelly Burt, said:

“Fred. Olsen has been involved with the Club on a smaller scale for some time, but we are delighted to have agreed a long-term partnership with such an established, and more importantly, local company.

“As well as the support they will provide the Club in terms of their expertise and cost- and time-savings, our supporters, too, will reap the benefits of offers on their own leisure travel, not to mention the vast array of cruises available.”

Supporter offers will be updated on the ITFC website at www.itfc.co.uk on a regular basis, and will also be available in the Fred. Olsen branches in Ipswich, Woodbridge, Bury St. Edmunds, Felixstowe and Colchester town centres.

Photo caption:

Nathan Philpot, Sales and Marketing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines (second from right), and Steve Williams, Managing Director of Fred. Olsen Travel (second from left), celebrate becoming the Official Cruise and Travel Partner of Ipswich Town Football Club, with the Club’s Manager, Mick McCarthy (far left), and Jonathan Symonds, ITFC’s Joint Managing Director.