Hammers to tackle Tractor Boys

West Ham United are pleased to announce that the first-team squad will travel to Ipswich Town for a pre-season match on Wednesday 16 July 2014.

The 7.45pm kick-off will see the Hammers take on a Tractor Boys side which finished ninth in the Championship this term, just four points outside the Play-Off places.

The fixture will see West Ham return to Portman Road for the first time since August 2012, when Matt Taylor's goal was not enough to prevent the visitors falling to a 3-1 pre-season defeat.

The Hammers have fonder memories of previous trips to Suffolk, most notably the 2-0 Championship Play-Off semi-final second-leg victory in May 2005.

In all, the clubs have met 68 times in competitive fixtures since kicking-off with West Ham's 5-1 FA Cup third-round win at the Boleyn Ground in January 1950. The Hammers have won 27 and Ipswich 21, with 20 draws.

There are many historic links between West Ham and Ipswich, the most recent being Hammer of the Year Mark Noble's productive loan spell in late 2006.

Legendary Hammers manager John Lyall spent four-and-a-half years in charge at Portman Road between 1990 and 1994, winning the Division Two title in 1991/92. He was succeeded by caretaker manager Paul Goddard, who had previously played under Lyall at both clubs.

Another successful former Ipswich boss, Alf Ramsey, managed England and Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters to FIFA World Cup glory in 1966.

Five players also made their West Ham debuts against Ipswich - Keith Miller (November 1968), Mervyn Day (August 1973), George Cowie (August 1982) and Tony Gale (August 1984) all started their Hammers careers against the Tractor Boys, while Matthew Kilgallon began his loan spell from Leeds United against Ipswich in August 2003.

The Club can also announce a Development Squad pre-season match at Conference National side Braintree Town on Saturday 19 July at 3pm.

Alan Devonshire's side enjoyed a fantastic 2013/14 season, finishing sixth in the table and just missing out on the Play-Off places and a chance to gain promotion to the Football League for the first time.

Ticket details for both of the above fixtures will be confirmed on whufc.com in due course.