This week fans will get to meet their heroes at the Ipswich Town open day, a tradition that dates back decades.

Ipswich Star: Fun Day at Portman Road in 1986 Picture: ARCHANTFun Day at Portman Road in 1986 Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

The annual open day held at Portman Road in July and gives fans young and old the chance to watch the squad train, to meet the players and buy the latest kit.

Ipswich Star: A band on the pitch at Portman Road in 1986 Picture: ARCHANTA band on the pitch at Portman Road in 1986 Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

The gates will be thrown open on Thursday, July 26 but as we gear up for that we have been looking back at the 1986 open day.

Ipswich Star: Fans queing up to get into Portman Road Picture: ARCHANTFans queing up to get into Portman Road Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

In that year fans queued up to meet legendary manager Bobby Ferguson and players Jason Dozzell, Terry Butcher and Paul Cooper.

Ipswich Star: The EADT had a promotional stand at the event in 1986 Picture: ARCHANTThe EADT had a promotional stand at the event in 1986 Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

Were you there? Are you one of the excited fans captured in these photos?

Ipswich Star: What a prize! Picture: ARCHANTWhat a prize! Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

Gates will open at 9.30am on Thursday with the first-team squad and coaching staff taking part in a signing session before the players train on the main pitch.

Ipswich Star: Fans collecting autographs Picture: ARCHANTFans collecting autographs Picture: ARCHANT (Image: Archant)

Around 5,000 are expected to visit the stadium for this annual extravaganza.

Share your photos from the day with us here