Ipswich Town have defended the price of their costliest matchday ticket which contributes to the club offering the most expensive matchday experience in the Championship.

A BBC survey found that Town’s most expensive adult ticket cost £63.50 which, added to a £3.20 pie and £2 cup of tea, totalled £68.70. A £3 matchday programme comes free with the ticket.

However, a club spokesperson said that particular ticket for a category A game, which allows a fan to sit right in the centre of the Cobbold Stand – around halfway up – offered more than just 90 minutes of football.

“We have 220 of these seats but only three are now available for matchdays as 217 have been purchased for the season,” said the club spokesperson.

“This ticket comes with a free programme, padded seats and access to an exclusive bar and is offers almost the same hospitality as directors would be afforded, apart from the fact it does not come in an executive box.”

The survey also revealed that Town offered the most expensive season ticket at £1,061, £311 more than their nearest divisional rivals, Leicester City, and £111 more expensive than the dearest season ticket at Premier League champions Manchester United.

The cheapest match-day ticket at Ipswich is £23.50.

Blackpool have the Championship’s cheapest season ticket at £195.30.

The spokesman, who stated that most Town season ticket holders paid on average £14.70 a game added: “We recognise that we are more expensive in some areas of ticketing than a number of Championship clubs but in other areas we are very comparable with our league rivals.

“We have frozen season ticket prices for the third successive year and the seventh time in 11 years and we also offered the supporters a 12 month interest free direct debit facility to spread the cost.

“Our supporters under the age of 11 could again purchase a season ticket for just £10, which we believe it one of the best offers in the country. This information was requested but not mentioned in the survey.

“Figures can be angled one way or another in any survey but the bulk of our season ticket holders will pay an average of £14.70 per game to watch Ipswich Town in action at Portman Road this season.

“We have answered all questions honestly for the survey down to the fact that our D Block matchday ticket and season ticket come out considerably higher than the rest of the Championship.”

The spokesman added: “While it has been reported that our cheapest day out is more expensive than Manchester City, it’s worth noting that 12 clubs in the Championship are reported to be more expensive than Manchester City