portman road has been used by the local cricket team since 1855. in 1884 ipswich town f.c. moved from another area of ipswich to ground. both teams shared the ground during the summer. the first professional football team to play at the ground was preston north end in 1892. they played a match against a suffolk county football association team. a temporary bleacher was built for the visit of aston villa in 1898. over 5,000 people watched the match. in 1901, a tobacco factory was built along one side of the pitch.