Suffolk Constabulary have confirmed that Town’s home derby against Norwich City is expected to move to Sunday 24th August, as TWTD was first to report yesterday. Confirmation that the game is set to switch to noon on the Sunday from its initial scheduling at 3pm on the Saturday of that weekend is likely early next week.

In a statement they told TWTD: “Suffolk Constabulary can confirm that it has requested that the Football League move the Ipswich v Norwich fixture from Saturday 23th August to lunchtime on Sunday 24th August.

“The request stems from a recommendation contained in a report which examined the policing of the Ipswich v Norwich fixtures in 2011.

“The report concluded that future derby matches should be held on a Sunday lunchtime, to minimise the potential for disorder and disruption to the local community. However, the request to move the fixture has yet to be confirmed.”

The report followed the Portman Road derby in April 2011, which unusually took place on a Thursday evening, when 19 fans were arrested, many of them having been involved in a stand-off outside the ground which led to around 100 Norwich fans missing the kick-off.

Arrangements for a Sunday game are complicated by railway engineering work taking place that day.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “As part of our ongoing investment to improve the railway we are replacing the track in the Ipswich area on Sunday 24th August.

“This work involves specialist engineers and equipment and was planned months in advance and before any football fixtures had been set.

“As a result of the work, there will be changes to services so we advise passengers who are travelling on that day to check with Abellio Greater Anglia or the National Rail Enquiries website.”

As a result of the work it's likely that Norwich fans will be bussed directly from Carrow Road to Portman Road.

Further to yesterday’s list of other fixtures which may move, Town’s Friday 26th December game at Brentford could switch to a 1pm kick-off, as has been the case with Bees’ Boxing Day games in the past.

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 09:51 - Jun 27 Not surprising, but i'm not really fussed
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Ipswich_Loyal added 09:54 - Jun 27 Excellent news! I'll be able to make it!!
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MaySixth added 10:01 - Jun 27 Sky?
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PhilTWTD added 10:02 - Jun 27 No Sky interest, from what I'm told.
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dalinghooblue added 10:24 - Jun 27 Once again, the fans have been shafted. Only one train into Ipswich on the East Suffolk line that morning, arriving at 9.50. Park and ride does not operate on a Sunday, so the vast majority of the out of town fans will have to come by car. With no trains from Norwich, presumably a lot of their travelling fans will also travel by car. Parking will be at a premium, and the extra traffic on the roads will cause chaos. Has this really been thought through?

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Cheshire_Blue added 10:24 - Jun 27 Any truth in the rumor that Suffolk Constabulary have also requested to pick the Town Team !
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jas0999 added 10:26 - Jun 27 Disappointing. May not be able to make this now.
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TJS added 10:27 - Jun 27 "Suffolk Constabulary requested" ??? Why don't they just call a spade a spade and say "Suffolk Constabulary ORDERED"
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Cheshire_Blue added 10:33 - Jun 27 Rather than alter the date, maybe Suffolk Constabulary should look at the way they police the game.
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RIPbobby added 10:36 - Jun 27 I too don't think this one has been thought through. In the past the mass majority of travelling fans arrived by train and thus making it very easy to police. If the travelling fans arrive in small pockets here and there then policing will be very difficult. I don't really think it needs to be shifted to Sundays. There is no love lost between them and us, but I don't really see mass violence prevailing at 3pm on a Saturday.

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Jimmy86 added 10:40 - Jun 27 Pathetic from the police, what about the last local derby at 7:45!!! Should 3 o clock kick off on a saturday afternoon like every other game. Yes there is disorder, its a local derby and our most heated rivalry. The police are paid to deal with any sort of disorder, its their job. Its always only a minority, wearen't known for hooligans or fan disorder. Poor from the police

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wazza added 10:43 - Jun 27 Bank holiday weekend when people have things planned was bad enough but to move to Sunday slap bang in the middle - is even worse - had it been saturday could have delaid leaving - had it been monday could have come back early but no chance on the Sunday
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owenitfc added 11:16 - Jun 27 I wish the police would stick to what they do best, covering up hillsboro, phone hacking, jimmy saville etc. It's not rangers v celtic. And even the police up there don't spoil it totally like our plod tries to do. I hate sunday at noon kick offs. the biggest match of the season shouldn't be played at this time.
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bluemagic74 added 11:21 - Jun 27 Sorry to those that cant make it but those that can will sing there heart out for u against the scum COYB..
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WickedBlue added 12:17 - Jun 27 Bloody Suffolk Constabulary and IBC are bloody useless. They panic whenever there are crowds of over 10 people. They could not organise a pi$$ up in a brewery or an orgy in a whore house.
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cornishblu added 13:32 - Jun 27 ...with you all who can't make it on a Sunday....wonder if the club has ever consulted the fans over their preferences ?????
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carlisleaway added 07:38 - Jun 28 Read the write up again, Suffolk Police are only going on a report filed by Norwich City FC back in 2011. It is those inbreds up the road who are at fault.
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runningout added 11:15 - Jun 28 stick to 3pm saturday I say.. sure the police can cope. Any numpties should stay away
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Talbs77 added 13:55 - Jun 28 Will affect atmosphere being at that time. The police should be able to cope, hardly Rangers v Celtic!!!
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EatonBlue added 23:40 - Jun 28 Not too good either for the many Town fans who normally travel by rail from Stowmarket, Diss and Norwich.
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