Suffolk police are advising fans to be prepared for crowd and traffic congestion at Saturday’s home game against Cardiff City with space in the Portman Road car park limited as it will be used for the away supporters’ coaches.

The police suggest that car sharing or using public transport may be advisable and that those not attending the game avoid the town centre on Saturday afternoon.

Superintendent John Everett is overseeing a policing operation, which will involve more than 80 officers from the Suffolk Constabulary and the British Transport Police, and called on fans of both clubs to behave responsibly: “This will be an exciting game for both teams. We hope that people celebrate the match sensibly and in the right spirit.

“We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour, violence, racial chanting, mindless vandalism or any alcohol-fuelled disorder. We will continue our use of firm but fair policing to ensure the safety of those attending the game and those members of the public wishing to go about their normal business.”

Football intelligence office, PC Marc Norman, added: “Our message is simple; enjoy the game, stay onside and don’t spoil it for others.”

Photo: Action Images

BlooooCD added 10:10 - Sep 16 Town fans have to grab their balls and lift their voices this Saturday! We need to make Portman Road a cauldron of chants and passion! The City fans will be right up for this and if we thought Tuesday's QPR bunch were loud... Cardiff fans will raise the roof right off! Come on Town!!!!! Blooooooooooooooo Army!
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joshuanelli added 10:19 - Sep 16 We need the fans that go to our away games to stoke up the atmosphere on Saturday! The away games are always very well supported and the atmosphere of 2,000ish fans always seems to be a lot louder than the 19,000ish that we get at our homes games! We pay good money to support the boys every week - so lets do that AND SUPPORT! CHEER ON THE BLUES THIS WEEKEND - WE CAN'T LET THE CARDIFF FANS SHOW US UP!

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ShortBlue added 10:28 - Sep 16 brilliant work from suffolk police - if they are so bothered about the cardiff fans, why not just keep them in the ground for 30 mins after the final whistle ??
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Chicago_Blue added 10:44 - Sep 16 Good point ShortBlue. Usually for a couple of hundred Cardiff fans (okay, there may be more on Saturday) Portman Road is blocked off for home fans after the game and it all seems OTT, and a right pain for home fans. When we play Norwich or Cardiff the local police seem to panic and insist on a 8am Sunday morning kickoff with East Anglia effectively shut down. I'd happily use public transport more if what should be a relatively simple 20 minute train journey didn't involve having to get off at Manningtree and catching a bus because of engineering works and then having to repeat it later in reverse. I'm sure I can get home from away games quicker sometimes than home games.

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paul73 added 10:48 - Sep 16 Over reaction by the police yet again,wont be no more than 2 coaches from cardiff..done the same for swansea last year and all they brought was half a coach and a 12 seater mini bus...police make more õf this than they need too..doubt there be more than 250 cardiff fans..
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devontractorboy added 10:54 - Sep 16 Keeping the Cardiff fans for 30 minutes after the final whistle is a great idea...that won't wind them up will it!!!!! The Police have a tough job to do guys and receive intelligence about games, what may seem 'over the top to you' often prevents trouble from starting in the first place. The Police are damned if they do and damned if they don't.......they are there for the protection of law abiding people and should have our support!!

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bleedblue added 10:56 - Sep 16 a big game, needs big passion, common town fans - lets raise the ante this saturday!!
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Blue_Square added 10:56 - Sep 16 This sort of over the top Police reaction annoys the hell out of me.... They do this every year - for the 3 or so coaches that turn up... JOKE. I travel 140 mile round trip to every home game, and to fight for a space because of this over-reaction means i'll have to dedicate another hour off of my day for pretty much nothing...
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Chicago_Blue added 11:03 - Sep 16 I take your point devontractorboy but it is an inconvenience all the same. As soon as the Norwich fixture is announced it's moved to a Sunday morning kick off straight away on police advice. There have been other derbies in the country at 3pm on a Saturday surely.
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cthulhu added 11:09 - Sep 16 The police attitude towards our games *still* mystifies me. If Burnley vs. Preston can be played at 5pm on a Saturday for TV, why can't our derby games be afternoon kick-offs?
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devontractorboy added 11:13 - Sep 16 Chicago Blue I take your point, but having been an innocent caught up in a fully fledged running battle between Chelsea & West ham fans in London once I'd much rather suffer a bit of an inconvienience. I just don't think we should blame the Police, remember that football hooligans are just a VERY small minority, who ruin the game for all of us!
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Chicago_Blue added 11:15 - Sep 16 Your talking about two sets of fans who hate each other - not the same as Ipswich V Cardiff, who aren't rivals. Policing is critical of course, I just think the hassle we have when Cardiff come to town is unnecessary.
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OldClactonBlue added 11:21 - Sep 16 I can't believe the OTT way the police operate for Cardiff, or Norwich games. Over the last few seasons the have partially, but ineffectively, blocked off the car park oppsite PR for a handful of coaches when the Welsh teams come to town. If they have intellligence surely they could concentrate on the relatively small number who might cause trouble. Instead of this they inconvenience everyone in the area, football fans and non football fans alike. They could save a small fortune by cutting down on the overtime, leaving the helicopter and horses (when we go to Norwich) at home and treating people like human beings. However they instead on policing these games as if there was a major terrorist threat in the offing. In truth there are very few who really get involved in trouble and the police approach just stokes the antagonism.

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gibbo added 11:30 - Sep 16 Shame there was no warning Tuesday night to say that Bond Street was shut, whoever is in charge of highways in this town should be shot.
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cphtractor added 11:55 - Sep 16 cthulhu added 11:09 - Sep 1 I think all of us are working that one out.
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zippyrainbow added 12:17 - Sep 16 "We will not tolerate anti-social behaviour, violence, racial chanting, mindless vandalism or any alcohol fuelled disorder" ????? Keane will never get anywhere near the ground then !!!!!!
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BlueJewells added 12:27 - Sep 16 keep them after the whistle if there's going to be a problem, bring on the bluebirds
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Gilesy added 12:43 - Sep 16 Police Intelligence Officers - the very definition of an oxymoron.
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steed added 12:45 - Sep 16 Thanks yet again police i have a wheelchair bound son and always park as close as i can were should i park now. Home fans should come first
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suffolksam added 13:12 - Sep 16 i will take some vicks can someone tell them i will be fine
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Back_The_Boss added 13:44 - Sep 16 Should be a big crowd. Big 3 points at stake, COYB!
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B1TFC added 17:53 - Sep 16 Nardge aside, do we get treated with this "preferential" treatment????? I also like the fact the police are stating the obvious, has anyone ever got to and from FPR without any congestion?? by road??
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moomoosereni added 00:02 - Sep 17 Yawn, Boohoo the police said this and that. Get over it, you're going to the game, just worry about supporting the team for a change and not making Portman Road a Library when it comes to atmosphere and actually make some noise for a change!
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SouperJim added 09:34 - Sep 17 Who in their right mind tries to park anywhere near the ground anyway?
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blue_boi94 added 14:47 - Sep 17 this is silly. why not just keep them for 30 mins after the game. if they dont like that then they dont come. its that simple
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