The link between Town supporters and those of German side Fortuna Düsseldorf could lead to the clubs playing a pre-season friendly with the Bundesliga 2 side’s chairman welcoming the idea of a game between the two teams.
Around 120 fans of Fortuna attended the recent QPR game and have become regular visitors to Portman Road over the last decade.
Ulli Münsterberg, the organiser of the Fortuna Blues’ trips, was one of several fans — along with Fortuna legend Egon Köhnen — to be interviewed on BBC Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch during their most recent visit, an appearance they filmed (see below).
Fortuna chairman Peter Frymuth says he's big fan of the link between the fans: "Paul Jäger [director of finance] and myself have been watching the development of this friendship between football supporters for a good while and are impressed how Ulli Münsterberg managed to organise these trips to Ipswich with more than a hundred fans attending the last one.
"The example shows that not only financial or sportive success but also tradition can make for a friendly connection between football clubs and enthusiastic supporters can be excellent ambassadors for their football clubs."
Town have similarly backed the link between the two clubs' fans with the Fortuna Blues' recent visit warmly received: "Club, manager and players all thank the supporters of Fortuna. Welcome back any time!"
Ulli told TWTD that he has contacted the Blues in order to put officials at the two clubs in touch with one another: "As our club recognises what’s going on between both sets of fans and its positive effect and want to play a friendly, I have approached [Town club secretary] Sally Webb on behalf of the board of directors of Fortuna Düsseldorf.”
In his letter to Town, Ulli wrote: "Our club chairman Peter Frymuth and our director of finance Paul Jäger would like to send an official invitation to the managing directors of ITFC to figure out whether ITFC would be interested in a friendly match or other official club activities, [perhaps] an exchange for youth teams or U21 teams in the future.”
Whether the planned game would take place in Ipswich or Düsseldorf would form part of the proposed discussions between the clubs.