I missed something last season. Two particular games that, for me, symbolised exactly what it was to be an Ipswich Town fan. Yes, the classic Ipswich-Norwich encounters or, as the national media dubs it, “The Old Farm Derby”.

Sunday sees the long-anticipated encounter at Carrow Road where Norwich will host Ipswich after the former’s brief stint in third tier football. Needless to say the home side have been in better form, three points ahead of Ipswich and four league positions higher.

I started watching Ipswich when I was eight years old; my immediate family were not football fans, although Ipswich runs through my extended family. As a Stowmarket lad I live only 20 minutes from the ground, so naturally the Tractor Boys were an obvious choice. It was my granddad that took a big interest in football and it was through him that I took a liking to football and, eventually, an interest in sports writing.

My record watching Ipswich has been good, my fondest memory probably being the 3-1 Ipswich victory over Norwich three years ago when Danny Haynes scored twice, because it was one of a few times I went to see Ipswich play with my family, who enjoyed their day at Portman Road.

Over the years supporting my club I realised that there was one eternal argument between both sets of fans and that was which club was the better of the two? Naturally as an Ipswich fan I would say the Tractor Boys, but both sets of fans would usually pick their respective teams.

Looking at the argument from a Norwich perspective I can understand a couple of points. Firstly Norwich are likely to have more supporters, and this stems from simple demography. Norfolk have an estimate population of 850,000 people, while Suffolk have approximately 715,700, according to a 2008 census survey. Of both counties, Norfolk only have one professional football club, Norwich, whilst Suffolk has Ipswich, but also compete for Colchester fans further south.

Norwich have also had more success over the past decade, a Championship and a League One title is more prestigious than a fifth place finish in the Premier League and UEFA Cup football. However, Norwich’s relegation to League One was the lowest point either club had been for decades.

But to win a debate against a Norwich fan you simply have to point to a few things:

Firstly we have won more trophies, and more prestigious trophies for that matter. Most football clubs would be proud to have a top division title, an FA Cup and a UEFA Cup in their trophy cabinet. Ipswich have also won three second tier league titles to match Norwich’s.

Secondly, Ipswich Town are historically a better side than Norwich when compared with a head-to-head record. Between the two sides, Ipswich have won 40 times to Norwich’s 34. Over the past decade, Ipswich still shade it, winning five compared to Norwich’s four and the honours split even in four draws.

Finally, Ipswich are the better top flight side, standing at 31st with 1206 points compared to Norwich’s 963 points and 36th position in the table. These types of tables can be misleading though, Ipswich have played almost more than 300 top division games than Norwich since after the Second World War.

Also worth pointing out is the fact Ipswich Town have played more top level football than Norwich and have supplied the England national team with two of its finest managers, Sir Alf Ramsey who won the World Cup in 1966 and Sir Bobby Robson who took the country to the semi-finals of Italia 90.

Back to the present, and I am looking forward to the local derby, however I do suspect the game will be difficult for us and looking at form and aided with home advantage, Norwich are favourites. But Ipswich and Norwich fans will know that form rarely counts for nothing in these games, which makes supporting either side that bit more exciting.

sacreblue added 01:33 - Nov 25 ""Norwich have also had more success over the past decade, a Championship and a League One title is more prestigious than a fifth place finish in the Premier League and UEFA Cup football"" I disagree, I consider a 5th place premier league finish to be far superior to a championship title and participation in the UEFA cup to be a far greater accolade, than winning league 1.

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MBG added 06:54 - Nov 25 There cannot be any debate about which club has been more successful. Ipswich have won the League Championship, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. Norwich have only won the League Cup. We have played in the top flight many more seasons than Norwich and have qualified for Europe eleven times compared to only once for them. End of story. I agree with sacredblue. The idea that a second tier championship trophy is more prestigious than a fifth place finish in the Premeirship and qualification for Europe is absurd.

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stiffshorts added 08:15 - Nov 25 No doubts whatsoever about the more successful club. Name a club in Europe with the same, or less, "catchment area" of fans (very small) that's won the 1st (top) division title, FA & Europa cups, numerous smaller division titles, been promoted to top flight then finished 5th in first season back, produced three national managers (2 England 1 Scotland) 1 of whom won the World cup & produced many players for the national side? Case won. Town are the most successful side in Europe for their "size". I'm still worried about Sunday though, the current crop & their boss are not up to it. I hope I'm wrong!

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Blue92 added 09:01 - Nov 25 'a Championship and a League One title is more prestigious than a fifth place finish in the Premier League and UEFA Cup football.' ...joker.
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Jesney_Havoc added 09:32 - Nov 25 I think it's simpler than that. Nodge have a ridiculous strip and badge, and the gene-pool of their fans is limited.
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Kropotkin123 added 10:20 - Nov 25 "Norwich have also had more success over the past decade, a Championship and a League One title is more prestigious than a fifth place finish in the Premier League and UEFA Cup football. However, Norwich’s relegation to League One was the lowest point either club had been for decades." Erm... no they haven't... as you have just proven, with the facts. A minor point missed... "Ipswich's record at Portman Road is almost peerless in European football. For 45 years, Ipswich held the record for the longest unbeaten run of games at home in European competition.[65] The team's absence from such tournaments in recent years has now seen the record overtaken by AZ Alkmaar" At Portman Road: W25 D6 L0 F84 A12

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Nuggets added 10:36 - Nov 25 Morning gents I made my somewhat controversial point about titles over European football simply by what accolade will be deemed higher by a historical point of view. Whilst it pains me to even begin arguing for the Budgies, I offered a balanced article to understand why Norwich fans believe their team to be better than ours. Is it blind loyalty to their club? Neutrals will judge better sides by titles, trophies and head-to-head records. Whilst fifth place in the Premier League by a newly promoted side is likely not to be repeated again, the fact of the matter is winning a league title in any division takes a deal of strength and consistency. The honours list of Ipswich Town will not show a fifth place finish in the Premier League, it will not show our progress in the UEFA Cup. What it will show is that Norwich City has won two division titles, albeit second and third tier titles. Whilst it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference to what we achieved in the late 70s/early 80s, it does point to Norwich having a better last decade, judged solely on honours. That was the point I was making.

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Nuggets added 10:51 - Nov 25 Kropotkin123, I know Norwich are not the better side, that would be clinical insanity. I clearly stated we have the better team. But, regarding the quote you used, what I said was "over the past decade". It seems some people are overlooking the points I made afterwards and focused on the fact that I think Norwich are the better side simply because of the quote people are using. They have had recent success, that is undeniable, whilst it does not even stand up to our success of earlier years, they have won two division titles.

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Kropotkin123 added 11:41 - Nov 25 Not once did I say or suggest you said Norwich are the better side, but what I am saying, which is in clear disagreement with a small part of a good article is the fact that you have insinuated that staying in a division is better form than getting relegated and beating rubbish teams for a year. The only result I remember from that year is them getting thumped by Col U. And speaking of historical judgement, I quoted wikipedia about our club, which is arguably going to be most neutrals first port of call for statistically judging our club. Our club in this decade added 6 more scores to that undefeated record, beating Inter Milan in the process. I don't think anyone here, besides you, thinks that beating Inter Milan at home in Europe is a worse achievement than winning the 2nd tier title. I wouldn't swap those 6 addition results for 5 2nd tier titles over 10 years. I want to reiterate that it is a good article, I just think your perspective is wrong on the last ten years paragraph.

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blueknights added 12:23 - Nov 25 Not a particularly inspiring article, from a usually intersting blogger, that does not address the primary characteristic of derby rivalry. The emotions generated, sustained and aired endlessly, Question: which set of fans is more jealous of the other? And I cannot see how finishing fifth in the top league, and within one game of third place, is overshadowed by the pots of lesser competions. When asked, we rarely talk about our championship successes - unless it is in conjunction with the 1st division title!

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Nuggets added 14:20 - Nov 25 Kropotin123, I respect your opinion and I do see the point, finishing fifth in the Premier League for a club of our standing is a marvellous achievement, but my point is that this feat is likely to be forgotten to neutrals. Silverware is key to history, and my point is that by winning two league titles, Norwich have won silverware this decade. We have not done so. Unless we include the Fair Play award ;) Blueknights, what do you mean? The article was to list the reasons why we are a bigger and better club than our neighbours in the next county. It detailed our greater history and superior head-to-head record. I did not delve into the emotions and feelings of the derby because I never intended to do that.

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bluesandbooze added 07:39 - Nov 26 Jesney Havoc, If their gene pool is limited, then ours must be more limited. Their population is significantly higher than ours. Work it out. The reality of course is that this is a purile argument which both sets of fans level at each other and is childish.
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bluesandbooze added 07:46 - Nov 26 Nuggett, You point out that Norwich have more fans than us because of demographics and that there is only one pro team in Norfolk and that we have to compete with Colchester. We are hardly competing with Colchester for fans. Many people in Colchester and Nth Essex support Town, but virtually nobody in Suffolk support Colchester and you could make a case for saying that very few people in Essex support Colchester either. Unfortunately Norwich are bigger but we have won more.

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TractorRoyNo1 added 09:55 - Nov 26 2,400 of "The Farmy Army" will be there on Sunday to support Keano and the boys to victory.
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Back_The_Boss added 11:03 - Nov 27 I have a feeling we will draw 1-1, not a bad result in all honesty.
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Back_The_Boss added 20:11 - Nov 29 Shocking result. Surely Keane's days are numbered.
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