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[Blog] The Pride and Dignity of Being an Ipswich Fan Written by Sindre94 on Monday, 14th May 2012 00:51
If you don't care about foreign Ipswich fans, I want you to stop reading this right now. Thanks, now I can continue my blog.
It was the 12th April 2012, and I was going by my self, at the age of 18, to England, the best country in the world, for the first time in my life. Just to watch Ipswich.
The trip from Norway was fairly non-turbulent and I arrived in Ipswich around 2pm that day, getting picked up by Inge Haug, a Norwegian Town fan who lives in Ipswich.
The 14th April and the coach trip to Crystal Palace began, a bus trip where I listened to beautiful Ipswich songs and buzzed myself up for an incredible away day.
We entered Selhurst Park and the first half was all right, we dominated possession and outplayed a solid Palace side. Alright, we were 1-0 down and came back getting the draw, but the football itself was what I came to see, but my main experience after that match was the fans that I was lucky to be surrounded by (video was recorded by me and note how we still sing AFTER the match. It's so impressive, our away fans are amazing).
A meaningless game, and still well over a thousand passionate Town fans show up and sing their hearts out for a team that has disappointed us all massively this season. I'm shellshocked, proud and so amazed by how its possible, our away fans especially are so good and so supportive of their team.
At the back, where the crazy and mainly the people without many clothes stood, I was dragged up by a certain Inge, and he told me I would get so much more out of standing up there with the crazy fans, than just sitting there clapping when we did something good.
And he was right, it's such an amazing feeling to stand there and constantly sing, than to just sit there.
The Norwegian fans went on to see the Birmingham game at home a few days later, where we once again outplayed the opposition without getting the rewards.
I just wanto to say I'm proud of being an Ipswich fan and hope we all can get the joy of getting promoted again. We all deserve it!
(I'll be back with a blog on my hopes for the future in a few days' time).
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Crikey, if you think England is the best country in the world then
A That doesn't say much for Norway B I recommend you travel to a few more countries, which compared to the 'best country in the world' will probably blow your mind
Sindre you are a young man to be proud of. Don't ever be put off by what other people say just express your thoughts as you see it, exactly as you have just done. When I was your age I was in your wonderful country, we came in a couple of days before the war ended (the days of King Haakon(? spelling)) to stop the Russians from getting in and ever since then I have had a special feeling for both Norway and the Norwegian people. I always read your posts with pleasure so keep it up and make an old man happy. COYB
I also live outside of England Sindre 94 and although I have supported Town all my adult life (about forty years) I do not get the chance to see them as often as I would like. In fact, as luck would have it, they are coming over here to the Netherlands on a pre-season tour and I will be in China at the time.
Anyway Sindre, you are a great example to all of us passionate overseas supporters who want nothing more than to see the blues grace the Premiership once again. I have faith in Paul Jewell to deliver - if not next season, then probably the season after and like a good wine that matures with time, the waiting makes it all the more pleasurable in the end. As far as Norway goes I am very impressed with a duo from Bergen called Kings of Convenience. I saw them here last month and they are the best thing to come out of Norway since HA HA! Now that is enough to make anyone laugh isn't it?!
Sindre - good for you. When I was your age, family was poor that I had to work as part-time waiter to pay for my studies. Flying to Ipswich and watching the team play must have been a wonderful experience for you!
Yes I agree overseas supporters have added difficulties, like time difference (a 3pm game is 11pm for me, and a 7pm game is 3am for me), and nil tv coverage from this part of the world (Singapore) on championship teams & games. The Internet is my only resource.
So these ITFC forums and interesting blogs like yours provide a very good source of update on local developments. Please keep them flowing, thank you!
I used to be a season ticket holder, i gave it up when i moved away, i rarely travel back to Ipswich to see games now, prefering to go to away matches as i agree with you, the fans at the away matches seem so much more up for really supporting the team, rather than whinging at every given opportunity..... I just dont have to go as far as you to see the games! Fair play, thats commitment for you......
Hi Sindre. Great blog. Right from the heart. Your language is very good (a lot better than some of our "natives"!), but it is the message, not the language, that is important. You're right about the ITFC away fans. They are a good bunch. (Pity about the home fans lately, but that's another story.) I'm so glad to see that you're a YOUNG Scandinavian fan; this means our foreign fan-base is being renewed. Are you going to Holland? Look out for the ITFC sweden flag on the right. Vi kan snacka lite norska tillsammans!
@irishtim: my dad is a huge town fan aswell and he taught me to say Ipswich at an early age, I got more and more interested in the club and it wasnt until I was about 8 years I started following them and learning the history of the club throughout. Im so glad he inspired me at such a young age, glad Im not one of those very common gloryhunters in Norway
Sindre- great blog, thanks. People like you, Steve Sweden (have we got many Scandanavian supporters?) and singtown are an encouraging reminder of our past which presumably got us such widespread notice. Just think with TV coverage what it is these days compared to even the George Burley and certainly the Sir Bobby era, when we do something again in the PL we will be worldwide!
@singtown I hear you! I confess to missing a couple of evenin kick offs or falling asleep for part of games but on a working day.
I was a town season ticket holder on my teens and early 20s. Later work too me abroad to Singapore and Indonesia. I still try to get to some games. Last one was a 3-0 win over QPR. I'll be around for the start of next season.
Great blog Sindre. You're a true fan - always positive on this site, I've never known you moan or whinge once. I'm a Londoner and started supporting Town in 1970 when I was working for a year in Ipswich. I was lucky as the great Sir Bobby was just beginning to build the great team of the seventies. As I am sure you know, he was given plenty of time by the board AND the fans who I think ,had a lot more patience than a lot of the present fans but I, too, am proud to be an Ipswich fan , proud that we are still a club prepared to give the manager a chance to build a team worthy of promotion and not sacking him the moment a few things go wrong. I'm a season ticket holder, driving from London for nearly all the home games and,provided that its not too far, most of the away games as well and I agree, the away fans are brilliant. Once again, thanks for your blog and all your positive comments on this site.
BuckieBlue: At our last "board meeting" we had just over 180 registered supporters in ITFC Sweden. I am actually English, but I think I am the ONLY one who is. All the rest are passionate Swedish supporters, some from the "good old days", but most are actually later arrivals.
Great blog, the fact that it was written (or at least posted) at 00:51 says it all really.... Pessimistic, I'll not be in Holland either, might even be in England...... Same thing last year......;s
[Blog] The Pride and Dignity of Being an Ipswich Fan
