Town have confirmed that the home derby against Norwich City at Portman Road has moved from Saturday 23rd August to Sunday 24th August, but the Blues’ visit to Carrow Road remains on Saturday 28th February, although having moved to a 2pm start on police advice. The Portman Road game will kick-off at 12 noon unless Sky opt to show it in which case it will switch to 1pm.

Last week, TWTD reported that the home derby was set to switch to the Sunday and that the Canaries were keen to play their game on the Saturday.

Suffolk police subsequently released a statement confirming that they had advised a Sunday move for the Portman Road match: “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.”

Manager Mick McCarthy says he’s looking forward to facing Norwich as well as another of the relegated Premier League sides, Fulham, on the opening day.

“A bit like last season we’ve got two of the teams who were relegated in the first four games. We had Reading and QPR last year, now we’ve got Fulham and Norwich, big games for us,” he said.

While a fan of Saturday derbies, the Town boss says he understands why the home match has moved to the Sunday: “I think it’s dictated by other forces, generally the police force, not me or the clubs. I’d love to see it on a Saturday.

“I don’t know why we couldn’t play it early on a Saturday, but you can’t do that if there are going to be problems with it. I hope there aren’t but I don’t know.

“Everywhere I’ve been where there have been derbies, whether that’s Wolves and West Brom, Sunderland and Newcastle, Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday, they’re big games and unfortunately they do sometimes provoke a bit of bother, which we don’t want. We just want a good game of football.”

On Friday, Charlton confirmed that their visit to Portman Road has moved from Sunday 28th December to Tuesday 30th December, kicking-off at 7.45pm.

That switch means Town now have an unusually high seven evening Championship home games this season, eight including the Fulham match on the opening Saturday, which kicks-off at 5.15pm for Sky coverage, in addition to a further four away from Portman Road.

The Blues' home game against AFC Bournemouth could be brought forward a day to Good Friday from Saturday 4th April, although as yet there is no confirmation of this, while 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

Jimmy86 added 15:30 - Jul 1 Poor from the police in my view, especially with there being problems with travel on the sunday. Comes from a report into their handling of the mid week evening game, notice the words "their handling" so because they couldnt get it right they ask for it to be moved. Pathetic, the old firm derby never got moved to a sunday!!
6

Ipswich_Loyal added 15:41 - Jul 1 Yessssssssssssss! Means I can make the home game and a cheeky saturday 2pm kick off for the away leg. Bring it on!
0

NoCanariesAllowed added 16:25 - Jul 1 Saturday at 2pm? That probably won't be on TV then... ...not that I'm too fussed - provided it's still close to the ordinary Saturday kickoff time, I might yet be able to go!
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thebeat added 17:54 - Jul 1 Suffolk police you're a bunch of spoilsport jokers. Im not even awake at 12 on a Sunday
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whizzkid added 18:21 - Jul 1 There's also the important point that, by switching kick off to lunchtime, the atmosphere is deadened - even more so when one compares it to an evening kick off under floodlights. As it's OUR home derby, this unfairly impacts ITFC. With the matches likely to be important in the league, this could make a material difference to our campaign. The club should push back strongly in the hope that the next home derby isn't similarly treated.

3

jas0999 added 18:23 - Jul 1 Suffolk police justification fairly worthless seems Norfolk police are happy for a Saturday kick off. Clearly not bothered by the report. Really disappointed our home game has been moved considering the away game hasn't.
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NSL added 18:49 - Jul 1 Not surprised by this at all, having been to many of these games both home and away here always seems to be more trouble at the Ipswich game. Unfortunately Norwich is a more civilised place generally than Ipswich! Just a shame about their cruddy little football club.
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streety86 added 19:02 - Jul 1 Am going to miss the game now!! :-(
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ArnieM added 19:03 - Jul 1 Really? Would that be the more civilised norwich fans that 2 consecutive seasons ripped the seats out and threw them in the pitch in the Cobbold stand and smashed the toilets up -totally casuing thousands of £s of damage?? Btw thats the point at whichbthe derby fixture was moved to Sundays. Oh yes, they're wonderful " fans"
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PSGBlue added 12:28 - Jul 2 Why do we have to put up with this nonsense from Suffolf Police. It is no longer the 1980's give both sets of fans a chance to prove they can behave on a Saturday afternoon before treating everyone like naughty children. Why back to Sunday lunchtime anyway? The previous Derby at PR was on a Thursday evening just before Easter if I remember rightly. A lot was on that game with Norwich virtually going up after winning 5-1, and still no trouble.

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