Norwich City’s derby date at Ipswich Town set for a Sunday switch
Daniel Pacheco scores Norwich City's fifth goal on their last visit to Portman Road, back in 2011. - Credit: Focus Images
Norwich City's East Anglian Derby at Ipswich Town is set to be moved back to a Sunday, according to reports south of the border.
The Championship fixture was originally scheduled for Saturday, August 23 when the initial Football League fixtures were announced earlier this month.
However, the latest meeting between East Anglia's bitter rivals appears set to follow the pattern of most recent derby fixtures – with a noon kick-off on Sunday of the August back holiday weekend, at the request of Suffolk police.
The two clubs will meet for the first time since City's 5-1 victory at Portman Road in April 2011 which, rather out of keeping, was held on a Thursday night due to the Easter programme. Before that, the last 16 East Anglian derbies had been played with a Sunday lunchtime kick-off since the autumn of 1998 – when Norwich won 1-0.
However, there has been no confirmation of any change – and with rail services from Norwich to Ipswich set to be disrupted on the rearranged date, there may yet be some discussions to go before that confirmation is forthcoming.
A swich for the return fixture at Carrow Road on Saturday, February 28, also seems likely.
A Suffolk police spokesman said: 'Suffolk Constabulary can confirm that it has requested the Football League move the Ipswich versus Norwich fixture to lunchtime on Sunday, August 24. The request stems from a recommendation contained in a report examining the policing of the Ipswich v Norwich fixtures in 2011.
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'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.
'However, the request to move the fixture has yet to be confirmed.'
