Fortuna Blues back at Portman Road for Sunderland clash

Ipswich play host to Sunderland in the Championship this weekend, but Town will also be host to 80 fans who have made the trip from Dusseldorf over to Ipswich for the fixture.

Since 2006, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Ipswich Town fans have enjoyed a special relationship, with the Blues welcoming a group of fans from Germany over every year in what is a "special occasion".

This year, the fans set off in two coaches from Bar 95 in Flinger Broich, the former home of Fortuna Dusseldorf, on Friday evening, before taking a trip on the ferry from Calais, before arriving at Portman Road on Saturday morning.

The group has been coming to Ipswich games since 2006 (Image: Fortuna Blues)

Ulli Münsterberg, the tour captain, said: "We start planning our trips when the fixtures are released and always look for around this time.

"We have good connections with the club and they were able to sort us some tickets for the match.

"We are really looking forward to coming back home."

The group will walk from Portman Road to Bears for breakfast, and will be enjoying Ipswich throughout the day, before walking to the ground alongside fan group Blue Action ahead of the match.

Blue Action group with Fortuna Blues (Image: Fortuna Blues)

Mr Münsterberg continued: "We are really looking forward to the game.

"Ipswich Town is in a real battle for promotion and this game against a team going for play-offs is going to be a classic.

"You couldn't hope for better."

After the game, the fans will go to Legends Bar at Portman Road for a bit before setting off back for Germany in the evening, arriving back in Dusseldorf on Sunday morning.

Mr Münsterberg continued: "We want to say thank you to all Town fans, it's always a more than friendly reception and we love coming back."

Fortuna Blues at Portman Road for one of their previous visits (Image: Fortuna Blues)