Football derby passes off peacefully
IPSWICH Town's first derby with Colchester United in 49 years passed without any significant incidents of trouble, police said today.A sell-out crowd of more than 6,000 fans - the biggest gate in seven years - squeezed into Layer Road last night to watch the U's record a shock victory against their near neighbours.
IPSWICH Town's first derby with Colchester United in 49 years passed without any significant incidents of trouble, police said today.
A sell-out crowd of more than 6,000 fans - the biggest gate in seven years - squeezed into Layer Road last night to watch the U's record a shock victory against their near neighbours.
Around 1,000 of the crowd had travelled from Ipswich to take in the derby.
Police had earlier called on fans from both sides to act responsibly before, during and after the game.
And overall, said it seemed supporters heeded the appeals.
However, around 20 younger Blues fans, thought to be troublemakers, who had travelled to Essex without a ticket were put on trains back to Ipswich before the match.
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Police also reported a few scuffles before the game, although no violence-related arrests are believed to have been made.
At least one Colchester fan known to Essex Police was arrested for breaching a football banning order after being found in the town centre after the match.
However, police said Ipswich supporters were well behaved during the game and added that the match had passed peacefully.
Colchester visit Ipswich in the return game on January 20.
What did you make of the derby atmosphere? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
