A SERIOUSLY ill Ipswich Town fan who wanted to see one last game at Portman Road collapsed and died in the North Stand, it emerged today.Ipswich Town Football Club officials have spoken of their sadness after the devoted fan died during Saturday's game against Charlton shortly after Owen Garvan's stunning opening goal.

A SERIOUSLY ill Ipswich Town fan who wanted to see one last game at Portman Road collapsed and died in the North Stand, it emerged today.

Ipswich Town Football Club officials have spoken of their sadness after the devoted fan died during Saturday's game against Charlton shortly after Owen Garvan's stunning opening goal.

The supporter, from the Sudbury area and believed to be in his 70s, is thought to have suffered from a heart attack at about 3.30pm in the stand's upper tier near a bar area.

Ambulance staff who were at the game were unable to save the man, who is understood to have suffered from ill health.

His death has saddened club officials who say they believe he was a long time supporter of the club, and said their thoughts are now with his family.

Terry Baxter, a spokesman for the football club, said: “We are terribly sad to hear the news of this incident.

“We understand that the gentleman was a long standing Ipswich Town fan, and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends at this time.”

A Suffolk Constabulary spokeswoman said: “We received reports that there had been a sudden death, that an elderly gentleman in the North Stand had suffered a suspected cardiac arrest.

“Officers and the ambulance service attended and his next of kin have now been made aware.”

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “We were asked to go and assist colleagues there, we had staff based at the match, but no-one was conveyed to hospital.”

“We have a team at the ground for every match and they called us,” another ambulance spokesman said.

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