IPSWICH Town will be cheered on by 2,000 fans when they visit Sweden for the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie, it was confirmed today.With a ground capacity of just 12,000 at Helsingborgs IF and UEFA guidelines stating that only five per cent of tickets have to be given to travelling fans, there was a genuine concern that hundreds of Town fans would be left disappointed.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town will be cheered on by 2,000 fans when they visit Sweden for the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie, it was confirmed today.

With a ground capacity of just 12,000 at Helsingborgs IF and UEFA guidelines stating that only five per cent of tickets have to be given to travelling fans, there was a genuine concern that hundreds of Town fans would be left disappointed.

More than 1,100 Town fans made the journey to Russia for last week's victory over Torpedo Moscow – singing their hearts out and lifting the players to a 2-1 victory in the vast Luzhniki Olympic Stadium.

At one time today it looked as though just 600 tickets would be available for the next part of the European adventure - which would have meant heartbreak for hundreds of loyal Tractor Boys supporters.

But today Malum Palssun, events manager for Helsingborgs, said: "We have never given away so many tickets to away supporters before.

"Ipswich Town have been on to us and have requested more tickets. We have looked into it and are pleased to help.

"I am happy to confirm that Ipswich will be allocated 2,000 tickets, and we are looking forward to seeing their supporters in our country.

"We expect that the game will be a sell-out and the atmosphere should be good."

Some enterprising Town fans have already booked cheap flights from Stansted to Sweden, although the club will again be arranging official tours.

The number of fans who travelled in the official party to Moscow was 911 – and these supporters are expected to be the ones given first option on Helsingborgs tickets.

The Helsingborgs stadium has an official capacity of 17,000 but this is reduced to 12,000 for UEFA Cup games. Ipswich are officially entitled to just a five per cent allocation but thanks to the insistence of the Premiership club there should not be any disappointed fans wishing to make the trip.

After an absence of 19 years Ipswich fans are looking forward to making the most of the club's return to European competition and after painting Red Square blue they will now be able to carry on the good work in southern Sweden.

Ipswich Town said today that they could not comment on the ticket situation for the away leg. A spokeswoman said that an official announcement would be made later.