IPSWICH Town are set to be watched by their biggest live audience for many years when they take on Torpedo Moscow in the UEFA Cup at Portman Road on Thursday, September 13.

IPSWICH Town are set to be watched by their biggest live audience for many years when they take on Torpedo Moscow in the UEFA Cup at Portman Road on Thursday, September 13.

The BBC has selected the tie for live showing with an 8.05pm kick-off, and it is the first terrestrial TV full game in which Ipswich have featured since they lost 2-1 to Manchester United in a home third round FA Cup tie in January 1988.

The BBC, who proved a lucky charm for Liverpool when they followed them right to the final of last season's UEFA Cup campaign, had a choice between Ipswich Town and Aston Villa after satellite television tied up games involving England's other UEFA Cup entrants Chelsea and Leeds United.

Ipswich Town were today unable to put a figure on the amount the BBC have paid for live TV rights but the deal is bound to be a highly lucrative one. And with extra scope for pitchside advertising and sponsorship the match should prove to be a big financial hit for Town.

The match will be shown immediately after the end of popular soap EastEnders and is bound to attract a huge audience. Villa are at home next Thursday to Croatian side NK Varteks, and the BBC has yet to confirm which second leg match they will cover live.

Whether the Tractor Boys feature again could well depend on the state of play in both ties. Channel Five is likely to screen the game that the BBC decides not to bid for.

Ipswich Town secretary David Rose is currently in Moscow looking round the city and the 80,000 capacity Torpedo stadium.

Ipswich Town have switched two Premiership games to fit in with television. The home match against West Ham will be shown on pay-per-view TV on Sunday, October 28 with a 2pm start.

The game was originally due to be played a day earlier.

The visit to Aston Villa has been put back from Saturday, December 15 until Monday, December 17 (8pm).