Norwich City joint-majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones say they are saddened at the lack of an apology from Town following the incident in which their car was hit by a beer can prior to the derby at Portman Road last month.

The car conveying Smith and Wynn-Jones, both 82, closely followed the Town coach to the ground, Blues supporters having gathered in their thousands to welcome their team to Portman Road ahead of the match, which ended 2-2.

The car was hit by a beer can on its way through the crowds and Smith was reported to have been shaken. No complaint was made to the police.

Now Smith and Wynn-Jones have issued a statement thanking Blues fans but criticising the club.

“Delia and Michael would like to thank all the Ipswich Town supporters who are still sending messages of support, and even flowers, after the event to apologise for what took place at the derby match on Saturday, December 16,” the statement reads.

“There has been a very good relationship with Ipswich Town during our tenure of 28 years, and we are saddened that we are yet to receive a public apology.”

It’s understood Smith and Wynn-Jones had been given the opportunity to follow the Norwich team coach, which was given a police escort and entered the stadium via the old Staples site at the opposite end of the ground, however, instead opted to make their own way to the game.

Norwich had been informed of the coach welcome which had been planned by fans’ group Blue Action for the Sir Alf Ramsey Way/Constantine Road area around the ground.

Town said at the time that they would assist the authorities in any way they could but are adding no further comment.

Matchday Images

EssexBloo added 19:02 - Jan 5 FFS. Really?
8

MaySixth added 19:04 - Jan 5 So Ipswich have clearly apologised in private but that’s not enough? What a desperate club they are.
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Bert added 19:08 - Jan 5 Let’s see what our club says. Perhaps the facts are not what we believe them to be. The aggression towards Delia Smith is not warranted but equally the treatment against Ipswich fans at Carrow Road in past seasons is also not good. That said, why the Police allowed the car to enter the car park just after the Ipswich coach remains a mystery.
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itfckenty added 19:08 - Jan 5 In all honesty Ipswich have no control over one individual and it's not their fault in the slightest. If someone gave me the opportunity to have an escort and decided against it during an always "friction oriented" game, I would 100% expect some idiot to cause a problem. Doesn't make it right at all. But common sense would surly prevail.
25

RobsonWark added 19:13 - Jan 5 You should have done the right thing and followed your own team coach under a Police escort rather than wind up the Town fans by following our team coach when you knew what Blue Action were planning.
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MattinLondon added 19:29 - Jan 5 The only worthwhile thing about this story is the photo which accompanies it. How great is that.
5

ghostofescobar added 19:36 - Jan 5 Fvck sake, seriously?! Her “people” made a massive fvck up. That situation could have been so, so much worse……….if we happened to be hideous, violent supporters, which we aren’t. Personally, I think they made a massive fvck up and they got off lightly, because we are generally decent fans. Such a massively charged occasion, and they directly follow the Town bus in amongst thousands of Town fans?? Feck ‘em. Complete morons, with an incident completely of their own making.

13

stiffy501 added 19:36 - Jan 5 Bit late in the day to issue a statement Delia, think in hindsight you would be better to just let it go, this is just going to stir up more trouble !!
10

WestSussexBlue added 19:53 - Jan 5 At what point did the chauffeur fail to realise that driving the pair directly behind the Town team coach and into the Ipswich fans was a bad idea? Let me guess, he’s still got his job and the whole incident wasn’t seen as a big issue by Smith and Jones so are they still expecting an apology from Town!!
6

Bluesaway added 20:04 - Jan 5 Wasn't there a comedy series involving Smith and Jones? Alas, this pair seem unable to distinguish which bus/team they should be following!
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SickParrot added 20:04 - Jan 5 I hope that ITFC have publicly condemned the idiot responsible but Delia and her spouse have no right to expect the club to make a public apology for an event that was outside their control. I can't help thinking that the statement that Delia and her spouse have released is intended to unfairly tarnish the reputation of ITFC given that they were offered a police escort if they followed the Norwich team coach, but chose to arrive at a time of their choosing and then followed the Ipswich team coach. I can't help wondering if they wanted to provoke some trouble.

19

blueboy1981 added 20:16 - Jan 5 The Comments on here prove our Club and Supporters have changed beyond belief, the written language used by some is a total disgrace to Ipswich Town Football Club. After 60 years of following and financially supporting the Club as an Individual - that’s me Finished, I do not wish to be associated with such people. I have respect for Supporters, Directors, and Owners of other Clubs, as we have the right to expect also, and do generally receive. My Action will not matter, and sadly maybe welcomed - but that only goes to confirm my point. Time for some to hang their heads in shame - they are not real ITFC Supporters. I hope the Admin of TWTD are as disgusted as myself !

-55

Help added 20:16 - Jan 5 Grow up
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Flight_of_Shefki added 20:20 - Jan 5 I certainly don't condone violence or aggression in any sport - but let's be clear here, what did they honestly expect as they transited through the 'blue sea'. I think this is an attention seeking exercise.
11

monkeymagic added 20:31 - Jan 5 Surely the Club can only apologise for an incident that was at least somewhat within their control : I.e inside the stadium. Why is the Club expected to apologise for a random act committed on a Public Highway? We don’t even know it was a Town fan that did it, maybe is was a passer by or a disgruntled Norwich fan. Who knows. I actually rather like Delia but this statement is utter drivel.

6

Gcon added 20:39 - Jan 5 Blueboy's disgusted. Again. As I recall he spent a very long time being disgusted about us wanting rid of Marcus Evans. "Be careful what you wish for". Earlier today he was disgusted that people thought our new signees might add something. Despite spending years berating anybody that dares disagree with his negativity, he's finished with this club because a beer can landed on Delia's car and he's offended by the language on here - it's tipped him over the edge. Farewell, old bean.

34

Terrystowel added 20:40 - Jan 5 I've supported our fantastic club for over 70 years and yes, they were naive but nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, excuses throwing objects at a car. COYB.
6

itfchorry added 20:42 - Jan 5 Any particular reason that you didn’t follow the advice you were given to follow your Team Coach ?
7

grumpyoldman added 20:52 - Jan 5 As I understood Delia was offered a different time of arrival with police escort so avoiding this or anything similar happening, but it did not fit in with her schedule, the offer was declined. What did she or her associates think would happen before an eagerly awaited derby? I do not condone the idiots who threw the bottles & cans but it happened on a public road which the club has no control over.

11

Woolfenthen added 20:52 - Jan 5 not condoning the action of the fan at all, but if you think driving into a crowd of your rivals and you're not going to get some kind of abuse then you really are delusional, they had the option and took this one its as if they wanted something to happen but are upset it wasn't worse.
11

muhrensleftfoot added 21:10 - Jan 5 There’s just so much wrong with this. Firstly the stupidity of Delia and co to follow the Town coach in, knowing full well there was a big home contingent there. Secondly was the moronic behaviour of a few that thinks it’s acceptable to throw stuff at their car. And thirdly to issue a belated statement expressing their disappointment at the lack of apology for their own stupidity for not following advice.

10

BlueBoots added 21:12 - Jan 5 "It’s understood Smith and Wynn-Jones had been given the opportunity to follow the Norwich team coach, which was given a police escort and entered the stadium via the old Staples site at the opposite end of the ground, however, instead opted to make their own way to the game." If you're given the choice of taking a walk in one of two fields, the first housing a cow, and the second with a bull, if you choose the one with the bull it's your own damn fault if he decides to bash you about...

4

bournemouthblue added 21:17 - Jan 5 Sounds like Delia is deliberately trying to engineer a story out of this when it was already dead The fact they were offered a different route with police escort and turned it down is I suspect why we aren't apologising, nor should we I think we are better off ignoring it and letting this non-story burn out
14

carlo88 added 21:21 - Jan 5 For Gawd's sake it's only a blinking beer can! I've seen more violence at an under 5's toddler group.
5

budgiebasher added 21:46 - Jan 5 It really wasn’t that bad - a few beers and scum chants and a beer can dribbling down the bonnet. What did they expect following the coach in after a publicised coach welcome? They may be old but they’re still complete melts. Embarrassing and ridiculous statement from them
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