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

Skip73 added 21:49 - Jan 5 Blueboy, Why don't you just leave if you're that disgusted. Nobody wants you here anyway. Toddle on...
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carlisleaway added 21:50 - Jan 5 Having followed Delilah’s car on the day, what excuse does the driver have for continually blowing the car horn and stirring our younger fans up. Get over it and no need to bring the subject up
5

HopefulBlue69 added 21:50 - Jan 5 The reason blueboy is so upset about this is obvious, the nonsense he spouts every game or story on here is driven from his real agenda of upsetting real Ipswich fans while sitting at his PC wearing his beloved Green n Yellow...
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atty added 21:50 - Jan 5 FO
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BurleysGloryDays added 21:56 - Jan 5 Comments here seem to vindicate our club’s position! I think it’s awful that stuff was thrown at the car, not very Ipswich. Dafties exist in the fan base of every club. It’s a pity and I do believe we are quite a lot better than that as a fan base. HOWEVER I also think the Norwich owners’ decision was inexplicable, antagonising, and naive. The whole reason fans are separated going into and out of stadia with designated walkways and so on, is to stop unnecessarily confrontational moments in the first place. Why the Norwich owners think they’re above that is highly questionable. If they’re calling for introspection, they can start with themselves -and ask if they made good decisions that day that were in everyone’s best interests and didn’t put anyone, let alone themselves, in precarious situations.

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not_a_witty_name added 22:11 - Jan 5 If you're a Town fan and you sent her flowers then you should be ashamed of yourself.
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Sospiri added 22:11 - Jan 5 I agree with Blueboy; this incident makes us look pathetic. When are we - both clubs - going to get over this pitiful and increasingly vitriolic vendetta?
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Bluebass added 22:12 - Jan 5 After following Ipswich for 148 years, this is disgraceful. I mean, if our owners had driven through thousands of Norwich fans just before a match, they would have given a welcome cheer and thrown roses. Same for any other derby match, just love not hate. We must have the most aggressive fans in the country.i wish Delia no harm but, come on, she got away very lightly compared to other clubs. Just imagine this happening in Manchester, Glasgow, Liverpool etc etc.

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Bert added 22:14 - Jan 5 For once I agree with the general point Blueboy has made even if he himself has been guilty of inappropriate language.
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Generic added 22:28 - Jan 5 I’m saddened she hasn’t shut up her stupid cat-bum mouth, the disastrously faded old crone.
3

Umros added 22:52 - Jan 5 ‘Let’s be aving you ‘………. Na, don’t think so ………Luv!
2

WonTheCupin78 added 22:59 - Jan 5 So much else going on in the world....and this is news?
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essexccc added 23:13 - Jan 5 I’m sure even Scummers are embarrassed by these absurd comments. What on earth have Ipswich officially got to apologise for? You chose to have your car trail a triumphant team coach, surrounded by jubilant fans, when alternatives had been offered. What on earth did you expect? One beer can. Hardly a murder weapon and if you’d followed your own team coach, none of this would’ve happened. Why on earth should Ipswich apologise? No wonder your own fans want rid of you. Most of them aren’t very bright but at least they can see you should be retiring into a nursing home for outmoded cooks. You should apologise to Ipswich for your naïveté.

4

Freddies_Ears added 23:40 - Jan 5 Delia was told to arrive early (before a specific time) if she wanted to park on the main drive. She ignored the advice, and turned up right behind our bus. I don't condone what happened, but she should accept some responsibility.
9

shakytown added 23:47 - Jan 5 Blue budgie just pizz off then and lave the real supporters alone. Good riddance i say.
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terryf added 23:54 - Jan 5 Advised to follow a police escort with the Norwich coach but declines the offer and decides instead to follow the Ipswich coach in a highly charged atmosphere where the actions of one mindless idiot were pretty nailed on. OK though for us supporters in The Sir Alf to be inconvenienced when we are only yards away from the turnstiles but have to be rerouted by the police. Don't remember all this pc nonsense in years gone by!

3

barrystedmunds added 01:23 - Jan 6 Absolutely no apology or indeed comment needed in relation to this from Town. Get real!!! following the team bus of your arch rivals and not expecting some reaction is just asking for trouble. There’s dafties at every club but at 82 you’d have thought these two would’ve known better!!!
1

ipswichboi added 03:20 - Jan 6 She's a...
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bobble added 03:36 - Jan 6 " Smith and Wynn-Jones have issued a statement thanking Blues fans but criticising the club.'" so they thanked the fans ( whom one of threw the can ), but criticized the club ( who had nothing to do with it !!!).... this is one of this weeks most bizarre readings.................
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pennblue added 06:11 - Jan 6 I think we have to take this with a pinch of salt. Delia is an old lady now, and if you have watched her recent interviews is showing signs of this. I cannot believe she has been advised that putting out a statement like this makes any sense whatsoever, unless of course, she is deliberately trying to put our club through the mud. If that is her intent, then it is likely the media will pick this up (again). Of course the media will not publish the full scenario because if they do, their click bait story will lose its impact. So they will likely publish her words verbatim.

2

EricsGate added 06:27 - Jan 6 I can understand they were scared to be in that situation and if anyone owes them an apology it’s Suffolk constabulary for allowing their car to travel that route. Their driver and them should have more sense, would I let a tour guide walk me through a pack of lions dressed as an antelope?, I think not
4

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:14 - Jan 6 Actually, if you watch the video clips it's evident that while only one beer can may have hit the car, several objects were thrown. This behaviour is, of course, to be condemned. But, without in any way condoning it, any football supporter with half a brain will know that this type of conduct exists within the sport and that it is therefore sensible to take precautions to avoid becoming a target. Following the ITFC bus through the "welcoming committee" was not the most intelligent choice, for which the police should also surely take some blame. On trips to places like QPR or Millwall in the 70s it was prudent not to parade around wearing your Ipswich colours, even though the decision not to rankled. "Better safe than sorry." ITFC the club could, I suppose, say they were sorry the incident happened, but the club is in no way responsible for something that happened on a public road and with a bit of common sense could have been avoided.

3

dyersdream added 07:28 - Jan 6 Only one person to blame you Delia !
3

Churchman added 07:29 - Jan 6 If a car of ‘ordinary’ Norwich supporters had followed the Ipswich bus into that and got an earful and an empty beer can for their trouble they’d have been laughed at for being Grade A idiots that brought it on themselves. What makes Smith and her husband so special? The woman is just trying to trash ITFC over this non issue. What next? Councelling in public for beer can related PTSD? Nobody got hurt, nobody died and even her expensive, luxury car was undamaged.

3

Lukeybluey added 08:01 - Jan 6 Lets face it, Nodge supporters are a strange bunch and they do strange things...Delia is no different... They were told weeks in advanced of the welcoming happening for the ITFC coach, the sensible thing would've been to avoid that especially against arch rivals...some self awareness would've been wise. ITFC have nothing to apologise for.
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