Expats warm up for Far East Anglian derby party

Norwich and Ipswich fans living more than 6,000 miles from East Anglia are all set for Saturday's Old Farm Championship clash.

The game is one of the biggest East Anglian derbies in years, with Ipswich top of the table and Norwich sixth.

A capacity crowd is expected at Carrow Road to see if the Canaries can dent the Tractor Boys' automatic promotion hopes.

Meanwhile, in Singapore, where the temperature is 32C (90F), diehard supporters are warming up for a party.

About 30 fans - 25 of them Ipswich supporters - are expected to gather around a television at The Penny Black in Boat Quay.

The "watch party" has been organised by the Singapore branch of the Ipswich Town Supporters Club, but a few Norwich fans are also expected.

Kate Czarnecki, 41, a former Ipswich High School pupil, set up the fan club after moving to Singapore four years ago.

"For the first three three years, I thought I was the only Town fan," said Mrs Czarnecki, a former television presenter who lived in Woodbridge, Suffolk, as a child.

"Then suddenly about six months ago I got a LinkedIn message from a chap who actually attended Ipswich Boys' School."

Mrs Czarnecki, whose maiden name is Riley, said she "reached out" through social media and via BBC Radio Suffolk in search of more fans.

She said the first "watch party" was staged for the reverse fixture at Ipswich's Portman Road ground earlier in the season.

"I feel incredibly fortunate that we are able to follow Town and be connected to Ipswich even though we are thousands of miles away," she said.

Mrs Czarnecki, who lives in Singapore with American husband Walter, 45, and son Casimir, three, is sure her Norwich-fan friend Brendan Moran and a few of his mates will add a splash of yellow.

"[Norwich fans] haven't been invited by me, put it that way," she said.

"There will be Brendan and a few mates, I'm sure... we all rub along nicely."

Mr Moran, 34, confirmed Mrs Czarnecki's suspicions.

"It's just nice to be with people from East Anglia," said Mr Moran, who comes from Oulton Broad, Suffolk, and went to Notre Dam school in Norwich.

"It's all very friendly."

He added: "It's a bit warm for a scarf, but I'll definitely be wearing my Norwich shirt."

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