Stall to donate derby profits to rival foodbanks

The On The Stall City shop will donate all profits made on Saturday to an Ipswich foodbank

Staff on a football merchandise stall are giving a day's profits to a foodbank in their rival town, as an act of "something positive".

The Norwich City football club On The Stall City stand will make the gesture on the day of its derby clash at Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Ipswich Town fans will also have the opportunity to give to Norwich foodbanks, as part of the initiative.

Stall manager Andy Bowles said: "If something positive can come out of the day.. that would be a great thing."

On Saturday, the two sides will meet for the so-called Old Farm derby at Portman Road for the first time since 10 February 2019.

The last game between the clubs saw Norwich City win, 3-0 before it went on to win the Championship and be promoted to the Premier League, whilst Ipswich were relegated to League One.

Andy and Sharon Bowles run the merchandise stand in The Forum, Norwich.

He said: "We've decided we want to do something positive with the derby this year... all our profits from the day will be donated to the town supporters foodbanks."

The idea will see football fans give donations to their respective rival team's foodbank services.

Mr Bowles added: "Most Ipswich and Norwich fans are pretty decent, they love the rivalry - but it is just rivalry, it shouldn't go beyond that.

"If something positive can come out of the day hopefully... a positive donation to the Ipswich foodbank, that would be a great thing."

The merchandise stand moved from Norwich market to The Forum on 1 December.

The initiative has been part of a national campaign called 'Fans Supporting Foodbanks' which was launched in 2015 and saw Liverpool and Everton fans coming together.

Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks said on X: "Fantastic to see fans coming together to rise above rivalries (90 minutes on Saturday aside) to protect their communities from food poverty."