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Tributes to 'Town's oldest Norwegian fan' who was 'hooked' on the club since 1961

Håkon Oterhals was born on April 5, 1938 in Møre og Romsdal, near Molde.

His relationship with Ipswich Town dated back to the last half of the 1960/61 season, when English football had begun to receive some focus in Norway.

He noticed that a special magazine was published every week which had a lot of English football as its theme - Mr Oterhals noticed Ipswich had a good season and eventually won the second division.

Håkon Oterhals with Town legend Terry Butcher in 2015Håkon Oterhals with Town legend Terry Butcher in 2015 (Image: Submitted)

At the time, Town were considered a small club, but this impressed him so much he decided to support the club.

His first meeting with Ipswich in the flesh was at Molde Stadium, when the Blues travelled to Norway to play several games in the run-up to the 1975/76 season.

Mr Oterhals' favourite memory was when Town met his hometown club Molde on August 5, 1975, with Ipswich winning this game 2-1.

In an interview with Ipswich Norway, he recalled the moment - saying: "I just had to get to this match for any price, and that's when my son Kenneth (who as three at the time) got his first meeting with Ipswich."

Mr Oterhals died recently at the age of 86 as Ipswich Town Supporters Club of Norway's oldest fan, possibly being Town's oldest and the first Ipswich fan living in Norway.

Ole Bernt Krogstad, chairman of the Norway supporters' club, said: "I will always remember Håkon as a extremely proud Ipswich supporter who had many nice and heartwarming stories about his trips around in England to follow his beloved team.

Håkon Oterhals with his son Kenneth and two grandchildrenHåkon Oterhals (second right) with his son Kenneth and two grandchildren (Image: Submitted)

"I had the pleasure of sitting next to him at a banquet where Ipswich Norway celebrated its first 25 years as a supporters club and I will never forget when he told me about a trip he had to Stockport.

"He was for some reason situated in Bradford at that time, and it was endless rain and rather windy throughout the day.

"But by the time he arrived in Stockport the rain had really picked up, and continued even more heavily throughout the match.

"I remember him telling me that he met around one hundred Town supporters in the away stand that day, and there was a really nice atmosphere amongst them, in contrast to the weather.

"The storm that had been reported had now caused a major flood, and all trains in the area were suddenly cancelled.

"A bus was put in as a replacement, and it was with mixed feelings that Håkon got into an ancient 12-seater to be transported in the direction of Bradford. Håkon told me that on a longer uphill, the radiator on the bus boiled over and caused the driver to stop.

"After a long time they finally got to another bus station and had to wait for further transport to Bradford.

"While he was waiting, in an Ipswich shirt, a Town supporter came up to him and asked where Håkon was going.

Håkon Oterhals has supported Ipswich for 63 years.Håkon Oterhals has supported Ipswich for 63 years. (Image: Submitted)

"This fellow Town supporter and his girlfriend drove Håkon all the way to the hotel."

Mr Oterhals often travelled to the UK and Ipswich and brought his children and grandchildren to Ipswich games, all of which are now also Town fans.

He was able to see Town back in the Premier League one last time before his death, as he was at Portman Road for the season opener against Liverpool.

The connections with the club continue, as his favourite song, Frank Sinatra's My Way, which will be played at his funeral, was also Town and England legend Sir Bobby Robson's favourite tune.

Mr Krogstad added: "I will always remember Håkon and his stories with joy. It would not surprise me if he is buried with a Town shirt - may he rest in peace."

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