Tributes have been paid to Håkon Oterhals, a devoted Ipswich Town fan whose passion for the club began in 1961 after discovering them in a magazine in Norway. Born on April 5, 1938, in Møre og Romsdal near Molde, Mr. Oterhals’ lifelong support for Ipswich stemmed from their remarkable 1960/61 season, when they won the second division. This achievement caught his attention through a weekly magazine focused on English football.
Ipswich’s underdog status impressed him, solidifying his support for the club. His first live encounter with Ipswich was at Molde Stadium during their pre-season tour before the 1975/76 campaign. A standout memory for Mr. Oterhals was witnessing Ipswich’s 2-1 victory over his hometown club, Molde, on August 5, 1975. Reflecting on that moment, he said, “I just had to get to this match for any price, and that’s when my son Kenneth (who was three at the time) got his first meeting with Ipswich.”
Håkon Oterhals passed away at 86, recognized as the Ipswich Town Supporters Club of Norway’s oldest member and potentially the first Norwegian fan of the club. Ole Bernt Krogstad, chairman of the Norwegian supporters’ club, fondly remembered Mr. Oterhals as “an extremely proud Ipswich supporter who had many nice and heartwarming stories about his trips around England to follow his beloved team.”
One such story involved a trip to Stockport. Mr. Krogstad shared, “He was, for some reason, situated in Bradford at that time, and it was endless rain and rather windy throughout the day. By the time he arrived in Stockport, the rain had really picked up and continued even more heavily throughout the match.” After the game, heavy flooding caused train cancellations, and Mr. Oterhals ended up on an old bus that broke down. Eventually, a fellow Ipswich fan and his girlfriend offered him a ride back to his hotel.
A dedicated supporter, Mr. Oterhals often traveled to Ipswich, bringing his children and grandchildren, who have all embraced the club as well. He witnessed Ipswich’s return to the Premier League during the season opener against Liverpool at Portman Road.
His connection to Ipswich extended even to his favorite song, Frank Sinatra’s My Way, which will be played at his funeral. The tune was also a favorite of Ipswich legend Sir Bobby Robson. Mr. Krogstad concluded, “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.”
