The men will be VIP guests at the East Anglian derby

Pte Jonathan Pearce, 26, and L/Cpl Lewis Shenton, 21, won a quiz to find the biggest Norwich and Ipswich fans in their regiment.

The men, who are from the Royal Anglian Regiment, were not due back in the UK until mid-October.

But the pair flew home on Thursday and will be VIP guests at the East Anglian Derby at Portman Road on Sunday.

The quiz was held in Iraq and the questions were set by the clubs

Both men, who have been based in Basra for the past four months, said they were pleased to have won a flight home.

Pte Pearce, a Canary fan from Wisbech, Cambs, said: "A couple of days back in the UK to see the wife, children and the Derby... that's really exciting."

Tractor boy fan, L/Cpl Shenton from Ipswich, Suffolk, said he was optimistic about his team's future prospects.

"I think we'll [Ipswich Town] get in the play-offs again this season, but we won't qualify automatically," he said.