Chatham Town Women will be part of a historic occasion when they play Ipswich Town next month.

In what’s been described as a landmark occasion for Ipswich Town, their women’s team will be playing a league game at Portman Road for the first time in the club’s history and Chatham Town are the visitors.

The FA Women’s National League Southern Division match will take place in front of what’s expected to be a big crowd at Ipswich on Saturday, March 23.

All four stands at Portman Road – which can hold around 30,000 fans - will be open for the 3pm kick-off. The game has been brought forward 24 hours from the Sunday.

Chatham boss Keith Boanas sees it as a great opportunity for his team to experience. He asked his players if they were happy with the fixture change and it’s now been agreed.

Boanas said: “I put it to our players to choose and they have given us plenty of notice.

“It is a great opportunity for any player at this level to play at a professional club’s stadium.

“Some players will have experienced that kind of environment and those facilities before but many won’t have done and it is all about the experience.

“It’s a 3pm kick-off, some might work in the morning and get away early, but most of them have an opportunity to reschedule and it means they can have Sunday lunch at home!”

Town’s chief executive Mark Ashton, said: “We are delighted to confirm that our women’s team will play a fixture at Portman Road.

“There has been a clear passion and interest in a game being held at the stadium and it is fantastic that we now have one confirmed.

“We consistently see great attendances at Portman Road and we urge all supporters to get behind Joe (Sheehan) and the team for this game as well. This will be an historic day for the club and we want a strong atmosphere for everyone to enjoy.”

Chats have a good relationship with Ipswich and recently loaned one of their players, Holly Turner.

The original agreement was that she wouldn’t be able to play against her parent club but that might be changed, depending on whether Ipswich are still hunting for the title when the game comes around.

Ticket information for the fixture has yet to be released.

Chatham are currently in a battle to avoid relegation from the third tier and lost 7-0 at league leaders Portsmouth on Sunday, in a game that was watched by close to 1,000 fans at Havant & Waterlooville’s ground.

Boanas’ side head to Billericay for a crucial match tomorrow (Wednesday) night.