IPSWICH Town and Reading are savouring a tasty triumph after their pies were crowned joint-best in English football.

Reading's steak and kidney pie and Ipswich's steak and ale number made mincemeat of their rivals at the British Pie Awards in Melton Mowbray.

The clubs' creations were each awarded 91 marks out of 100 to scoop Gold awards in the football club category.

Ipswich Head of Conferencing and Hospitality Mike Rider is delighted to return to the upper crust of English football.

He said: "It's a cracking beef pie and the gold award is great news for the fans and the football club.

"This pie is a premium option which helps develop business and bring in money, which will eventually buy players."

There were 105 clubs in England and 25 in Scotland who entered the competition.

Norwich City, whose majority shareholder is cookery queen Delia Smith, did not enter.

Rieder said: "This is the first year we've entered, and the idea was to challenge Delia to a 'pie-off'. but Norwich didn't send one in.

Scottish Highland League side Clachnacuddin were the overall winners with a steak and gravy pie that received 92 marks out of 100.