Ipswich Town clinch Premier League promotion after agonising 22-year wait
Ipswich are back in the top-flight for the first time since 2002 (Picture: Shutterstock)
Ipswich Town have secured promotion from the Championship to the Premier League after a 2-0 victory over Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
The Tractor Boys have returned to the top-flight of English football for the first time in over 20 years, finishing in second place behind champions Leicester City.
Kieran McKenna’s side have become the first side to secure two straight promotions from League One to the Premier League since Southampton in 2012.
Ipswich’s promotion means that Leeds United have failed to go up automatically and have been forced to settle for a spot in the Championship play-offs.
Wes Burns opened the scoring for Ipswich on Saturday, with his low-drilled shot flying past Chris Maxwell to send Portman Road into a frenzy.
Omari Hutchinson, on loan at Ipswich from Premier League side Chelsea, doubled the lead over Huddersfield in the 48th minute as celebrations grew even louder.
Ipswich pushed for a third goal but it ended 2-0 as supporters invaded the pitch to celebrate their second promotion in a row in what has been a fairytale season.
Ipswich fans set off flares and waved huge flags ahead of kick-off (Picture: Getty)
Ipswich fans created a huge atmosphere ahead of kick-off with massive clouds of blue smoke as supporters of the Suffolk club lit off flares and waved huge flags.
When was the last time Ipswich Town were in the Premier League?
Fans had reason for such celebrating – the squad haven’t been in the Premier League since 2002.
No one will be more excited about Ipswich’s promotion after 22 years than world famous singer Ed Sheeran, who supports the club and is their current principal shirt sponsor.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of kick-off, Sheeran confirmed he was not able to attend the game but would watch it with fellow Ipswich fans in Miami.
After the match, former Ipswich star Mick Mills told the BBC: ‘It’s fantastic scenes. I was feeling sorry for Kieran McKenna because he was being engulfed by fans. This is one hell of a picture; the blue smoke, the supporters.
‘I’m absolutely delighted. I thought when we got stuck in division one for four years, I wondered if we would ever come back for the Premier League. I grew up linking them to the top level.
We are going to big, big places. That’s where we deserve to be, that’s where we should be, that’s what the management and the players have given to us. My words for Kieran McKenna – thank you.’