Ipswich Town fans enjoy 'long-awaited' celebrations after Premier League promotion
Ipswich Town fans celebrated their “long-awaited” return to the Premier League after they secured promotion over weekend.
Ipswich Town players during an open-top bus parade to celebrate promotion to the Premier League.
On Saturday, Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys clinched their place in the top flight with a 2-0 win over now-relegated Huddersfield Town.
Young Ipswich Town fans climbed into trees for the best vantage point of the open-top bus parade. Pic: PA
The result meant Ipswich will return to the Premier League for the first time since 2002.
Saturday’s victory secured the Suffolk club back-to-back promotions as they became the first team since Southampton in 2011 and 2012 to win successive promotions to the top flight from League One.
On Monday the team rode through Ipswich on an open-top bus, with thousands of fans turning out to celebrate.
Speaking to Sky News, fans described feelings of euphoria amid the celebrations, as others were enjoying a long weekend of non-stop celebrating.
“It’s been a really really long time coming,” one fan said.
Paul Smith, who like many was on his second day of celebrating, said: “I’ve been lucky enough to live through an era of seeing the great times at Ipswich, but I dragged him [his son] along for many many years and I’m grateful his generation gets to see some great times as well.
Ipswich Town’s Massimo Luongo lifts the promotion trophy during an open-top bus parade. Pic PA
“When you realise the teams we’re going to be playing it’s incredible.”
Paul’s son Arthur said it was “euphoric” seeing his side promoted but admitted to feeling quite “jaded” from the celebrations.
It was also quite an emotional moment for some who shared a bond with the club with family members.
Adam Conuel, another fan, described the promotion in one word: “Unbelievable”.
He added: “My grandad passed away last year, we were quite close, he was a supporter all his life too, like my dad.”
He described the celebrations as “emotional” and said “look how many people are here, it’s crazy, I never thought in my lifetime… every conversation I’ve had with my grandpa used to be ‘we were rubbish weren’t we’ and he’s missed the past two years of us being unbelievable so it’s quite emotional to watch us.”
Pic: PA
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Again and again one name surfaced from fans out celebrating – their coach McKenna.
The 37-year-old Northern Irish manager has taken the English football league by storm in recent years, charging up to the Premier League.
A former Manchester United assistant manager, McKenna was praised repeatedly by fans for his handling of the club and his brand of attacking, and successful, football.
When he took charge of Ipswich, they were languishing in League One and now within three years he has catapulted them to the Premier League.
Speaking on board the bus, McKenna told Sky Sports News: “It’s an incredible turnout, amazing seeing so much joy.
Paul Smith (right) and son Arthur are on their second day of celebrating
“Everyone deserves it, the whole town deserves it, the players … for how hard they’ve worked. And the supporters, who’ve followed so loyally for years and have been waiting for a day like this.
“We just set out to be as good as we could possibly be.
“The closer you get to the end you know you’re within reach of an amazing achievement and we’re so glad we were able to finish off well.”
Ipswich fans with flares outside the stadium before their final match on Saturday. Pic: Reuters
Pic: PA
An aerial view of the open-top bus during Monday’s celebrations. Pic: PA
Adam Conuel, an Ipswich Town fan, described being emotional during the celebrations after his grandad, a lifetime supporter, missed out after passing away shortly before their turnaround
Pic PA
Pic: PA
Pic PA
Ipswich Town fans turned out in huge numbers to celebrate. Pic: PA
Pic: PA