Ipswich Town supporters celebrated their “long-awaited” return to the Premier League after securing promotion at the weekend.
SATURDAY, Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys have secured their place in the elite with a 2-0 victory over now relegated Huddersfield Town.
The result meant that Ipswich would return to the premier league for the first time since 2002.
Saturday’s victory secured the Suffolk club back-to-back promotions, becoming the first team since Southampton in 2011 and 2012 to win successive promotions to the League One top flight.
On Monday, the team traveled 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 enjoyed a long weekend of non-stop celebrations.
“This took a really long time,” one fan said.
Paul Smith, who, like many, was on his second day of celebrations, said: “I was lucky enough to live through a time of great times at Ipswich, but I coached him (his son) for many years and I am grateful that his generation can also experience good times.
“When you realize the teams we are going to face, it’s incredible.”
Paul’s son Arthur said he was “euphoric” to see his team promoted, but admitted feeling quite “jaded” by the celebrations.
It was also quite an emotional moment for some who shared a connection to the club with family members.
Adam Conuel, another fan, described the promotion in one word: “Amazing.”
He added: “My grandfather died last year, we were quite close, he was a supporter all his life too, like my father.”
He described the celebrations as “emotional” and said “look how many people are here, it’s crazy, I never would have thought of it in my life… every conversation I’ve had with my grandfather was ‘we were bullshit, weren’t we?’ ” and he missed the last two years where we were incredible, so it’s pretty emotional to watch us. “
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Time and time again, one name came up among the celebrating fans: that of their coach McKenna.
The 37-year-old Northern Irish manager has taken the English football league by storm in recent years, rising to the Premier League.
A former assistant manager at Manchester United, McKenna has been repeatedly praised by fans for his stewardship of the club and his brand of successful, attacking football.
When he took charge of Ipswich they were languishing in League One and now, in three years, he has catapulted them to the Premier League.
Speaking on the bus, McKenna told Sky Sports News: “It’s an incredible turnout, incredible to see so much joy.
“Everyone deserves it, the whole city deserves it, the players… for their hard work. And the fans, who have followed us so faithfully for years and have been waiting for a day like this.
“We just decided to be as good as possible.
“The closer you get to the end, you know you are within reach of an incredible feat and we are very happy that we were able to finish well.”
Sky news