Ipswich Town: Mark Murphy on Blues Championship run

Ipswich Town Football Club is putting smiles on faces, making people feel proud and is boosting the coffers of businesses in the town. They’re also putting us back on the footballing map.

Whether you like football or not you can’t underestimate the impact the club’s performances are making on us.

I thought last season was exceptional, we had great scenes and capacity crowds as the team secured promotion and the success starved fans at long last had something to celebrate, but this season promises even more!

The performances and results have kept coming this season in the Championship delighting fans who are flocking to matches.

Mark Murphy MBE is a big Blues fan (Image: Charlotte Bond)

We’re second in the league but it’s not just that it’s the way the team is playing. Exciting free flowing football and we always look as if we’re going to score goals. It really is exciting to watch. The squad are really rising to the challenge and putting some of the established Championship teams to sword.

One fan really enjoyed the win over Hull City this week and that’s superfan Ed Sheeran. Ed is blue and white through and through and not afraid to show it.

I’m still recovering from pneumonia and so couldn’t go the game, but my social media feeds were full of photographs of Ed pulling pints and serving at one of the concourse outlets. The fans were lapping it up, he popped up on Town TV and then after the victory turned up in the home team dressing room to celebrate with the town team. It was lovely to see, is and I hope he can do it again as we celebrate promotion at the end of the season. The way we’re playing that could be very likely.

Ed Sheeran having a go as a barman at Portman Road (Image: Daisy Hendry)

This turn of fortunes isn’t luck, it coincides with the takeover by our US owners, the appointment of CEO Mark Ashton and his appointment of Kieran McKenna who’s fast becoming the hottest manager in football.

There are improvements both on and off the field. The ground is looking so much better, there are plans to improve the academy facilities and the club’s foundation is working with thousands of people, both young and old.

Our club is being transformed from a sleeping giant to one which is pulling in the punters and the points.

There’s still a long way to go this season but my goodness what a start we’ve had. I’m gutted to be missing the game again today, but I’ll be tuned in to Brenner Woolley and Mick Mills on BBC Radio Suffolk.

I keep having to pinch myself that this is really Ipswich Town I’m watching. It reminds me so much of the team that got promotion to the Premier League back in 2000. Of course, we’re still miles away from what Sir Bobby Robson and Sir Alf Ramsey's teams achieved but if we can keep Kieran McKenna, I wouldn’t bet against us emulating those heights again. Not quite time for a statue of Kieran just yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if we have one day. Up the Town!