Ipswich Town have been promoted to the Premier League after beating Huddersfield Town 2-0 at Portman Road yesterday. Stuart Watson reflects on a day that will live long in the memory.
FITTING FINISH
Many will have woken up on the morning of this date with destiny with a knot in their stomach.
All logic suggested this special group would get the job done against virtually-relegated opposition. There was, however, a little nagging voice in the back of the head that said, ‘Remember Maidstone, freak results can happen’.
Town were on the front foot from the off. Axel Tuanzebe, Conor Chaplin and George Hirst all went close. Then, in the 18th minute, murmurs in the crowd turned to collective cheers. Leeds were losing at home to Southampton. Blues skipper Sam Morsy gestured to his team-mates to keep their heads. He was right to do so. Just three minutes later, Leeds were level.
Chaplin headed over from six yards out, then Wes Burns dinked a one-on-one chance wide of the post. I was a little uneasy with how some were already in party mode. It was only in the 27th minute, when Burns drilled a low shot into the bottom corner and raised the roof, that I finally felt able to relax.
Chaplin had a big penalty shout ignored, Omari Hutchinson reversed a low shot just past the post, Morsy stung the keeper’s hands with a bludgeoned effort, while Massimo Luongo smashed narrowly over from outside the box as Town kept their foot to the floor. Elsewhere, Southampton scored again.
When the half-time whistle blew, it was clear the job was done. Leeds and Huddersfield both needed to score twice if Ipswich were going to drop out of the top two. That was never going to happen. The already-relegated Terriers had barely got out their own half. There was clearly very little fight left in them.
Less than three minutes after the restart, Hutchinson turned, drove at the box and sent a skidding finish past the outstretched glove of keeper Chris Maxwell. Now it seemed a case of how many the Blues, all tension removed, adrenaline flowing and with super subs to introduce, would go on and get.
Leif Davis saw a first time far post effort bounce over, Hutchinson almost picked out Burns with an outrageous scooped pass, Luongo’s bending effort was clawed out the top corner, while Jeremy Sarmiento’s driving run and shot was deflected over. The floodgates may not have opened, but Ipswich had stayed true to their pre-season promise of attacking every game.
This was a fitting performance to finish on from the Great Entertainers.
WORTH THE WAIT
As Kieran McKenna acknowledged in his pre-match press conference, “Everyone is on their own journey, everyone has worked hard to get to this point, whether it's me as manager, a staff member, a player, or a long-suffering supporter.”
I stopped and looked at different aged fans unified in joy. Older generations smiled wistfully as core memories from their youth were unlocked. Those in their early 30s and below soaked in a moment they’d never experienced before and, up until fairly recently, probably assumed they never would. Kids, many on parents’ shoulders, took it all in, wide-eyed, unaware of the lifetime love affair they are now locked into.
"He thinks this is normal," one father said, smiling, looking down at his young son.
A grand old football club with a rich history had sleepwalked its way to third-tier midtable mediocrity. It was death by a thousand cuts. Apathy set in. Year after year, hundreds quietly walked away and found better things to do with their time. Those that stuck with it witnessed lows too countless to mention. Going to the game felt like a chore for the paying punter. Reporting on it often felt like a thankless task.
And then along came ambitious America owners. They installed Mark Ashton and he, in turn, appointed Kieran McKenna. It all proved to be a match made in heaven. A giant was awoken from its slumber. The oil tanker turned and juggernaut-like momentum gathered. Hearts and minds have well and truly been captured. A community has been united. Years of pain have been eradicated. Ipswich is back on the map.
It was all worth the wait. This achievement will leave a lasting legacy.
HISTORY MAKERS
The scale of this achievement is head-shakingly phenomenal.
Ipswich finished second in one of the most high-quality League One promotion races of all time with 98 points and 101 goals.
They’ve now finished second in one of the most high-quality Championship promotion races of all time with 96 points and 92 goals. Only six times were they defeated in what is generally considered to be one of world football’s most relentless and competitive leagues.
It’s a feat that will be in the record books for a long time. In truth, I can’t see it ever being beaten in terms of back-to-back campaigns.
The Blues simply had no right to finish above parachute payment pumped Leeds United and Southampton.
It’s a reminder that culture, camaraderie and momentum are priceless qualities.
A SQUAD EFFORT
Incredibly, eight of the team that started this game were the same ones that stormed to League One promotion. And nine of the 20-man squad were inherited by McKenna two-and-a-half years ago.
It’s only right to give some credit to Paul Cook here. He signed Vaclav Hladky, Cameron Burgess, Morsy, Burns and Chaplin remember. McKenna, of course, has taken them all to unthinkable new heights through expert coaching and man management.
Davis, Harry Clarke, Nathan Broadhead, George Hirst and Jack Taylor were signed for modest seven figure fees, while Kieffer Moore would have been a costly loan addition in January. Nothing outlandish or reckless has been done in the transfer market though.
The names of all of the above, along with hometown hero Luke Woolfenden, exciting loan stars Omari Hutchinson and Jeremy Sarmiento, plus the always-ready-when-called upon trio of Marcus Harness, George Edmundson and Kayden Jackson, will trip off the tongue for years to come. Plenty of others will be fondly remembered too.
After that emotional midweek 2-1 win at Coventry, which left Town with one foot in the Premier League, McKenna made sure he pushed the injured Janoi Donacien to the front of the celebrations. That was a classy gesture.
In this game, McKenna brought on keeper Christian Walton for Vaclav Hladky late on to ensure he had his moment of appreciation. The exact same had happened, in reverse, when League One promotion was secured against Exeter last April.
It was also great to see striker Freddie Ladapo, who has recently been out on loan at Charlton, receive a promotion medal.
Some have played more minutes than others, but all have made valuable contributions, both on and off the pitch, along the way. The supporting roles of Dom Ball, Cameron Humphreys, Lewis Travis, Sone Aluko, Ali Al-Hamadi, Lee Evans and Cieran Slicker should not be underestimated. The same can be said of the huge team behind the team, with too many staff members to mention.
Some will inevitably leave, as Kyle Edwards, Kane Vincent-Young and Greg Leigh did last summer, but forever this band of Blues brothers will be bonded by a special achievement.
AND NOW...
In less than two years, we’ve swapped Accrington for Arsenal, Cheltenham for Chelsea, Lincoln for Liverpool and Morecambe for Manchester City. Right now, it all feels a bit surreal still. It will probably only be when the fixtures are released on June 18 – ahead of a start date of August 17 – that this all feels real.
McKenna exhaled deeply and jokingly wobbled at the knees when the subject of Premier League preparations was raised amidst the celebrations.
“It's not something I want to think about too much today, but I know it's a humungous step up in every department of the football club,” admitted the former Manchester United assistant boss.
Can Town see off any interest in McKenna? How big is the transfer budget? Which of the loan players will return? Will a player who features at this summer’s European Championships be signed? Will the club be able to make a better fist of top-flight football than Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton have done this season? How much of a fun sponge will VAR be?
All of those questions and thoughts can wait for another day. Right now, it’s about celebrating. This has been a long time coming.
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