Ipswich Town joined a select group of clubs to achieve back-to-back promotions to reach the Premier League. Ross Halls takes a a look at how they fared in their first season in the top flight.
This feat is very rare, with just four other teams to achieve it. All had different journeys to the top with a few Town connections.
Rickie Lambert fired Southampton back to the Premier League. (Image: PA)
SOUTHAMPTON - 2010-2012
The most recent side to achieve this was Southampton, who secured second spot in League One under Nigel Adkins during his first season in charge at St Mary's.
They would go on to finish runners-up to Reading in the Championship the following year to return to the Premier League, with Rickie Lambert scoring the goals.
The first season in the top flight saw them finish 14th in the table, however Adkins was controversially sacked in January 2013 and was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino.
Paul Lambert led Norwich City to back-to-back promotions. (Image: PA)
NORWICH CITY - 2009-2011
Paul Lambert arrived at Carrow Road with the Canaries in League One, leading them to the title with 95 points having been appointed ninth months prior.
The Scotsman followed this up with another promotion as Norwich finished as Championship runners-up to QPR, returning to the big time thanks to goals from Grant Holt.
They went on to have a successful first season in the top flight, finishing 12th in the table with 47 points. Of course they've been up and down ever since. Lambert, of course, ended up in Suffolk when he took over at Town in 2018.
Joe Royle celebrates with City fans after winning promotion to the Premier League. (Image: PA)
MANCHESTER CITY - 1998-2000
Before all the money, Man City found themselves in the third tier and needed another future Town boss in Joe Royle to guide them back to the Championship as they beat Gillingham in the play-off final on penalties.
A year later, they finished second with 89 points, two clear of Ipswich in third, but we all know what happened with George Burley's side.
However, it was a different story for Royle's men as they were relegated at Portman Road when they were beaten 2-0 by Town, finishing 18th in the table. Of course they're famous now for being a state-owned club, having won every trophy there is.
Watford manager Graham Taylor celebrates after the play-off final win at Wembley. (Image: PA)
WATFORD - 1997-1999
Hornets legend Graham Taylor returned to Vicarage Road as manager and it didn't take him long to help them win the third tier title, doing so in his first season back.
However, their second promotion wasn't as straightforward as they couldn't seal an automatic spot, so they had to beat Birmingham on penalties in the play-off semi-final before a 2-0 victory over Bolton in the final at Wembley secured their return to the promised land.
It was a short return though, as Watford were relegated after one season, with just 24 points - which was the lowest points total in Premier League history at the time.
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