Summary

  • Ipswich Town won promotion to the Premier League on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Huddersfield

  • Players parade across the town centre in an open-top bus, starting from Portman Road

  • The party continues in Christchurch Park

  • BBC Radio Suffolk had live coverage of the parade, with match commentator Brenner Woolley on one of the buses with the players

Live Reporting

By Paul Grunill and Richard Haugh. Edited by Andrew Woodger

  1. Farewell from us

    Ipswich Town's parade bus passes BBC Radio Suffolk on St Matthew's StreetJon Welch/BBC

    The bus passes your home for Ipswich Town commentary - BBC Radio Suffolk

    That's it for our live coverage of the celebratory parade - thank you for joining us, and congratulations to Ipswich Town Football Club!

    You can listen again to BBC Radio Suffolk's live coverage of the event via BBC Sounds.

    Conor Chaplin and Sam Morsy with a beachballPA Media

    Time for a beach party? Conor Chaplin, with beach ball in hand, alongside skipper Sam Morsy

    Ipswich Town players and Kieran McKenna on the open-top bus during the promotion paradeGareth Fuller/PA

    Manager Kieran McKenna raises the promotion/runners-up trophy as Conor Chaplin grabs the mic

    Ipswich Town's Jeremy Sarmiento raises an index finger to the crowd in Christchurch ParkBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Jeremy Sarmiento acknowledges the crowd in Christchurch Park

  2. The view from the bus...

    BBC Suffolk's Brenner Woolley has been on the players' bus throughout the procession. Here are a few more of his photos:

    Harry Clarke taking a photograph of himself with Marcus HarnessBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Harry Clarke looking slightly more lively than Marcus Harness

    Janoi DonacienBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Janoi Donacien, an international with St Lucia, joined Town permanently in 2019 after a loan spell from Accrington Stanley

    Ipswich Town's Nathan Broadhead on an open-top bus near Christchurch ParkBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Welsh international Nathan Broadhead fails to pass incognito as the bus passes St Margaret's Church

    Kayden Jackson gives it the thumbs-upBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Kayden Jackson gives it the thumbs-up

    Cameron Humphreys and Lewis TravisBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Cameron Humphreys and Lewis Travis on Crown Street

    Fabio Wardley on a bus with beerBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Boxer Fabio Wardley joined in the celebrations as they turn into Soane Street

    Kieran McKenna and Harry ClarkeBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Kieran McKenna and Harry Clarke on Crown Street

    Ipswich Town players on the busBrenner Woolley/BBC

    Ipswich players share the moment with their fans outside the New Wolsey Theatre

    Ipswich Town supporters in Christchurch ParkBrenner Woolley/BBC

    We await the police/council estimates for the size of the crowd that has lined the streets and thronged Christchurch Park

    Ipswich Town supporters, including a man with no top on holding a flareBrenner Woolley/BBC

  3. Aerial photos capture Ipswich Town celebrations

    Tens of thousands of fans lined the streets for Ipswich Town's promotion celebrations as the open-top bus weaved its way through the crowds.

    An aerial photograph of Ipswich Town promotion celebrations as an open-top bus passes through the town centrePA Media

    Some fans looked on from the roundabout as the bus entered Crown Street in the town

    An aerial photograph of Ipswich Town promotion celebrations as an open-top bus passes through the town centrePA Media

    Many fans followed the bus as it made its way towards Christchurch Park in the town

    An aerial photograph of Ipswich Town promotion celebrations as an open-top bus passes through the town centrePA Media

    Fans packed pavements and spilled on to the road as the bus passed through

    An aerial photograph of Ipswich Town promotion celebrations as an open-top bus enters Christchurch ParkPA Media

    The parade culminated in Christchurch Park, where manager Kieran McKenna and some of his players addressed the fans

  4. Players wave goodbye to fans

    And that's it from the Christchurch Park celebrations. The players wave goodbye and head for the exit - ready for a well earned summer break (after their night out with Ed Sheeran, of course).

    Ipswich Town players at Christchurch ParkStuart Howells/BBC
    Ipswich players at Christchurch ParkStuart Howells/BBC
    Fans at Christchurch ParkStuart Howells/BBC

  5. Watch: Crowds and players sing at Christchurch Park

    Jubilant crowds turn out for Ipswich Town parade

  6. 'We love you all,' says chief exec

    Stuart Howells
    BBC News, Suffolk

    An emotional chief exec Mark Ashton tells the crowd: "What a group of supporters - this town has blown me away.

    "We can't believe how many people have come out.

    "From myself and everyone at the club, thank you so, so much. We love you all."

    Mark Ashton and Simon MiltonStuart Howells/BBC

  7. Watch: Blue smoke and cheers fill the air

    The bus heads along Soane Street past the main entrance to Christchurch Mansion (once owned by the Cobbold family, who also used to own Ipswich Town) and up towards The Woolpack.

  8. Kieran McKenna given a hero's welcome

    Stuart Howells
    BBC News, Suffolk

    Kieran McKenna on the busStuart Howells/BBC

    The outpouring of love for Kieran McKenna is incredible. Fans absolutely love the manager who has gained back-to-back promotions.

    Speaking to the crowd in Christchurch Park, McKenna thanked the club staff who work alongside him "at the front of house" and have done "an incredible job".

    Aerial shot of Christchurch Park

    He told ex-player-turned-interviewer Simon Milton he was happy to clinch promotion at home and joked about how the players' mistakes had helped make that happen.

    "We wanted to finish it at home, on a bank holiday weekend, so everyone could enjoy it."

  9. What the national papers have said

    As everyone speculates whether he will be poached by a bigger club, Kieran McKenna tells The Guardian "I love it here".

    "Ipswich Town fans leave extraordinary sea of litter as supporters enjoy boozy celebrations," writes The Mail.

    While The Telegraph offers "Six things Ipswich need to do to stay in the Premier League".

  10. Thousands of fans at Christchurch Park

    Stuart Howells
    BBC News, Suffolk

    It's a big crowd welcoming the players.

    Fans in Christchurch ParkStuart Howells/BBC
    Girl in a treePA Media

    Some fans went to great lengths to get a good view

  11. 'A deserved and special moment'

    Brenner Woolley
    BBC Radio Suffolk commentator

    Ipswich Town players on the open-top bus during their promotion paradeChris Radburn/PA Media

    Conor Chaplin enjoys a sip while for chief exec Mark Ashton the future's so bright, he's got to wear shades

    Some of these players weren't even born when Town last played in the Premier League [2002] - the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Jeremy Sarmiento and Cameron Humphreys.

    Then you've got those to whom this will mean that bit more - local lads Harry Clarke and Luke Woolfenden - plus those who have seen the lowest of the lows and are now seeing the highest of highs in blue - Janoi Donacien and Kayden Jackson.

    What a period of the club's history those two have bookended.

    It is such a deserved and special moment for these players and fans of the club, that after years in the wilderness they are finally back with the big boys.

  12. 'A double promotion is so, so hard,' says Milton

    (left to right) Simon Milton, Jason Dozzell, Chris Kiwomya and John WarkGetty Images

    Simon Milton (far left, pictured with Jason Dozzell, Chris Kiwonya and John Wark) celebrates Town's promotion 32 years ago. Hasn't the North Stand changed?

    Former Ipswich midfielder Simon Milton, now a club ambassador, believes it is "absolutely vital" for the club to keep hold of manager Kieran McKenna following two incredible seasons.

    "I was part of the team that won promotion to the newly formed Premiership in 1992. That was amazing but this feels so much bigger, maybe it's because there's more access to players now on social media, more filming," Milton told BBC Look East.

    "I finished in 1999 and was then part of the backroom team going to Wembley and watching George Burley and his team get promoted [in 2000] from the play-offs. That again was absolutely massive.

    "But a double promotion is something that is so, so hard and hats off to Kieran and his team."

  13. Watch: Jubilant Ipswich fans pack parade route

  14. The player bus arrives in the park

    Stuart Howells
    BBC News, Suffolk

    The singing is in full swing as the players arrive at Christchurch Park.

    Ipswich players at Christchurch ParkStuart Howells/BBC

  15. Players show off trophy

    Midfielder Massimo Luongo holds aloft the trophy the club received for clinching second place in the Championship, gaining automatic promotion to the Premier League in the process.

    Massimo Luongo holding a trophy, with Marcus HarnessChris Radburn/PA Media
    Ipswich players celebratingChris Radburn/PA Media

  16. A club for Suffolk

    ITFC Lowestoft Blues flag hanging from trees outside Portman RoadAlice Cunningham/BBC

    At some 45 miles from Ipswich, the Suffolk seaside town and port of Lowestoft is closer to Town's arch rivals Norwich City.

    But supporters from the seaside town are displaying their flag outside Portman Road.

  17. Absolute scenes

    Ipswich Town players on the coachPA Media

    Fans of Ipswich Town have waited 22 years for the club to return to the top flight.

    The scenes in the town today show what it means to the supporters, and the players.

  18. Players taking it all in

    Stuart Howells
    BBC News, Suffolk

    George Edmundson and Christian WaltonStuart Howells/BBC

    George Edmundson and Christian Walton, who was given some minutes on the pitch late into Saturday's game, are all smiles.

    Walton was Town's first-choice goalkeeper until he suffered an injury early in the season, allowing Vaclav Hladky to make the spot his own.

    Walton played 47 games during the League One season last year, but only played four times this term.

  19. Flares are back in fashion again

    Stuart Howells
    BBC News, Suffolk

    The players have got hold of a flare to add some more colour to the celebrations.

    Ipswich players with a flare on the busStuart Howells/BBC

  20. Watch: Party atmosphere as crowds line streets