Ipswich Town Premier League promotion parade sees fans pack streets

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

'An elite level manager'published at 11:51 British Summer Time 6 May
Paul Grunill
BBC Sport
Image source, PA Media
There is absolutely no doubt Kieran McKenna has transformed Ipswich Town's fortunes since he became manager in December 2021.
"He's an elite level manager, he really is," says BBC Radio Suffolk's sports presenter Graeme McLoughlin.
"He is calmness personified. Two promotions in two seasons, you can't ask for more than that."
BBC Radio Suffolk has been talking about the parade all day, but the We Are Premier League bus parade special, presented by Graeme, starts at 12:00.
'It's all because of Kieran'published at 11:47 British Summer Time 6 May
Lacey Harris, 15, from Halstead in Essex, was left minding the dog while her grandad popped to the shops prior to the start of the parade.
"This is my grandad's dog and she's ready for the party," she said.
"My grandad and all my family have been massive Ipswich supporters since I was born, so I've been coming to games pretty much my whole life. They've always had season tickets.
"It's mad. I can't believe it - it's all because of Kieran McKenna. I hope he stays."
George Hirst 'a bit worse for wear'published at 11:46 British Summer Time 6 May
Stuart Howells
BBC News, Suffolk
As he arrived for the bus parade, Town striker George Hirst admitted he's still feeling "a bit worse for wear" after the weekend's celebrations.
"It's still not really sunken in, what we've achieved," he said.
"Everyone has been thoroughly enjoying themselves, and rightly so. Hopefully today is another day the whole town can do that again."
Hirst only came back from the sick room recently, having injured a hamstring in December's 1-1 draw against Championship winners Leicester City.
'Emotions were high on Saturday'published at 11:41 British Summer Time 6 May
Image source, Alice Cunningham/BBC
Lewis Guiler, 36, and Reba Walpole, 25, are awaiting the coach's arrival at Christchurch Park.
"As you can tell by my voice we were there on Saturday," said Mr Guiler. "My voice has gone.
"We knew we were going to do it."
They said emotions were high when Wes Burns opened the scoring on Saturday.
"I cuddled some guy behind me, I didn't know who he was," Mr Guiler said. "It was such an amazing experience to see us go up."
Ms Walpole added: "That's part of it. When you go to a football match, you cuddle people."
'They've just been amazing'published at 11:39 British Summer Time 6 May
Paul Grunill
BBC Sport
Sheila and Suzanne Warren have travelled 30 miles from Holland-on-Sea in Essex and are hoping for an unimpeded view when the bus leaves at Portman Road.
"We came to the game on Saturday but the fans came on the pitch in front of the disabled area so we couldn't see the celebrations," said Suzanne, who went to her first game as a 13-year-old, 32 years ago.
"This is our chance to see the players with their medals and the trophy and experience what we missed out on at the weekend.
"I thought we'd do really well and could get promoted, but I don't think I ever believed it would end up quite like this. They've just been amazing."
Favourite player Wes Bones? Harry Bark? Luke Woofenden?published at 11:32 British Summer Time 6 May
Alice Cunningham
BBC News, Suffolk
Image source, Alice Cunningham/BBC
Arlo the dog is showing his support for the Town at Christchurch Park.
Memories to savourpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 6 May
Image source, Contributed
Nathan Richardson, who referees junior football matches for the Holbrook Hornets, is here with his sons Charlie and Theo.
"I am lucky to have the memories of the play-off final [in 2000], so happy that my boys can have the memories of today!
"We were in Sunderland for the first kick, here for the last - magical!"
'Thank goodness we did it,' says pub landlordpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 6 May
Image source, Jack Maclean/BBC
Dan Lightfoot, the owner of the Greyhound pub in Ipswich, says Saturday's celebrations were memorable - but a long time coming after years of relative mediocrity for Ipswich Town.
"We've had some very boring days at the pub," said Mr Lightfoot, 49.
"There was one day I had a shepherd's pie in the oven and I decided to go for that rather than go to football, because I was so bored with it all.
"It's unbelievable now. The crowd, the atmosphere.
"Thank goodness we did it.
"The past two years have been such a boost for all the pubs and restaurants around the town - long may it continue."
First pictures of the busespublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 6 May
Stuart Howells
BBC News, Suffolk
Two buses have been decorated and are ready to go.
Image source, Stuart Howells/BBC
Image source, Stuart Howells/BBC
McKenna joins Ipswich 'elite'published at 11:15 British Summer Time 6 May
Paul Grunill
BBC Sport
Image source, Rex Features
Image caption,
Sir Alf Ramsey signing autographs at Portman Road
Kieran McKenna is the fifth Ipswich manager to guide the club to promotion to the top flight of English football.
He follows Alf Ramsey, who did so in 1961, five years before he led England to victory in the World Cup final against West Germany, Bill McGarry in 1968, John Lyall in 1992 and George Burley in 2000.
Two steps forward under McKennapublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 6 May
Paul Grunill
BBC Sport
Image source, PA Media
Only five teams have reached the Premier League following back to back promotions, having started in the third tier of English football.
Watford were the first to do it in 1998-99, followed by Manchester City in 1999-2000, Norwich City in 2010-11 and Southampton in 2011-12.
Ipswich join the list despite reportedly spending less than £5m on their squad, while their main Championship promotion rivals benefitted from continuing Premier League parachute payments.
Early arrivals seeking prime positionpublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 6 May
Rachael McMenemy
BBC News
Image source, Rachael McMenemy/BBC
Darrell, Ellis, Camron, Ashton, Dylan and Noah have bagged a good spot on Portman Road.
Darrell, 47, second from right, said: "We got here at about 9 o'clock so we could get a good spot next to the Kevin Beattie statue."
The boys said they are most excited to spot Omari Hutchinson and Jeremy Sarmiento at the parade.
Numbers underline McKenna's achievementpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time 6 May
Paul Grunill
BBC Sport
Image source, PA Media
In the last two seasons under Kieran McKenna, Ipswich have amassed 194 points, winning 56 games and losing only 10, and scoring 193 goals in the process.
They were beaten only six times during the Championship campaign, four fewer defeats than any other team, and just once at Portman Road - a 4-3 defeat by Leeds United in August. Leeds now face Town's East Anglian rivals Norwich City in the play-offs.
Crowds starting to gather at Portman Roadpublished at 10:47 British Summer Time 6 May
Image source, Rachael McMenemy/BBC
Fans are gathering around Portman Road. The bus will set off along Sir Alf Ramsey Way before turning left on to Portman Road itself.
Welcome to our live bus parade coveragepublished at 10:47 British Summer Time 6 May
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Ipswich Town’s open top bus celebrations.
The Tractor Boys secured their return to the Premier League on Saturday, with a 2-0 win at Portman Road against Huddersfield.
Players and staff will celebrate with an open-top bus tour, starting from Portman Road at about 12:00 and ending in Christchurch Park.
The route will take in Sir Alf Ramsey Way, Portman Road, Civic Drive, Crown Street, St Margaret’s Green and Bolton Lane, before heading into the park via Westerfield Road.
Image source, ITFC
We’ve got reporters out and about, and even Brenner Woolley on the bus with the team, so we’ll bring you all the colour as it happens.