'We've got our club back' - Dyer on Ipswich's top-flight returnpublished at 07:42 16 August
07:42 16 August
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Ipswich legend Kieron Dyer is thrilled to see the Tractor Boys back in the Premier League, as Town prepare to play their first top-flight match since 2002 this weekend.
Kieran McKenna's side host Liverpool on Saturday (12:30 BST kick-off).
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, Dyer said: "If you walk through town in the past two or three years, businesses have shut down. We have the docks, the harbour - they were going build and erect flats and they didn’t get built.
"It was just a crisis in our town and with the football being revived, businesses are starting to pick up.
"With us being in the Premier League, the town and the football club are just going to flourish and we’ve got our club back."
🎧 Ipswich Town: Back in the big timepublished at 07:19 16 August
07:19 16 August
The latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast has landed - and it's all about the Tractor Boys.
Aaron Paul is joined by Ipswich Town legends John Wark and Kieron Dyer, BBC Suffolk's Brenner Woolley and current player Wes Burns to look ahead to the Premier League return.
So what can Ipswich achieve this season?published at 16:04 15 August
16:04 15 August
Steve Mellen Fan writer
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In our final part of a journey through the doldrums for Ipswich, our fan writer asks 'What now?' for Town.
Keeping Kieran McKenna, despite interest from Brighton, Chelsea and his boyhood love Manchester United, was the pivotal moment of the summer. But even with his services retained, nobody is under any illusions about the challenge ahead.
One of the main challenges for Ipswich fans may be coping with emotional whiplash.
We have only lost 10 games over the past two seasons, dominating possession in most games and scoring bundles of goals – 101 goals in the League One promotion season, and 92 last time round. It is unlikely those patterns will be repeated in the Premier League.
Paul Scholes said on a recent podcast he could see us finishing 12th. If that happened, the smoke from the celebration fireworks would drape over Suffolk from Lowestoft to Sudbury. The Adnams brewery in Southwold would need to treble production.
As well as being the small fish in the biggest pond of all, we will have to get used to other changes.
Last time in the Premier League we were going to Maine Road, not Etihad, Highbury not Emirates Stadium and White Hart Lane instead of the incredible new Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
VAR was not around in 2022. Brighton were still playing at the Withdean, where I once saw a match stopped as a tennis ball had come onto the pitch from a neighbouring court.
With weeks of the transfer window yet to run, it is hard to make a concrete prediction about how we will fare.
But this much is true. We have a waiting list for season tickets. We sold more than 60,000 replica shirts last season. Our average crowd on the way to promotion – a shade under 29,000 – was the highest in the club’s history. That mould has been cleaned off the roof of the stand.
Ipswich interested in Chelsea striker Brojapublished at 13:48 15 August
13:48 15 August
Nizaar Kinsella BBC Sport football news reporter
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Ipswich are not just set to complete a loan deal for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips - the promoted side have also expressed an interest in Chelsea's Armando Broja.
The Albania striker, 22, made eight appearances on loan at Fulham during the second half of last season.
'The kids no longer needed to be bribed'published at 13:07 15 August
13:07 15 August
Steve Mellen Fan writer
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For part three of our trawl through history, our Ipswich fan discusses the unstoppable rise of Kieran McKenna's side.
In his signature hit Born in the USA, Bruce Springsteen talks about being like "a dog that’s been beat too much". That’s how Ipswich fans were when Kieran McKenna arrived.
A food bowl of delicious treats was being held out, but we had been through too much suffering to be coaxed out from under the table. It was going to take time to trust again.
But not only did he talk a good game, McKenna delivered. And with the results came easy-on-the-eye football. No passing for possession’s sake, rather aggressive pressing and incisive moves that led to goals. So many goals.
There were times under Paul Lambert where it felt like we would only score if the wind took over and blew the ball into the net. Under McKenna, wins involving four, five and six goals began to appear.
The crowds returned, The kids no longer needed to be bribed. We escaped the clutches of League One and then waited to see what our new leader could do in the Championship.
Consolidation with signs of progress was the aim. But we got so much more.
Despite having to contend with clubs with parachute payment cash in their back pocket, we remained competitive in the Championship even with a run of draws around Christmas and New Year that saw us get caught then overhauled by the chasers.
Commentators speculated we would fall away. Fans of Leeds and Southampton hoped we would – but we did not.
The run-in to the top two may have finished with wins over Coventry and Huddersfield, but it can be summed up by the chaotic, ankle-injuring celebrations that followed Jeremy Sarmiento’s late winner in a 3-2 Easter Monday classic with Southampton.
As people hugged each other or stared bug-eyed at the person next to them, soul-crushing defeats at Accrington and Northampton began to fade in the memory.
Part four at 16:00 on Thursday
'More Mordor than The Shire' - life in League Onepublished at 11:34 15 August
11:34 15 August
Steve Mellen Fan writer
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In part two, Ipswich end up staying for longer than anticipated in the third tier of English football.
A disastrous start to the 2018-19 season, even with a mid-season appointment of Paul Lambert, led to relegation to League One.
To put that in context, the last time we had been in the third tier was the mid-1950s, just after World War Two rationing ended. Local journalists looking for fans who remembered that era were directed to care homes for their vox pops.
Supporters tried to shrug it off. A year in the third division might be fun with new stadiums to go to, and the chance to be a big fish in a small pond.
We’d heard Fleetwood was lovely in the sunshine, and had always wanted to try the veggie burgers at Forest Green Rovers.
"Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, we’re going to Shrewsbury," went one song.
But like others before us, Ipswich found League One to be more Mordor than The Shire, full of darkness and despair.
The Covid-19 pandemic didn’t help, creating the sort of chaos which becomes a leveller. But overall the continued parsimonious nature of the owner meant rather than the trip down a division being a picnic, it became an overnight stay - and dragged on.
Even Paul Cook – our third Paul in a row – couldn’t break the curse.
And then it all changed.
Out went Marcus Evans in April 2021. In came an American consortium called Gamechanger, backed by a $13bn pension fund.
Cook hung around for a bit longer, but when he couldn’t secure promotion despite being given the funds to sign 19 new players in one close season – earning him the nickname 'Demolition Man' – he was replaced by a relatively unknown coach from Manchester United.
Little did we know that the signing of Kieran McKenna – the first in a series of genius moves by our new chief executive Mark Ashton – would turn our lives upside down in the best possible way.
Next part at 13:00
'We’re back - sorry it took so long'published at 09:27 15 August
09:27 15 August
Steve Mellen Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
In the first part of our look through the past 22 years, our fan writer looks at what happened after relegation from the Premier League.
On 11 May 2002, as relegation was being confirmed by a 5-0 defeat at Liverpool, an Ipswich fan held up a homemade banner in the away end.
"We’ll be back" was the defiant message scrawled on cardboard.
Having finished fifth in the Premier League the season before - qualifying for Europe - and been in the play-offs for four seasons prior to that, it was based more on logic than blind faith.
But, as we now know, it was a statement horribly wide of the mark. More than two decades have passed since that banner was held high on Merseyside, and for most of it, we were a long way from being back.
George Burley, Joe Royle, Jim Magilton, Roy Keane, Paul Jewell, Mick McCarthy, Paul Hurst, Paul Lambert and Paul Cook. They all tried to take us back, but three play-off semi-finals were the closest we came.
Surrounding those play-off failures were years of stagnation, followed by decline.
Loanees we could never afford to buy came and went. Crowds slipped from close to a 26,000 average under Joe Royle to under 20,000 as the 2010s dragged on.
Mould grew on the roof of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand. Younger fans had to be bribed with the promise of fast food on the way home to stay for the duration of games. One update from the club mentioned the turnstiles had been given a lick of paint, as though this was news we should celebrate.
Marcus Evans, who bought the club in 2007, was initially generous with budgets, but as years went by, the purse strings were tightened.
Keane spent millions. Jewell too. We got worse. McCarthy seemed to pay for their excesses and was asked to challenge for promotion using loanees, budget buys - and his own nouse.
He left, under a cloud, despite saving us from relegation in his first season and giving us our only sniff of promotion in 2015. As he walked out the door his passing comment to the fans who had been demanding his exit for months was “be careful what you wish for”.
That wish was for a younger manager with new ideas, not someone from the Allardyce/Pulis/Warnock merry-go-round. The board thought Paul Hurst was the man, but if we thought being stuck in the middle of the Championship was bad, worse was around the corner.
Part two to come at midday
Ipswich Town mural created ahead of Premier League returnpublished at 09:15 15 August
09:15 15 August
Huge excitement is building in Ipswich before the return to the Premier League for the first time in since 2002.
The Blues start the season with a bang as 19-time top-flight champions Liverpool visit Portman Road on Saturday (12:30 BST).
Image source, Getty Images
The occasion is being marked by the creation of a mural featuring key figures at the club including manager Kieran McKenna and captain Sam Morsy.
TNT Sports, which is behind the campaign, say the mural will be in place for at least a month at its location at the bottom of Barrack Lane.
More than 100 projects are also under way to make improvements to Portman Road, including the introduction of safe standing areas, increased capacity in the away end and work on the Sir Alf Ramsey stand.
Bryony Hope (pictured), head of communications and development for waterfront theatre and dance studio DanceEast, said: "I think it's going to be great for local businesses.
"It's fantastic to be welcoming so many more fans to Ipswich and an opportunity to get Ipswich on the map."
Samantha Sherman from Ipswich.love said: "We have world-beating cultural organisations, we have a plethora of the most amazing park attractions, we have beautiful eateries and as we are technically England's longest inhabited town, our heritage and maritime history is enormous."
"The chance to be back into the Premier League will have a transformative impact, not just on the club but the whole town," added Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central the town's Business Improvement District.
Listen to BBC Radio Suffolk full commentary from Portman Road at 12:30 BST on Saturday - DAB frequencies 95.5 FM, 95.9 FM, 103.9 FM and 104.6 FM
Phil McNulty's predictions - Ipswich Townpublished at 09:01 15 August
09:01 15 August
It's that time of the year again - the annual act of foolishness in which I try to predict the outcome of the 2024-25 season for all 20 Premier League clubs.
Ipswich Town - 20th
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has already performed miracles to win back-to-back promotions in going from League One to the Premier League. If he keeps the Tractor Boys up, it will be his biggest achievement.
McKenna is one of the most highly rated young managers around, and his decision to sign a new four-year contract amid interest from Chelsea and Brighton was the biggest deal of the summer.
Ipswich will enjoy their rating as underdogs and McKenna will not worry about being written off but survival alone can be considered a huge success for the Suffolk club.
They have spent carefully in bringing in Liam Delap and Jacob Greaves, while Ben Johnson brings Premier League experience from West Ham United on a free.
No-one inside the atmospheric Portman Road will believe relegation is on the cards and nor will McKenna or his players - but it will be some feat if they stay up.
'Underestimate Ipswich at your peril'published at 13:08 14 August
13:08 14 August
Graeme McLoughlin BBC Radio Suffolk sports editor
Ipswich have brought in half a dozen players this summer, but injuries to Nathan Broadhead and George Hirst during pre-season leave Town light in terms of strength in depth in the final third of the field. We are expecting more new faces before deadline day for sure.
Naturally, we will see a few debuts against Liverpool on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Aro Muric and defender Ben Johnson have been among those to impress since joining Town from Burnley and West Ham respectively, while ex-Manchester City forward Liam Delap is likely to lead the line of attack.
Omari Hutchinson is certainly one to watch. Few opponents could live with him towards the end of last season and supporters were ecstatic when the former Chelsea forward agreed to a permanent move in June.
But the biggest signature of all since Town's second straight promotion has been manager Kieran McKenna extending his stay, which, less than three years in, has rightly earned him legendary status at the club.
On Saturday, Hutchinson and new additions aside, Liverpool's roster of international stars and serial winners will be lining up against several players that were plying their trade in League One as recently as May 2023!
Of course the Reds are expected to win, but underestimate Ipswich Town at your peril. Few teams are as mentally strong and while there is McKenna at Portman Road, anything is possible.
Listen to BBC Radio Suffolk full commentary from Portman Road at 12:30 BST on Saturday - DAB frequencies 95.5 FM, 95.9 FM, 103.9 FM and 104.6 FM
Introducing The Blue Hour on BBC Radio Suffolkpublished at 13:08 14 August
13:08 14 August
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As Ipswich Town make their return to the Premier League, BBC Radio Suffolk's coverage of them is about to get bigger and better too!
From Monday, 19 August at 18:00 BST, The Blue Hour kicks off focussing, says host Brenner Woolley "on all matters Ipswich Town."
He spoke to sports editor Graeme McLoughlin about what Town supporters can expect from the new show.
"I want it to be fresh and lively, but the main thing is, it will be interactive," said Woolley.
"I want to hear from Ipswich Town fans - we'll take emails, WhatsApps, calls. There will be features, guess the player competitions and more.
"I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into and chatting to Ipswich Town supporters."
In the first episode, fans can look forward to a 'My Town Top 10' feature with former Olympic hockey player George Pinner, as well getting involved with '90 in five', where listeners assess the weekend in five words.
When is the Carabao Cup second-round draw?published at 11:54 14 August
11:54 14 August
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The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup will take place on Wednesday at the conclusion of the first-round tie between Leeds United and Middlesbrough.
Thirteen Premier League clubs will enter in the second round, as will Luton Town and Burnley, who were relegated from the top flight in 18th and 19th positions last season.
The draw for round two will be regionalised into northern and southern sections.
The seven Premier League clubs playing in European competitions in 2024-25, including Carabao Cup holders Liverpool, will come in at the third-round stage.
The key dates for the competition are as follows:
Second round - w/c 26 August
Third round - w/c 16 and w/c 23 September
Fourth round - w/c 28 October
Quarter-finals - w/c 16 December
Semi-finals - w/c 6 January (first leg) and w/c 3 February
'Don't lose your identity' - key driver for McKenna and Ipswichpublished at 09:17 14 August
09:17 14 August
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BBC World Service introduces you to the five bosses who will be making their managerial debuts in the Premier League this season in a special podcast on BBC Sounds.
Sportsworld’s John Bennett is joined by Aaron Paul, the host of the BBC's 72+ podcast to discuss Ipswich's manager Kieran McKenna before Saturday's first game of the season.
"Identity is such a big part of what he does, but it's not just about him - it's about Ipswich Town as a whole," explained Paul. "He's building a project there.
"The club has been ferociously loyal towards him. They plucked him out of coaching. They recognise his talent. They gave him an opportunity and he's gone on and secured back-to-back promotions. Recruitment-wise, he's got everything he's wanted at the football club.
"There's no expectation this season. There's no expectation to go and get into Europe like George Burley did 21 years ago. It's a case of: 'Let's see what you can do, but don't lose your identity and don't stop playing this football with swagger.'
"If you look at some of the signings, they are smart signings who will do well in the Premier League - but who could come back and go on an all-out assault for the Championship if need be."
Image source, Getty Images
