Ipswich Town players on an open-top bus

Fans pack streets as Ipswich Town celebrate promotion

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Live Reporting

By Paul Grunill and Richard Haugh. Edited by Andrew Woodger

All times stated are UK

  1. Farewell from us

    Ipswich Town's parade bus passes BBC Radio Suffolk on St Matthew's Street
    Copyright: Jon Welch/BBC
    Image caption: 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 beachball
    Copyright: PA Media
    Image caption: 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 parade
    Copyright: Gareth Fuller/PA
    Image caption: 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 Park
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: 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 Harness
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: Harry Clarke looking slightly more lively than Marcus Harness
    Janoi Donacien
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: 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 Park
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: Welsh international Nathan Broadhead fails to pass incognito as the bus passes St Margaret's Church
    Kayden Jackson gives it the thumbs-up
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: Kayden Jackson gives it the thumbs-up
    Cameron Humphreys and Lewis Travis
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: Cameron Humphreys and Lewis Travis on Crown Street
    Fabio Wardley on a bus with beer
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: Boxer Fabio Wardley joined in the celebrations as they turn into Soane Street
    Kieran McKenna and Harry Clarke
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: Kieran McKenna and Harry Clarke on Crown Street
    Ipswich Town players on the bus
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: Ipswich players share the moment with their fans outside the New Wolsey Theatre
    Ipswich Town supporters in Christchurch Park
    Copyright: Brenner Woolley/BBC
    Image caption: 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 flare
    Copyright: Brenner 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 centre
    Copyright: PA Media
    Image caption: 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 centre
    Copyright: PA Media
    Image caption: 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 centre
    Copyright: PA Media
    Image caption: 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 Park
    Copyright: PA Media
    Image caption: 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 Park
    Copyright: Stuart Howells/BBC
    Ipswich players at Christchurch Park
    Copyright: Stuart Howells/BBC
    Fans at Christchurch Park
    Copyright: Stuart Howells/BBC

  5. Watch: Crowds and players sing at Christchurch Park

    Video content

    Video caption: 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 Milton
    Copyright: Stuart 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.

    Video content

    Video caption: Blue smoke and cheers fill the air on parade route

  8. Kieran McKenna given a hero's welcome

    Stuart Howells

    BBC News, Suffolk

    Kieran McKenna on the bus
    Copyright: Stuart 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
    Copyright: BBC

    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 Park
    Copyright: Stuart Howells/BBC
    Girl in a tree
    Copyright: PA Media
    Image caption: 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 parade
    Copyright: Chris Radburn/PA Media
    Image caption: 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 Wark
    Copyright: Getty Images
    Image caption: 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

    Video content

    Video caption: Watch: Jubilant crowds 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 Park
    Copyright: Stuart 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 Harness
    Copyright: Chris Radburn/PA Media
    Ipswich players celebrating
    Copyright: Chris Radburn/PA Media

  16. A club for Suffolk

    ITFC Lowestoft Blues flag hanging from trees outside Portman Road
    Copyright: Alice 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 coach
    Copyright: PA 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 Walton
    Copyright: Stuart 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 bus
    Copyright: Stuart Howells/BBC

  20. Watch: Party atmosphere as crowds line streets

    Video content

    Video caption: Carnival atmosphere at Ipswich Town parade
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