Huge turn out for Premier League promotion parade

Thousands of football fans lined the streets to celebrate Ipswich Town's promotion back to the Premier League.

The Tractor Boys, relegated from the top flight last season, sealed an immediate return by beating QPR on Saturday to finish as runners-up in the Championship.

An open-top bus parade from the club's Portman Road led to Christchurch Park, where a special celebratory event was held.

Manager Kieran McKenna told the crowd: "It's incredible, it's humbling, every person who comes out, we are so grateful. Seeing the smiles on their faces, it just means everything.

"We'll have a few days now this week to hopefully enjoy it."

• Re-live Ipswich's promotion parade here

Defensive midfielder Azor Matusiwa, who was named player of the season by supporters, said: "It's a very nice feeling - it's amazing! My first year playing in England, and we've done a great job."

Midfielder Marcelino Nunez referenced his former club Norwich with an expletive before saying "come on Tractor Boys" and "ready for Premier".

Striker Jack Clarke, who scored 16 goals this season, added: "Getting back to the Premier League is everything. It's what we set out to do at the start of the season. We've done the job."

Captain Dara O'Shea said: "I'm immensely proud. It's probably one of the proudest moments of my career. It's unbelievable - we get to share this moment with the fans, we get to share this moment with our families.

"It's hard to put into words how amazing this is. You look out there, and you see all the people, it's magic."

Monday's event was organised by the club in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Police.

Supporters lined the length of the route to cheer on the team as they made their way through the town from Sir Alf Ramsey Way to Westerfield Road before entering the park.

In many ways, it was a repeat of the scene just two years earlier when Town last celebrated promotion - but fans said this time felt different.

Kelsie Button, 19, from Ipswich, said: "The atmosphere just feels different [this time]. I think the first time, a lot of people had said, Town can't do it.

"Obviously, we'd had back-to-back promotions. A lot of people had said, we're moving too fast and stuff.

"But I think, obviously, we went back down, but I think we built our way up to quite a solid team. I think next season we'll be alright. I think we might stick in there for a little bit longer than the time."

Daniel Hatcher, 19, said: "It was a very good weekend. Today was a great way to cap it off, and it's a great achievement being back in the Premier League.

"It's my first parade, it's a nice family day out."

Rose Jones, 37, from Ipswich, attended the celebrations with her daughter.

"I just hope we can stay up," she said. "I hope we can keep McKenna. "If we hadn't gone up, we'd be losing him, I'm sure."

"It [today] is amazing for the town. There's such a better feel in the community. Everyone's happy."

As the celebrations subside, supporters will turn their attention to next season.

The Premier League is set to announce its 2026-27 fixtures on 19 June, with the new campaign itself getting under way on 22 August.

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