As the last game of the season has now passed it’s time to reflect on the incredible achievements made by the Super Blues during their first season back at championship level — gaining back-to-back promotions — celebrating with 55,000 fans around the town in an open-top bus parade.
The record-breaking achievements of manager Kieran McKenna and his talented, hard-working squad and support staff are clear for all to see — but the backstage team has also played a huge part in the re-building of this team and in particular CEO Mark Ashton who has been instrumental in the success and the Gamechanger 20 group who took over ownership of the club in 2021 providing much-needed investment.
Securing promotion — fighting to the end
Following the Watford match town had reached 88 points — the highest ever total achieved by the team in the top two tiers of football with four games still left to play. Another point against Middlesborough increased this again to 89 points with the season heading towards a tight finish.
With other results going in their favour, the town needed five from nine. One more point came after a hard-fought draw with play-off chasers Hull — taking them level with Leeds on 90 points but out of automatic promotion on goal difference. The first team to achieve this number of points in two consecutive seasons in different divisions.
Coventry Away were next up in a hectic final week seeing the team put in a gutsy performance to come out 2-1 victors. Taking them to 93 points —the most collected by a side promoted to the Championship since 1999/2000.
Going into the last game of the season at home to Huddersfield the Super Blues needed just one point. With the entire town behind them, the team took control and secured a 2-0 victory seeing them finish just one point behind champions Leicester City and six points ahead of third-placed Leeds United.
Breaking records
Alongside Leicester, Town were part of a record-breaking start to the campaign with the duo sitting in the top two places after 20 games, with the Foxes at the summit having accrued 49 points (W16 D1 L3) from a possible 60. Town, meanwhile, was just a point behind, with 48 from the potential 60 (W15 D3 L2).
Ipswich’s start to 2023-24 was also the best by a newly-promoted side in the second tier in EFL history. Based on three points for a win, the previous record was 20 points, set by Blackburn in 1980-81, Brighton in 1977-78, Swindon Town in 1963-64 and Barnsley in 1946-47.
Ipswich Town this season would just not lie down collecting more than 30 points from losing positions — scoring 26 goals after the 75th minute and over 23 goals from substitutes.
Since Kieran McKenna took over on 19 December 2021, no side has won more points than Ipswich Town in England's top four tiers. The next closest side is Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. They are also the highest goal scorers in the top four divisions with 92. Across the ‘22/23 + ’23/24 they have succeeded in securing an incredible 194 points and scored 193 goals.
From an individual player's perspective Leif Davis has made some history of his own producing the highest number of assists ever for a defender in the Championship.
Awards
The EFL awards were also very successful for the club:
Kieran McKenna was named the Championship Manager of the Season
Wes Burns’ strike against Coventry City was named the EFL Goal of the Season
Leif Davis was named in the Championship Team of the Season
Former player Luke Chambers was awarded the Sir Tom Finney Award for outstanding contribution to football and the Football League
Off the pitch Town will be well represented at the Stadium and Events Hospitality Awards.
These awards recognise the effort and dedication shown by matchday hospitality and events teams operating at stadiums across the UK. The awards ceremony will take place on the 4 July with ITFC nominated in the following categories:
Non-Matchday Mystery Shopper Award
Non-Matchday Sales Team of the Year Award
Match Day Sales Team of the Year Award
Matchday Hospitality Award - Small Stadium (up to 1,000 hospitality places)
Overall Matchday Hospitality Award
From The Sidelines
Throughout the season fans have played their part by packing out Portman Road — having the highest average percentage of stadium filled in the Championship with an incredible 97.2%. The Blues’ average crowd at home after 22 years away from the top division was 28,845 breaking a 47-year-old club record.
Away tickets have been snapped up for every match with more than 2000 fans travelling to most games. Season tickets for the coming year have sold out with over 20,000 supporters taking the option to renew before the Blues confirmed their place back in the top flight of football.
Blue Action has provided the atmosphere outside and inside the stadium. Food bank collections have seen supporters come together to help those in need. The Women’s team played their first game at Portman Road in front of more than 10,000 fans securing a 6-0 victory and inspiring many young girls to get involved in football.
The work delivered in the community continues to grow and flourish. The Foundation reaches over 9,000 young people and vulnerable adults every month through various groups and teams. Community means everything; the players feel that too and play a massive part. Groups for those with dementia, disabilities and even the Time To Talk group were celebrated at the dedicated Foundation fixture with all groups represented in a parade around the pitch at halftime.
The FanZone has provided much pleasure and enjoyment to fans attending games. Coach meet and greets, mascot packages and flag-bearing duties have enabled young blues fans to get close to their idols. Guided tours have provided fans with an opportunity to see behind the scenes and experience first-hand what it’s like to be a player at this club with its rich history also being celebrated.
Moving Forward
The togetherness created has been incredible and it's a privilege to be a part of. The next part of the journey continues with much work going on behind the scenes to ensure this football club continues to move in the right direction.
Running Towards Adversity is the club's mantra that all players and staff have brought into — this will see them face their next challenge head-on.
But for now, a summer of preparations and upgrades to ensure everything meets the requirements of the Premier League — With investment from American owners and shareholders, the continued support of singer Ed Sheeran as shirt sponsor and the additional funds generated by promotion, The Tractor Boys and girls take a well-deserved break before moving on to face the demands of new challenges but with flair and excitement.
Watch out for the much-anticipated fixture list release for the coming Premier League campaign on the 18 June, hopefully, some eye-watering pre-season friendlies before the new season begins and the many off-pitch events to be a part of — hold on and enjoy the ride!
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