Ipswich Town made history by securing promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years after defeating Huddersfield 2-0 in the Championship. Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson scored the goals that propelled the Tractor Boys into the top tier, becoming just the fourth team in the Premier League era to achieve consecutive promotions from the third division. Ipswich’s famous fan, singer Ed Sheeran, who sponsors the club’s shirts, was not in attendance for the wild celebrations at Portman Road as fans poured onto the pitch to celebrate the historic achievement.
Leeds United, hoping for an Ipswich defeat and a victory over Southampton to sneak into the top two, fell short as they lost 2-1 to the Saints at Elland Road. This result means that Leeds will have to settle for a spot in the playoff semi-finals, where they will face Daniel Farke’s Norwich City. Ipswich’s remarkable rise was orchestrated by manager Kieran McKenna, who has earned praise for his leadership of the team. McKenna, who previously worked as a youth academy coach at Tottenham and Manchester United, has been instrumental in Ipswich’s success this season.
The Suffolk club, which was recently sold to American investors for a modest sum, is set to benefit significantly from their promotion to the Premier League. Ipswich is poised to receive at least £200 million in television revenue in the coming years, providing a substantial financial boost to the club. McKenna expressed his pride in the team’s achievement, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that went into securing promotion to the top flight. The manager is optimistic about the challenges that lie ahead in the Premier League and is looking forward to the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
Huddersfield, who had already faced the reality of relegation prior to Saturday’s match, suffered a defeat at the hands of Ipswich. Burns and Hutchinson’s goals eased any nerves among the Ipswich faithful, with Hutchinson’s strike early in the second half putting the result beyond doubt. McKenna, who has been linked with a potential move to Brighton, is focused on the task at hand and is eager to tackle the challenges that come with competing in the Premier League. West Brom also secured a playoff spot with a 3-0 victory over Preston, setting up a matchup with Southampton in the postseason.
Meanwhile, Birmingham was relegated in their first season with NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority owner, despite a 1-0 win over Norwich. Blackburn spoiled Leicester’s title celebrations with a 2-0 win to survive in the Championship and deny the Foxes a chance to reach 100 points. Plymouth ended Hull’s playoff hopes with a 1-0 victory, narrowly avoiding relegation themselves. As the dust settles on an eventful season in the Championship, attention now turns to the playoffs and the prospect of Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League after more than two decades.
