Boozed-up Ipswich Town players slammed a Sky Sports pundit on their Premier League promotion parade, surrounded by thousands of their fans.
Ipswich’s heroes celebrated their Premier League promotion in style as thousands of supporters flocked to cheer on their boozy open top bus parade.
They also took another opportunity to mock Championship rivals Leeds United, who they pipped to the last automatic promotion spot.
One took to the microphone and sang ‘Leeds are falling apart again’ to the tune of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’.
Luke Woolfenden said: ‘I’ll have to sit for six weeks now, and listen to Don Goodman tell us we’re not good enough for the Prem like we did in the Champ.
Leeds and Don Goodman rightly getting absolute pelters 🤣🤣 #itfc pic.twitter.com/3eCBLtQGlk
— mith (@mithtalksEFL) May 6, 2024
‘We’re still going to finish mid-table, Don, but don’t worry about it.
‘This group can do whatever we want, man. We’ve worked so hard
The Tractor Boys secured their staggering return to the top-flight after a 22-year wait on Saturday following a 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town at Portman Road – earning back-to-back promotions to jump from League One to the Premier League in two seasons.
In a speech to the crowd, defender Woolfenden, who has come through the youth ranks at the club, was asked if it could get better than this.
He responded: ‘It will get better when we have a moment’s silence for Don Goodman.’
Love this from Woolfy! He’s right!! #ITFC pic.twitter.com/RlpOhqB3n4
— Matt Stannard (@mattstannard) May 6, 2024
Following a loud cheer from the audience, Woolfenden continued: ‘I think he’ll be absolutely gutted that we got promoted. He’s been calling us c*** all season.’
Players and staff wasted little time in kicking off the party shortly after the final whistle on Saturday, with the squad basking in their success back in the dressing room before re-emerging to lift their second-place trophy in a shower of champagne.
But the revelry continued over the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend and on Monday, Ipswich held an open-top bus tour around the town despite the gloomy skies.
The parade began at the stadium at midday and ended at Christchurch Park.
The route also took in Sir Alf Ramsey Way and other landmarks and saw buses adorned with ‘The Town are going up!’ snake through crowds clad in blue.
First, the parade left the club’s Playford Road training ground and made its way to Portman Road. Players on board wore training gear and swigged from beer bottles.
Below, the crowd let off blue flares and were doused in booze from the buses.
Champion boxer and Ipswich supporter Fabio Wardley was again spotted in the thick of the celebrations and was seen raising a beer to the crowd in the convoy.
Big screens have been placed around Christchurch Park to allow supporters to watch the parade and boss Kieran McKenna is expected to make a speech.
‘I’ll never forget these days,’ striker Kayden Jackson told BBC Radio Suffolk.
‘If he [McKenna] asked me to run through a brick wall, I’d do it for him in a heartbeat.
‘It’s not lost on me what could have happened if I’d gone elsewhere on the back of what was a miserable time at the club and I’m just happy to be here with the boss to experience everything we’ve experienced in the last two years.’
McKenna, meanwhile, is relishing the chance to pit his side against the best.
‘I moved away at 16 to fulfil one dream and had to pivot on that at 22,’ he said.
‘Since then, I’ve had 15 years of work, sacrifice and learning. It’s been an incredible journey and I am proud of what I’ve achieved. I was coaching in the Premier League and Champions League at 32. You want to test yourself against the best.
‘It will be a great challenge to do that again.’
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