Back in the big time! Ipswich celebrate stunning Premier League promotion in style with boozy open top bus parade – as thousands flock to cheer on their heroes

Ipswich Town heroes celebrated their Premier League promotion in style as thousands of supporters flocked to cheer on their drunken open-top bus parade.

The Tractor Boys secured their dazzling return to the top flight after a 22-year wait after a 2-0 win against Huddersfield Town at Portman Road on Saturday.

Players and staff wasted little time in kicking off the celebrations shortly after the final whistle, with the team basking in their success in the dressing room before emerging to lift their second place trophy under a shower of Champagne.

But the revelry continued throughout the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend and on Monday Ipswich held an open-top bus tour of the city despite gloomy skies.

The parade started at the stadium at 12 noon and ended in Christchurch Park.

Players drank from beer bottles and were cheered on by thousands of supporters

The Tractor Boys returned to the top level after a 22-year wait after beating Huddersfield

The route also took in Sir Alf Ramsey Way and other landmarks and saw buses decorated with ‘The Town are going up!’ weave through the crowd dressed 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 drank from beer bottles.

Below, the crowd lit blue torches and were showered with drinks from the buses.

Champion boxer and Ipswich supporter Fabio Wardley was again spotted in the middle of the celebrations, raising a beer to the crowd in the convoy.

Large screens have been placed around Christchurch Park for supporters to watch the parade and boss Kieran McKenna is expected to make a speech.

“I’ll never forget those days,” said forward Kayden Jackson BBC Radio Suffolk.

Massimo Luongo lifted the second trophy as players reveled in their success

The crowd lit blue torches and applauded their heroes as they made their way through the city

Boss Kieran McKenna admitted he relished the opportunity to pit his side against the best

‘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 had I gone elsewhere after a miserable time at the club and I’m just happy to be here with the boss and experience everything we’ve been through recently. two years.’

McKenna, meanwhile, is seizing the opportunity to have his team play against the best.

“I moved at 16 to fulfill one dream and had to act on it at 22,” he said.

“Since then, I’ve had 15 years of working, sacrificing and learning. It has been an incredible journey and I am proud of what I have achieved. At 32 I was a coach in the Premier League and Champions League. You want to test yourself against the best.

‘It will be a great challenge to do that again.’