Ronan Keating was spot on — life really is a rollercoaster, particularly if you’re a devoted fan of our cherished Ipswich Town Football Club.
This time last year, spirits were soaring. We had just achieved back-to-back promotions and were thrilled at the thought of returning to the Premier League after more than 20 years. The excitement was palpable as we dreamed of going head-to-head with football giants like Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United. Could we compete at that level? We certainly believed we’d give it everything we had.
Fast forward twelve months, and the picture has changed dramatically. Our return to the top flight ended in relegation—and by quite a margin. The second half of the season, in particular, saw us fall apart, offering little resistance as we slid back down the table.
Now, we find ourselves once again in the Championship—the league that has been our home for most of the 21st century. It’s a return to familiar territory, though not the one we were hoping for. The season was undeniably a letdown. Up until the new year, we fought hard, and there was genuine optimism about beating the odds and staying up. But once January hit, the collapse was stark. We managed just one league win in 2025, a statistic that says it all—and suffered some heavy defeats along the way.
To survive in the Premier League, everything needed to fall into place. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Injuries, officiating decisions, and mistakes—some self-inflicted—all played a part. In the end, we simply weren’t good enough.
So here we are, back in the no-nonsense world of the Championship. Some are confident we’ll bounce straight back up, and I truly hope they’re right. But that journey won’t be straightforward. We’re likely to lose a few of our top players—already, clubs are circling. Replacements will be essential.
Being a recently relegated side, we’ll have a target on our backs. Every team will want to prove themselves against us, especially at our Premier League-standard stadium. We can’t take anything for granted.
Still, before we get too disheartened, let’s not forget how far we’ve come. Under Kieran McKenna’s management and Mark Ashton’s direction—with strong backing from our American owners—we’ve made remarkable progress. Cast your mind back to the bleak days under Marcus Evans’ ownership.
Season after season of uninspiring football just to cling onto our Championship status, followed by a humiliating drop to League One—the club’s lowest point in six decades. We had a revolving door of forgettable players and endured a parade of underwhelming managers: the Pauls—Jewell, Hurst, Lambert, and Cook. Those four years in League One were among the worst I’ve seen in my lifetime—and I’ve been around a while!
We’ve come a long way since those dark times. We’ve reclaimed our spot in English football’s structure—right near the top of the Championship or the lower end of the Premier League. In today’s money-driven game, can we aim higher? This past season showed how brutal life in the top tier can be.
Yet, look at what other so-called ‘smaller’ clubs have achieved: FA Cup-winning Crystal Palace, and solid Premier League stays for Forest, Bournemouth, and Brighton. That’s a hopeful list—and one day, wouldn’t it be something to see Ipswich among them? It’s not out of reach.
So yes, relegation hurts. But we must keep our eyes on the broader journey and the progress we’ve made in recent years. There’s plenty more to look forward to.
For now, let’s take a breather and enjoy the summer. See you in August!
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