Luke Woolfenden, a homegrown star for Ipswich Town, claims that the team has “made the impossible happen” by getting promoted to the Premier League twice in a row, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of a unique collection of players and manager.
Against now-relegated Huddersfield Town at home, the Suffolk club sealed an automatic promotion spot on the last day of the Sky Bet Championship season, capping a 22-year run out of the top division of English football.
McKenna’s team had a season to remember as they became the first team from the second division to complete a first season promotion since Southampton in 2011–12.
They had entered the last day’s midday kickoff needing to win to secure a second-place finish instead of depending on Leeds United faltering, which they finally did in a 2-1 home loss to fellow play-off team Southampton.
However, Wes Burns’ clinical finish in the 27th minute and Omari Hutchinson’s run and finish three minutes into the second half meant that there was little room for final-day nerves in a crowded Portman Road. Woolfenden was part of a composed and commanding display that ensured there was no chance for emotions to flare.
“No, it was a great day. The boys played really well, and the crowd was amazing,” the speaker said.
The newly promoted Town finished with 96 points, one point behind champion Leicester City, who ultimately lost their last home game 2-0 to Blackburn Rovers. It was a truly fantastic season for The Tractor Boys.
The 25-year-old responded, “No, if I’m being honest, all season I’ve said ‘nah, it can’t happen, it can’t happen,’ and it’s probably helped us to be fair,” when asked if he could have imagined in his wildest dreams that it would have gone as it has.
“It’s likely that most of the changing room will remain unchanged; they’ll have been sitting there thinking, ‘no, that’s not feasible, it’s impossible,’ yet we’ve just accomplished the astonishing.
