Forum | How was Saturday for you? by SitfcB (2024)

I had a few tears before the game, thinking of how far we’ve come, thinking of those we’ve lost on the way, thinking how a literal dream had come true.

PR looked great, the pitch looked better than ever, the media ‘frenzy’ pitch side down the side of the West Stand was a sight in itself!

Emotional again when the players came out and when the PL anthem was played, me and my boy had been looking forward to hearing that.

Proud at FT, of the players, the club and the fans.

A great occasion I thought, so much so I didn’t get home until 2am after drinking from 8am - oh dear God knows what I’d have been like had we got a result.

[Post edited 19 Aug 15:55]

Contrary perhaps, but I also love 12.30 kick offs - was back in North Suffolk, half-cut, by 6pm for a BBQ.

What ruined it was putting TalkSport on when I got back to my car thinking they would praise us for how we played, but instead the presenter said, "Ipswich ended the game with Al-Hamadi, Harness and Szmodics on the pitch - that's them down then" and that boiled my pi$$.

I get that we are amongst the favourites to go down, but to say that after the way we played and considering we were against Liverpool was frustrating to hear and I am now boycotting that radio station!

Saturday will be another steep learning curve, but we want to be competing with these top teams imo, that is the goal. I realise it will take time, a good few transfer windows and a lot of time on the training pitch, but that has to be the aim.

Some stupid fanny banner was unfurled and pissed people off.

We're 30 players short of staying up.

Hate fireworks.

We lost.

As someone wo had a 400 mile round trip on Saturday, I am not a fan of 12:30 kick-offs....

Good day out. Good to be back.

Arrived home in Lowestoft at ten to five after a couple of early trains. Even had time for a pint in Norwich in between.

But not generally a fan of early kick-offs!

My 56th season at Portman Road.

[Post edited 19 Aug 16:25]

1 season is quite an adventure, many seasons will be financially transformative for the club in a way we’ve never seen, it would also be a payback for all the hard years.

I was lightly more emotional that I expected when the teams came out, I think I realised then that there had been times when I really doubted that we would ever play at this level again. To that end, the banner really annoyed me, don't think it was necessary and blocked the view just at the point of rising anticipation.

As for the game, well we were good for 50 minutes and then well short of a very good team stepping it up for the next 20. I'm glad it stayed respectable really and hope we can achieve something similarly respectable next week too.

I am involved in a semi-pro team here but was watching on my phone where I could. I won't deny listening to the PA build up that was coming through on TV gave me goosebumps and I confess I shed a tear (much the amusem*nt and surprise of people around me!).

It was great to be back and hearing Dave Vant (assuming it was him cranking up the the emotion and atmosphere) was amazing. Was so proud after the years of suffering to finally be back.

The ground looks superb, the team look great, we didn't disgrace ourselves at all or look out of place. It's been an epic journey since 2002, but we're back and it felt so special.

We have to get over ‘ we are premier league ‘ phrases and half n half scarves and start to act like we belong here and not treat it as a celebration as we are a big enough club to be where we are.

There was none of this fuss back in 1992 or 2000. A simple “yay we’ve been promoted, now let’s get on with it”.

I get what you're saying, but there's also so much more exposure to the PL nowadays (admittedly aided by Social Media, that you allude to). Sky have made the game reach a bigger and far-reaching audience.

Gone are the days you'd pick up the Green 'Un at 6pm and then there was little else until the next Saturday.

Media (press and social), like in many facaets of life, has the power to build things up into a frenzy. When it goes well, it's very positive and beneficial. When it's going badly, it's extremely unhelpful and destroying.

You are obviously a happy, glass half full person!

Maybe BA can consider in future getting any banners printed on mesh fabric so that it can still be seen through...

Newcastle had a similar thing on Saturday, but could still be seen through.

Mrs Scuzzer thought the same. TNT much better coverage than what we've seen on Sky.

Me neither; similar distance on the round trip - although I think you might be a little further than Ilkley - Keighley?

I enjoyed the day, result apart,felt slightly surreal all the media right in front of us (one right in front moaning about not having a seat and asking a colleague what was worse Ipswich or Luton - my eldest son heard this and suggested if they didn’t like it there was an exit behind them), Liverpool’s squad (Konate warming up in front of us and been told he was in the wrong colour, to which he smiled and blew a kiss, getting the Les Bleus joke).

[Post edited 19 Aug 19:04]

I have family in ilkley. Really nice place but I really don’t understand the hype that Betty’s Tea Shop generates. Always a fairly big queue outside of it.

Anyway, I was watching on telly and it felt strange - all that exposure in the national spotlight.

Yes and no. I was present for 1992 and 2000 and you are right - far less attention, media etc etc. but in 1992 and 2000 there was still a feeling of relief and joy at being at the top table after a few years away. Sumo wrestlers, MNF, Sky subscription, hopes and fears.

Now through, the scale of the achievement and what the PL is was at a different level. It shocked me tbh. So how did I feel?

Well, after falling short and falling away after 2014/15, it was nothing but decline, Skuse/Hyam/Douglas in the middle, frees, scraps, a decaying stadium, people who cared trying and anonymous owner. My dad and I after decades following this club saw the PL (and the mob up the road) marching into the distance. We would never see ITFC in the top division ever again. Might make the Championship with a new owner but the PL? Dreams.

My dad never got to see the club reborn - he was too unwell to understand it and died in December. So after a near miraculous few years I stood as they walked out thinking how much he’d have loved it. I felt pride, a lot of sadness, astonishment, hope, excitement, joy. Sensory overload in a good way.

I looked at the people around me and saw their excitement and pleasure. Selfies for kids and adults a few yards away with Joe Cole and Crouch, Matt Holland beaming as he walked down the pitch in his smart new suit, the ground looking spic and span.

Overwhelming, unadulterated pride that my club had done this. The game? I thought we’d lose. Thought we might get battered. I didn’t care. The moment was far more important to me and our battles start in a few weeks time.

As for the game, I saw enough in that first half to tell me that we are going to give it a go McKenna's way this season and that is good enough for me.

Barring the inevitable result, it was one of my best moments following that lot and as the old song goes, I’ve seen a few in my many decades of following the Town.

[Post edited 19 Aug 22:05]

Ipswich supporters? I know a few who live here. At one point there were three families (one mine before divorce) living on the same street who support Ipswich - and also a family of Norwich fans in another house.

Lived here 17 years and been to Betty’s twice - overpriced and overhyped. Queue is usually the day trippers.