Huge crowds lined the streets of Ipswich and packed Christchurch Park as the Blues held a Bank Holiday open-top bus parade to celebrate promotion to the Premier League.

The squad made a slow trip from Portman Road to the park in one bus with coaches and other off-field staff in another to the park where a number of them were interviewed by Simon Milton, who himself made a similar trip after the Blues won the Second Division title in 1991/92 to secure a place in the first ever Premier League season.

“It’s been unbelievable. What a group we’ve got, what a group, what a club. They’ve done it against all odds. Competed against some good teams this season but managed to do it,” skipper Sam Morsy said, before paying tribute to the fans, who numbered 55,000 across the route and the park.

“I’ve never really seen support like it before. You’re massive reason we got promoted and we’re going to need you even more next season.”

CEO Mark Ashton also gave his thanks to the fans: “What a group of supporters. This town has just blown me away.

“We just drove in on the bus and we can’t believe how many people have come out. I just want to say for myself and everyone at the club, thank you so, so much, we love you all.”

Luke Woolfenden had a message for one of those who repeatedly expressed his doubts about the Blues’ promotion credentials, a cert Sky Sports co-commentator.

Asked if things could get better than winning back-to-back promotions with your hometown club, the central defender responded: “It will get better when we have a moment’s silence for Don Goodman. I think he’ll be absolutely gutted we got promoted. He’s been calling us a crap all season. Put that in your pipe, Don, and have a good weekend mate!”

Manager Kieran McKenna added his thanks to supporters: “It’s amazing, it’s a special day. I didn’t expect half of this, I have to say. We’re so, so grateful for the way you’ve come out, so grateful for your support all year.

“It means the world to everyone here, everyone on the bus and we’ve seen how much it means to you. It’s incredible and we’re so glad to share this with you.”

Photo: James Ager

PremierBlue added 17:10 - May 6 Love it!
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Vancouver_Blue added 17:13 - May 6 Living vicariously through social media here in Canada
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bluerico added 17:55 - May 6 What a fantastic day for the club and the town. Loved Woolfies comments about Don Goodman.
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JewellintheTown added 18:07 - May 6 Brilliant videos! As someone who couldn't get there in person, these are very much appreciated. Many thanks.
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TimmyH added 18:23 - May 6 Great stuff!...well done everybody who turned out. On another note our US owners have been very quiet, have we heard from them?
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chepstowblue added 18:51 - May 6 Enjoyed two minutes of it then switched over to the snooker. There's only so much I can watch of a slow moving double decker bus containing young men in silly hats. Had the bus veered dangerously out of control into the flare wavers it would have commanded more of my attention. Great weekend all the same.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 20:15 - May 6 TimmyH, I think they are staying out of view and letting everyone else do the talking for them. I think they've got it right. We don't want Chansiri standing dead center of a promotion photo holding the cup with the team like he personally won it.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 20:15 - May 6 TimmyH, I think they are staying out of view and letting everyone else do the talking for them. I think they've got it right. We don't want Chansiri standing dead center of a promotion photo holding the cup with the team like he personally won it.
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kingofanglia96 added 21:04 - May 6 Special day, special weekend, special team. Still hasn’t sunk in.
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george17 added 21:14 - May 6 What a fantastic day and will live long in the memory after so long. Only slightly spoilt by getting a ticket for parking slightly out of a bay on the hil beside the park. The ticket was put on only 5 minutes after we parked, others got caught too. They must have been watching with inspectors on the hill. Even people with diabled got a ticket. Ipswich Borough Council, what is wrong with you on this special day?

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bobble added 21:24 - May 6 who is don goodman ???
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BurleysGloryDays added 21:24 - May 6 Sensational stuff - McKenna God - and that turnout today has done us all proud, well done everyone - we’ve shown we’re not a small club at all, far from it. When half of the county heads to Town we are a big football club.
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warwickblue added 23:12 - May 6 Great to see Ipswich Borough Council really showing their true support for us all by crawling all over the town slapping parking tickets on anything they possibly could. A wonderful way to round off the weekend's celebrations.
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Van_Blue added 00:28 - May 7 Woolelies comments about Goodman made me laugh but I guess next season we will have put up with Sutton forecasting a 6-0 loss for us every week
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Van_Blue added 00:29 - May 7 Congratulations to Jim Magilton btw
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blues1 added 07:51 - May 7 Warwickblue. Why do people moan whencrgeycget a ticket for parking illegally? It's simple really. Don't park where ur not supposed to. Plenty of car parks in ipswich.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:08 - May 7 Amazing scenes ,loved all the speeches especially Wolfies comments! Cant believe that anyone, wont say supporter could find a negative viewpoint on yesterdays parade, step forward Chepstow! Pathetic !
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ImAbeliever added 09:28 - May 7 Don who?
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ImAbeliever added 09:33 - May 7 So many young families with littluns en route and in the park, the future’s blue. Pity it’s taken a whole generation! Keep believing.
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george17 added 19:19 - May 8 Blue 1 - Agree to a point but our car was less than a 1/4 car length over the line in a very crowded street and all car parks too far away because we had a physically impaired passenger. Oh well.
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