| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. 18:29 - Apr 29 with 3014 views | The_Romford_Blue |
So I’ve been reflecting this week about how it is now as a Town fan. Win lose or draw tomorrow and no matter our fate on Saturday, things couldn’t feel any better as a football club. It’s been around 3 years since EvansOut became a reality, rather than just my irritating catchphrase on the train home after every game. Incredible to think what Gamechanger, Ashton and McKenna have done for our club.
Mid table league 1 team with attendances at 15k a week under Evans and no real hope for the future whatsoever as the club died a slow death. And then in the space of 3 short brilliant years the club has been transformed both on and off the pitch.
Just to think of the stadium how it was before, run down and generally a place full of those of us going through nothing more than habit to now where it’s vibrant, it’s been painted and every home match feels like a carnival atmosphere where we all want to be there. When Portman Road sold out against Newcastle years and years ago (Huws with the late equaliser for a 2-2), that felt like the first time in an eternity we saw the stadium full. Nowadays it’s sold out every week. Even last year was the same.
Away matches are no longer a chore where my reports spend 2 paragraphs talking about hotdogs, 3 about the journey up and the local surroundings but only 1 about the football. It used to be me going to Hull and Rotherham with 900 others watching us get beat without a shot on target as the season came to a close. Rotherham 7 years ago we made 10 changes as McCarthy decided that us as the travelling fans didn’t matter and he’d change the whole side for no reason at all. I remember coming on here after the Cardiff away game where we were awful. I was angry. I was disappointed. And then I got to Cardiff train station tired and miserable and across the platform was the Town players eating pizza and having a right old laugh. They didn’t care. That was March 2017. But that was the old regime. That was a football club with no pride in itself. Now we have a management; an ownership and a team that care just like we do. When we hurt, they hurt. McKenna was all of us the other day when he hit that dugout. He and they get it. They understand.
A year ago 5,500 of us trecked up to Barnsley. My coach from Sheffield to Manchester (was seeing my mate after the game) got cancelled and I ended up stranded in Sheffield until the early hours. If that was 5 years ago, I’d have spent the entire time wondering why on earth do I bother. Last year I spent the whole time strolling round Sheffield singing ‘We’ve got Suoer Kieran McKenna’ and ended up in a pub with some local Sheffield uni students who supported a variety of sides. All of them seemed genuinely jealous of the way it was for us as a club even in League 1 going up to the Championship.
And then now we find ourselves 4 points away from footballing mortality. From being only the 2nd team in 20 years to do an EFL double promotion. And if we can get over the line, we’ve done it with near enough the same great bunch of lads as last year. We haven’t gone out and tried to spend big and match the big hitters around us with the parachute payments. We’ve trusted our process so to speak and done it the Ipswich way. Kept the same balanced team and the same players have delivered. Whether this week ends in a promotion party or not, they’ve done us proud.
For so many years at school or college being the only Ipswich fan was something that can be used against me by so many. West Ham fans everywhere would mock. They were still my team so it didn’t matter really but I always wondered if just once I’d be able to say I’m an Ipswich fan and other people are jealous of the way things are going for us. I had to miss Hull on Saturday as it was my Mums 50th surprise party. I made sure the party venue had sky sports and had the game on. I think about half the pub were cheering Ipswich goals despite nobody supporting Towen but me. The footballing world wants us to go up for the story. The David v Goliath underdog fairytale. I even sang Conor Chaplin baby on karaoke a few hours later. It was amazing to feel like so many fans of so many other teams wanted to be me for a while. They wanted to feel how we all feel. On the cusp of greatness and overachieving despite all odds.
I know all of this is somewhat of a ramble but you lot are my only Ipswich link. I don’t have Ipswich mates round here. I don’t know Ipswich fans in Romford. So no matter how jealous other clubs are of us, I know only you lot understand how it feels. We are so bl00dy close and it’s so terrifying and exciting in equal measure but it’s incredible to think how a group of players, a group of management staff and a group of owners have brought so much happiness to so many of us. We might not go up this week but the journey over these three years have been quite magical.
5 years ago today my Grandad who you all would’ve heard in my Rommy Reports sadly died. He was at that aforementioned Rotherham game. He was a Man U fan but always wanted the Town to do well and frankly just liked away matches with me. His face for the late win at Aston Villa one year was one of my favourite memories in football. I remember when we left Rotherham that day of the McCarthy changes he told me he knows he won’t see us in the premier league. I said to him I don’t think that I will in my lifetime either. I think when he died we’d been relegated or near enough. Perhaps it was the season after in fact but I can’t remember. I know he’d have never have believed our club could transform like it has. I know if we win tomorrow and Saturday he will be somewhere up there with a Whisky raising a glass with Sir Bobby. He won’t get to see it in person but I will. So many of us know people who would have loved to have seen what we’re seeing and I can imagine Saturday if we do it, there will be plenty of us in bits.
A few years ago when we scraped a 1-1 draw at Barnsley and the celebrations were ‘Scenes. Absolute Scenes’, that was something at the time that felt like it was all worth it. For moments like that. Now going to home and away games feels worthwhile no matter what happens. Everyone is pulling in the same direction. Everyone is together.
Saturday feels like do or die but it isn’t. It’s a crescendo to the first wave of Ipswich finally being back in the place we all dreamed it might be. Whether it’s championship or premier league next year, our football club that we lost for so long is back. As for the result on the pitch, all we can do now is make as much noise as possible for two massive matches and BELIEVE! [Post edited 29 Apr 18:37]
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:35 - Apr 29 with 2487 views | ITFC_Forever |
Great post Rommy, but the pedant in me needs to correct a few things:
1. Huws made it 3-1 v Newcastle.
2. It’s immortality.
3. The Budgies and the Blunts have both done back-to-back promotions in the last 20 years. |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:40 - Apr 29 with 2448 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:35 - Apr 29 by ITFC_Forever |
Great post Rommy, but the pedant in me needs to correct a few things:
1. Huws made it 3-1 v Newcastle.
2. It’s immortality.
3. The Budgies and the Blunts have both done back-to-back promotions in the last 20 years. |
Ahh yes so he did!
Until now I genuinely thought it was mortality!
Ohh. I thought it was Southampton only.
Well I won’t edit it. I’ve edited it already to add the paragraph about my dear Grandad who would have loved this whole last two years. But I won’t edit it again haha.
I’m terrified about Saturday and tomorrow but for me the whole journey of the last three seasons going from having no hope for our club to being on the brink of greatness is something I’ll remember no matter how this week goes. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:41 - Apr 29 with 2435 views | Vic |
Brilliant stuff Rommers. |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:52 - Apr 29 with 2372 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:40 - Apr 29 by The_Romford_Blue |
Ahh yes so he did!
Until now I genuinely thought it was mortality!
Ohh. I thought it was Southampton only.
Well I won’t edit it. I’ve edited it already to add the paragraph about my dear Grandad who would have loved this whole last two years. But I won’t edit it again haha.
I’m terrified about Saturday and tomorrow but for me the whole journey of the last three seasons going from having no hope for our club to being on the brink of greatness is something I’ll remember no matter how this week goes. |
I forgot Southampton to be fair!
But the general sentiment of your post is spot on. They really have changed the game. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:00 - Apr 29 with 2322 views | Help |
Excellent post and a joy to read. We are with you every step of the way. The ducks are in line and everything is pointing in the right direction. keep the faith, enjoy the ride and celebrate with the rest of us on Saturday into the wee small hours. |  | | |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:02 - Apr 29 with 2314 views | SitfcB |
💙 |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:44 - Apr 29 with 2164 views | strikalite |
Great post Rommy, yep it's certainly times like this that you think about someone who is no longer with us regarding what is happening right now, it's quite remarkable as you say...miss your hotdog reports, I bet those hotdogs taste so much better in the Premier League though! |  | | |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:44 - Apr 29 with 2163 views | portmanking |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:35 - Apr 29 by ITFC_Forever |
Great post Rommy, but the pedant in me needs to correct a few things:
1. Huws made it 3-1 v Newcastle.
2. It’s immortality.
3. The Budgies and the Blunts have both done back-to-back promotions in the last 20 years. |
One of the best posts on here in YEARS and THIS was your response. Really? SMH. |  | | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:55 - Apr 29 with 2125 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:44 - Apr 29 by portmanking |
One of the best posts on here in YEARS and THIS was your response. Really? SMH. |
Haha it’s all good - ITFC_Forever is one of the good guys. The pedant in me is still shocked the word was ‘immortality’ and not just ‘mortality’. 26 years on the planet and I didn’t know that until today. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:59 - Apr 29 with 2106 views | budgiebasher |
Nice one Rommy. Straight from the heart |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:06 - Apr 29 with 2062 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 19:44 - Apr 29 by portmanking |
One of the best posts on here in YEARS and THIS was your response. Really? SMH. |
Probably didn’t deserve to be the first response in fairness.
But it is a fantastic post, and hopefully Rommy took it in the right spirit.
And for the Rommy generation, they’re on the verge of scenes like never before. I was only 17 in 1992 and that and 2000 are still the only two promotions I’ve seen to the top flight…. I’ll be as chuffed as anyone if we see this through, and for those who haven’t seen it before, I’m delighted they will finally get to experience it.
22 years has been a long, long time. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:08 - Apr 29 with 2045 views | Swansea_Blue |
Great post and if anything it’s making me reminisce. Were you around for 2000? To me this feels very familiar, although it mirrors ‘92 rather than 2000, but the emotions are the same. Now we’re here I’m expecting it, and it feels like part of the natural cycle of ups and downs at a football club. But it didn’t feel like that under Evans. You’re right about not expecting to see us progress in our lifetimes. We wouldn’t have done under ME. |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:13 - Apr 29 with 2014 views | Steve_M |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 18:35 - Apr 29 by ITFC_Forever |
Great post Rommy, but the pedant in me needs to correct a few things:
1. Huws made it 3-1 v Newcastle.
2. It’s immortality.
3. The Budgies and the Blunts have both done back-to-back promotions in the last 20 years. |
In the spirit of Private Eye, 3 is wrong on Sheffield United as it took them two seasons in the Championship.
I was picking Rommy up on the Newcastle point though. |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:16 - Apr 29 with 2001 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:08 - Apr 29 by Swansea_Blue |
Great post and if anything it’s making me reminisce. Were you around for 2000? To me this feels very familiar, although it mirrors ‘92 rather than 2000, but the emotions are the same. Now we’re here I’m expecting it, and it feels like part of the natural cycle of ups and downs at a football club. But it didn’t feel like that under Evans. You’re right about not expecting to see us progress in our lifetimes. We wouldn’t have done under ME. |
I was 2 in 2000 so no I wasn’t. I apparently liked tractors as a toddler and my uncle got me the orange Ipswich kit for my third birthday seeing as it’s ‘Tractor Boys’. Then I’ve been a town fan ever since.
Who’d have thought all these years later I’d have had a season ticket for 10 years and done about 80 away games in those 10 years. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:18 - Apr 29 with 1993 views | cbower |
Drink it in young man. Enjoy the moments this perioď is bringing. It's these moments that make it all worthwhile. My old man, a lifelong Liverpool season ticket holder gave it up at 70 and for his final 8 years, came to loads of Town away games with me. He died just after the play-offs in 2015. We, along with my young son, will have been in the 900 or so at Hull, Blackburn, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Blackpool, Doncaster etc, mostly watching dross along with you and your grandad I guess. I wish àll who have passed on could witness what's happening now. You never know, just maybe they can  [Post edited 29 Apr 20:25]
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:22 - Apr 29 with 1958 views | ITFC_Forever |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:13 - Apr 29 by Steve_M |
In the spirit of Private Eye, 3 is wrong on Sheffield United as it took them two seasons in the Championship.
I was picking Rommy up on the Newcastle point though. |
FFS, I can’t even be an accurate pedant.
I was sure the Blunts done it back-to-back. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:26 - Apr 29 with 1915 views | Steve_M |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:22 - Apr 29 by ITFC_Forever |
FFS, I can’t even be an accurate pedant.
I was sure the Blunts done it back-to-back. |
Ha, no. I went there twice in that spell, once with you and the last away game before our relegation when they were almost up. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:28 - Apr 29 with 1702 views | acj |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:16 - Apr 29 by The_Romford_Blue |
I was 2 in 2000 so no I wasn’t. I apparently liked tractors as a toddler and my uncle got me the orange Ipswich kit for my third birthday seeing as it’s ‘Tractor Boys’. Then I’ve been a town fan ever since.
Who’d have thought all these years later I’d have had a season ticket for 10 years and done about 80 away games in those 10 years. |
Top post this Rommy, and has actually helped me feel a bit calmer and stop to reflect on the big picture for a moment.
And then to top it off you’ve dropped this reply with perhaps the funniest Ipswich fan origin story I’ve ever heard - always thought tractorboys was a great and silly nickname, but to think a diehard fan like you ended up being one of us through a love of tractors? That’s top stuff. |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:32 - Apr 29 with 1683 views | Lord_Lucan |
Well done Rommy
I'm raising a glass to both your grandad and the pigeon you killed (I forget again what happened)
Didn't you feed it a Dunkin Donut? |  |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:33 - Apr 29 with 1664 views | Stenvict |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:16 - Apr 29 by The_Romford_Blue |
I was 2 in 2000 so no I wasn’t. I apparently liked tractors as a toddler and my uncle got me the orange Ipswich kit for my third birthday seeing as it’s ‘Tractor Boys’. Then I’ve been a town fan ever since.
Who’d have thought all these years later I’d have had a season ticket for 10 years and done about 80 away games in those 10 years. |
Surely you've done more than 80 away games in 10 years? | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:38 - Apr 29 with 1625 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:32 - Apr 29 by Lord_Lucan |
Well done Rommy
I'm raising a glass to both your grandad and the pigeon you killed (I forget again what happened)
Didn't you feed it a Dunkin Donut? |
Nearly 6 years to the day:
I didn’t kill him either! I tried to save him! Can’t remember about the donut thing but that does sound like something I’d have done | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:39 - Apr 29 with 1612 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:33 - Apr 29 by Stenvict |
Surely you've done more than 80 away games in 10 years? |
Yeah it’s probably around 100-110 in hindsight. Was doing around 13-15 a season for at least 3 years but it’s dropped a little bit since I started working in the betting world because of some race days being too important to have off.
Derby/Guineas/Aintree etc all Saturdays I’d have worked so had to miss matches | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:47 - Apr 29 with 1579 views | Lord_Lucan |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:38 - Apr 29 by The_Romford_Blue |
Nearly 6 years to the day:
I didn’t kill him either! I tried to save him! Can’t remember about the donut thing but that does sound like something I’d have done |
I know a reasonable amount of people on here but mainly from back in the day. Fair to say that since TW4T I have got to know a few more but regrettably Rommy (To the best of my knowledge) we have never met.
I met your slightly younger understudy (Sitters) once at Middlesboro away. From memory he had Dumbo ears I thought he was going to attempt to fly.
I hope we meet some sunny day Rommers.
Man cool - and regards to your mum. | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:53 - Apr 29 with 1542 views | The_Romford_Blue |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:47 - Apr 29 by Lord_Lucan |
I know a reasonable amount of people on here but mainly from back in the day. Fair to say that since TW4T I have got to know a few more but regrettably Rommy (To the best of my knowledge) we have never met.
I met your slightly younger understudy (Sitters) once at Middlesboro away. From memory he had Dumbo ears I thought he was going to attempt to fly.
I hope we meet some sunny day Rommers.
Man cool - and regards to your mum. |
I have no doubt Lucan we will meet at some point and the pleasure will be mine.
Hopefully it’s in a premier league ground | |
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| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 21:53 - Apr 29 with 1536 views | BanksterDebtSlave |
| Then and now. A few words. A transformation. on 20:18 - Apr 29 by cbower |
Drink it in young man. Enjoy the moments this perioď is bringing. It's these moments that make it all worthwhile. My old man, a lifelong Liverpool season ticket holder gave it up at 70 and for his final 8 years, came to loads of Town away games with me. He died just after the play-offs in 2015. We, along with my young son, will have been in the 900 or so at Hull, Blackburn, Huddersfield, Barnsley, Blackpool, Doncaster etc, mostly watching dross along with you and your grandad I guess. I wish àll who have passed on could witness what's happening now. You never know, just maybe they can [Post edited 29 Apr 20:25]
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I was thinking similar to this but the other way around if you get my drift. I've been dragging Junior to games since she was about 5 and a lot of it wasn't great on the footballing front. Brighton away one Christmas was about as good as it got until the last couple of years.
And then at Hull on Saturday night as we sang of our longing to feel the heat with Omari it struck me that come rain or shine and long after I'm gone she'll be stuck with supporting Towen and hopefully some happy memories of our games together too. [Post edited 29 Apr 22:08]
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