Alex Palmer’s journey to the Premier League has not been straightforward, but Town’s new goalkeeper always believed the opportunity to play in the top flight would come.

A product of the West Bromwich Albion academy, it took the 28-year-old until October 2022 before making his Baggies league debut in the Championship after a host of temporary spells away from the Hawthorns.

Palmer played in non-league for hometown club Kidderminster Harriers before gradually climbing the football pyramid with further spells at Plymouth Argyle and Lincoln City after a few brief appearances elsewhere on emergency loans.

Now, after two and a half full seasons of Championship football under his belt, which included keeping the division’s highest number of clean sheets last season, the glovesman is set to be first choice for Kieran McKenna for the foreseeable future.

“I always had that belief that I’d get the chance,” Palmer said following his man-of-the-match performance against Aston Villa. “I’ve been around long enough to know that if it happens it happens. That’s how I take life, I don’t try and force too much.

“When I got the chance to come here to a good club and a great manager, I jumped at it. To be able to make my debut is a very proud moment for me and my family.

“With all the loans and all the appearances I’ve made, it’s all come down to help me in these environments. It’s a real privilege and I’m really proud to do it for Ipswich Town.”

Having left West Brom on transfer deadline day after a 14-year association with the club, Palmer's maiden Premier League appearance came just four miles down the road at Villa Park.

As a result, the Blues’ latest recruit had a number of family members in attendance, including his mum Lisa, of whom Palmer credits much of his sporting success to.

He said: “I know a few people on the opposite side as well. There’s a lot of staff members that have helped me get here that are at Aston Villa and I’m grateful for the chance they gave me when I was younger at West Brom.

“They were all happy for me and happy for where I am. I tried to stay on their good side, I think they’re all more happy for me and it’s a good day.

“I had my wife and my agent here who is more like a mentor, he’s been with me since I was 17. They’ve always supported me, they’ve always travelled wherever I’ve been to come and watch me even if it’s just one of them. I’m really grateful for how they are and how they support me.

“My nan, my grandad, they were all supporting my mum. It was a tough time for her, she had three kids that she had to ferry around playing football, horse riding or whatever. She was able to do that and that’s a big reason why I’m standing here today.

“She’s proud, I gave her a little wave and blew her a kiss in the crowd along with my wife, it was a nice moment.”

A point in the West Midlands was not enough to lift Town out of the relegation zone, but it did end a run of four straight league defeats and came in gritty circumstances after Axel Tuanzebe was sent off towards the end of the first half.

That was in no small part to Palmer’s acrobatic contributions, having denied Morgan Rogers in stoppage time after his close-range effort deflected off former Baggies teammate Conor Townsend.

Asked if it felt like a win when the final whistle blew, Palmer said: “At the end it does feel like that but we would have definitely liked an extra two points.

“It shows the togetherness and we’ll dig in. If it’s just for a point we’ll settle for it but it’s a point gained rather than a point lost.

“It’s been cut back, the lad’s scuffed his shot and it’s flicked up off Conor. It was just instinct and a bit of luck with which side of the post it falls, I was just able to do my job.”

Photo: Action Images/Reuters

RobITFC added 17:05 - Feb 16 Fully deserved , well done , now for a few clean sheets!
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Dissboyitfc added 17:12 - Feb 16 And he has set the bar very high, hoping for a plenty more Motm displays.
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trevski_s added 17:17 - Feb 16 Great performance and after this game and the Coventry game, already cemented his place as #1 in my eyes (sorry Walton). December/January has always been tough for us, lets hope this game was the start of bigger things and our push starts NOW. COYB
8

trevski_s added 17:18 - Feb 16 Also I think WBA need to stop selling us their players as they keep turning out to be amazing lol
1

lordsambuca added 17:19 - Feb 16 What a great character he seems to be. Such a humble interview and so nice that he recognised the sacrifices of his family, and acknowledges the respect he has for ITFC and our manager. Lets hope he can build on this, although he is lost a legend already with that ridiculous save at the end!
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Bluewhiteboy added 18:31 - Feb 16 Well if you keep playing like you may just be playing in the prem next season. Keep it up
5

Dug added 19:02 - Feb 16 Well you certainly grabbed the opportunity of playing in the premier league with both hands ! You had a Cracking game , expect a very warm welcome at Portman road after that performance.
4

IpswichT62OldBoy added 19:05 - Feb 16 He has been a revelation, two matches and suddenly we feel solid and secure. It was great to see Delaps reaction at the final whistle, he ran to Palmer and grinned and hugged him. Contrast with his reaction after the second Southampton goal goes in.
6

blueboy1981 added 19:47 - Feb 16 Pleased for him at a crucial time for him in his Career . Well Done Alex. ⚽️
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jas1972 added 19:47 - Feb 16 A worthy successor to Paul Cooper
1

Carberry added 20:33 - Feb 16 Fantastic, what an example of perseverance paying off. Good for you Alex. Shame you didn't join in the Summer.
7

Suffolkboy added 21:13 - Feb 16 WHAT an impact he’s made ! His character and commitment ,his sheer enthusiasm and natural talent and reflexes appear to have worked wonders ! COYB
3

bobble added 22:32 - Feb 16 With a surname like that you could only be good at 2 things...
1

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 03:12 - Feb 17 Great debut. The game of his life!
0

Dissboyitfc added 07:42 - Feb 17 early days but it really seems like Palmer wants to be a part of everything, understands the importance of connecting with the fans! I might have this wrong but didnt see Muric coming over to the fans at the end of the game? Think he will be gone at the end of the season!
4

pablo123 added 07:51 - Feb 17 What a relief to get your here Alex , with CW injured I feared the worst , we'll done pal keep it up PLZZZZ
1

poet added 09:28 - Feb 17 Well done Alex, that was a performance that any top international keeper would be proud of. Four yellows and one red. Aston Villa, no yellows, no reds. I’ve looked at the number of bookings dished out in other matches over last week-end’s games. I couldn’t find any where the number of bookings matched the number dished out to Ipswich’s players. Are we a dirty side? No, everyone knows that we are not. Aston Villa are not a dirty side either, yet their players committed the same type of tackles that this referee considered to be worth a yellow card for those wearing an Ipswich shirt. If you are an honest football official looking for something that is very wrong with this imbalance in decision making, then you couldn’t but start to ask some very serious questions. The trouble is…. No one at the very top is asking, I wonder why that is!

2

BobbyBell added 09:30 - Feb 17 What a great signing. 28 is no age for a keeper. Just look at how long some of the great keepers played.
1

Bert added 09:47 - Feb 17 That last save has to be goal of the month or the year. Gordon Banks would be very proud of that !
1

Rimsy added 11:02 - Feb 17 Great start to his Town career. If only we'd got him at start of season, makes you wonder what might have been
0

dirtydingusmagee added 13:57 - Feb 17 Great start Alex , keep it up !
0

Leejames99 added 14:12 - Feb 17 Great debut, hopefully he can work well with Muric and get his confidence back, at 26 and 28 they are both formidable keepers for the long term. It's heartbreaking that when you look at results with Muric in goal against all the top teams with 1-1, 0-0 etc and we're only destroyed as a team by West Ham and Everton, I really think fans should take some responsibility for his confidence, he has made just as many errors as other keepers in the Prem but got blamed for every goal conceded forcing us to bring in a keeper who hadn't even played in Championship and conceded 16 in 6 which is atrocious, if we go down on goal difference that will sit firmly at Walton and Morsys doors in my opinion and as the stats show.

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Leejames99 added 14:39 - Feb 17 For clarity Muric mistakes are 5 the same as Sanchez for Chesea and 1 ahead Onana etc His howlers was first game Man City for their 2nd. West Ham - 1 goal but that was a team poor performance. Brentford but at 2-0 and with 10 men and a penalty he can't be blamed for that result. Palace he came out but it was Morsy not marking his man that allowed the ball to Mateta and then Greaves slipped. Bournemouth game their equaliser was Muric fault and Bournemouth got momentum and won but our subs had been used and it was League 1 team mostly. And finally Southampton first goal was a Muric error, 2nd should of made save but striker shouldn't of been able to hit it and he had his own fans giving him stick. So I think the Muric nonsense needs to stop and hope he develops. Don't get me wrong, Palmer looked great and he has cemented number 1 going forward but let's remember Muric cost 8 mill and if anything we want him to get confidence back so we can at least sell him on and he has a good career as I'm sure he won't want to be number 2 and Slicker can't be far off that slot now. I hope Muric has a blinder in the cup so he can get fans back on side. He is still a Town player after all.

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Linkboy13 added 15:39 - Feb 17 Every player no matter how good or bad has a fan or fans who think they are good maybe they know them personally or have had a brief conversation with them but the facts are McKenna and his coaching staff work with these players day in day out and although we are entitled to our little opinions i think they know best.
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Linkboy13 added 15:02 - Feb 18 Don't think McKenna will bring back Muric he wants to stay in the competition.
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