Blues forward Conor Chaplin, who returned to his former club Portsmouth on a season-long loan on Monday, says his four years at Town were the best of his career.

The 28-year-old’s departure to return to his boyhood club Pompey was the biggest shock of the final day of the transfer window for Town supporters, not least as Chaplin had started Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Derby County.

Although he has moved to Fratton Park for the season, the Blues can recall him in January and his contract, which is up next summer, has an option for a further season.

Asked how it feels to be back in a Portsmouth shirt, he told the Pompey official website: “Amazing, a bit crazy. It happened a bit fast but feeling really grateful and really excited. It’s been a mad amount of time since I left, so it feels amazing to be back.”

On the move seemingly having come out of the blue, he added: “It’s probably been one where I was more aware than a lot of other people, I know that probably sounds silly to say, but it’s not always the case.

“Going into the game on Saturday and then off the back of Saturday and seeing what Sunday brought and it probably accelerated today [Monday] even quicker and then we’re here now. All worth it.”

Worthing-born Chaplin left Fratton Park for Coventry on loan in August 2018, before making that switch permanent in the following January.

A move to Barnsley followed at the end of that campaign followed before his former Portsmouth boss Paul Cook took him to Ipswich in his Demolition Man summer in 2021.

“It’s probably a decision at the time I knew needed to happen and I needed to make for my career and it turned out to be a good decision, looking back at the last eight years,” he reflected on leaving Fratton Park.

“Probably one that like any young footballer’s career was not plain sailing, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of lessons on the way.

“Probably a very different footballer from the one the fans saw when I was 21 to what I am now. I feel like I’m a senior player now, I’m a more rounded player, I know exactly what I am, I understand exactly what I am as a player, as a teammate, which I think is really important.

“I just want to try and give my best for this football club. I was conscious I wanted to come back to this football club at some point in my career, whenever that may be.

“I didn’t see it being this soon, but really glad that it is because I feel like I’m probably at the best stage as a person and as a player that I’ve ever been, so I’m excited to give that best version of myself to the football club.”

Asked to reflect on his time at Town in which he won back-to-back promotions, a number of personal honours and became a fans’ favourite, he said: “How was that? The best time of my life, best four years of my life, probably.

“On the pitch, I probably don’t need to speak about too much, but my sons were born in the last couple of years as well in Ipswich, had a great life with me and my fiancée.

“I’ve absolutely loved it. I’ve fallen in love with that football club and so grateful for what that’s given me.

“In a strange way it feels weird to be back somewhere now, at a different club to Ipswich which I have all the same feelings for because of the relationship that I had when I was at the club [Pompey] previously and obviously what’s gone before.

“Leaving Ipswich was never, ever going to be an easy decision, and it wasn’t. It wasn’t something that was overnight thing, it was something that was thought about for a long time.

“There’s probably only one place that could have tempted me this summer to go and that was Portsmouth.”

Despite the Blues’ relegation, Chaplin says he was proud to play in the top flight with Town last season.

“To play in the Premier League and to score in the Premier League is probably a dream I’ve had since I can’t remember,” he continued.

“It’s definitely one that was ticked off the list as such, but it’s probably one that gives you a lot more fuel and hunger to experience those highs again.

“It’s something I’m really looking to do, I’m hugely ambitious. I really want to come to a team that wants to fight for things and do special things that I know can be done, I think have been proven can be done at football clubs, and this is no different.”

Chaplin, who could make his second Portsmouth debut in the big south coast derby a week on Sunday, was asked his aims for the campaign ahead.

“To have a big impact on the team, to hopefully bring success to the football club this season in whatever way you want to measure that,” he said.

“I think I want to try and challenge my teammates, I want to integrate as quickly as I possibly can.

“I want to have a successful season with the football, what that may be time will tell, but I think you can’t look too short, you need to have big hopes and big ambitions for the season.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Suffolk_n_Proud added 10:24 - Sep 3 We've all loved you these last 4 years Chappers and have great memories, you will be missed. Very best of luck for the season ahead.
24

StowTractor added 10:25 - Sep 3 I have a dream that in 18-20 years time Town buy 2 promising young Pompey Academy prospects & once again we can sing "Chappers in Attack" Hopefully I will still be around to see it.
7

Cafe_Newman added 10:33 - Sep 3 Town legend. All the best Chappers.
6

howsey51 added 10:33 - Sep 3 We will all miss you chappers! Come back soon! I still think your Ipswich story is not finished.
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Town1Inter0 added 10:35 - Sep 3 Best of luck Chappers. Hopefully you'll come back to the club one day in some capacity. You're one of the modern ITFC legends and will undoubtedly receive so much admiration and love for it.
12

raycrawfordswig added 10:45 - Sep 3 Good Luck Chappers Thanks for your service in the last few years .
1

Broadbent23 added 10:46 - Sep 3 A hat trick against Southampton will do nicely. A legend of the promotion years
3

Suffolkboy added 10:49 - Sep 3 What an honest ,genuine man and enthusiastic dedicated ITFC squad member he has proved to be !The likes of CC don’t come along very often ,but provid a guiding light for all aspiring professional footballers ! There’s much we shall miss about CC ,but he goes with only the best wishes and admiration from all ! COYB
5

timkatieadamitfc added 10:50 - Sep 3 Crazy decision to let him go! Lose a player like him and sign one like mcateer
-3

darkhorse28 added 10:51 - Sep 3 Legend. I want to challenge my teammates sums up the man, dragging every ounce out of each other, Morsy, Burns, Burgess, all much more than they had any right to be…, they raised the bar for themselves, each other, and everyone around them. Our leadership group last year, around the starting 11 was really poor, and it still is. Young provides some hope, he has the highest standards of himself and others. It’s gutting, that if this group had an ounce of that desire, passion, and sheer bloody mindedness, 96 points would be a breeze. I’m not sure we know what elite looks like, it’s so much more than well coached talented players…, it’s the trait Chaplin Morsy exude …, how to get every ounce, out of every player, every second, of a season …, the best versions they can be. No excises, no ifs, no buts, no exceptions. We haven’t lost legacy players who achieved so much…., we’ve lost a culture, an identity, a core shared purpose and set of values. You don’t cultivate that in coaching session…, you cultivate it knowing the personalities of the players you’re signing. Paul Cook knew the culture he wanted at the club. We’ve spent £200 million, and we’ve lost that identity. Forwards. But this isn’t what elite looks like, our leadership group lacks anyone to grab this by the scruff of the neck. You don’t win 4 in 44 and no home game this year if you have that.., by definition. I’m not sure we can build a culture around a 40 year old either .., as valuable as he will be short term…, where’s our 30 year old leader and name taker? Our Morsy, our Chaplin.., our Sean Derry a leader, an organiser, experienced, been there…, done it. Where is he? .., £200 million spent, and those traits weren’t essential.., that’s so poor. Do we have any players that have ever been promoted anywhere? Not Clarke, not Philogene, not Greaves, …, OShea and Leif .., is that it? (Actually in the team). That’s damning. We don’t know what elite performance cultures look like and elite team dynamics. We swam the channel when Cook signed Morsy and Chaplin …, and one day the penny will drop. He’ll drag Portsmouth kicking and screaming to be a better version of themselves. Good luck and thanks for the effort, the desire, and the goals! .., without you and Sam none of it was possible.

5

Billysherlockblue added 10:53 - Sep 3 Lets give macteer a chance he's only here 5 mins. And best of luck connor great advert to professional football
8

JewellintheTown added 10:53 - Sep 3 Big shock and very sad to see him go. Nostalgic and just because he's a lovey chap(pers) and a great footballer. Seems to have been frustrated at not scoring more. Losing his buddy pairing with Burns being sidelined hasn't helped. Lost his mojo and sharpness a bit this and last season. Hopefully he'll find it again at a familiar place he also loves and hopefully doesn't turn into a permanent move and he comes back firing on all 4 cylinders again. Sounds at the moment more of a goodbye, but if that were final, then I'd expect a sale and not a loan with recall & year extension. We'll see. Either way, I wish him well and thanks for the memories. Always a legend.

1

Stato added 11:14 - Sep 3 It will be so interesting at the end of the season to see how many of McKennas recruits outscore Conor. My guess is not many. He is a class act and will always be welcome at Portman Road
4

Bazza8564 added 11:17 - Sep 3 Will always be idolised here, I hope you have a great season fella and thanks!
3

bringmeaKuqi added 11:22 - Sep 3 Mine too. You're a legend Chappers, always will be.
2

MVBlue added 11:31 - Sep 3 Well done Conor. You were central to our reemergence as a force. You put yourself out there and that winning smile lit up our club. I'm sure we'll see you again, I know I will on 27th September and I will cheer your name on the team announcements when you come up for the Pompey match. Hope to see you involved with the club again one day.
2

virginblue added 11:34 - Sep 3 Why can’t people just pay tribute to a great footballer and even better human being without moaning. Gutted he’s gone, but glad he got the only move he’d really have wanted. Good luck Chappers.
3

Maccaisgod added 11:49 - Sep 3 Chappers you were class for us both as a player and a man. Thankyou for the memories and best of luck with everything because you deserve it. Hope you come back soon .
2

bkb added 11:51 - Sep 3 darkhorse28. That’s one of the best posts I have ever seen on this site. Nothing more to be said.
1

Bert added 11:57 - Sep 3 A really lovely man with bags of integrity and honesty. Didn’t want him to go on loan but both he and the club worked something out to suit both parties. Well done.
2

Bert added 12:07 - Sep 3 @Darkhiorse - there are some things in your post that I identify with particularly around leadership within the squad but it is early days. One thing I certainly do not agree with you about is the culture. Paul Cook did not build the culture we so respected in the last few years; that was entirely down to KMcK and Ashton. It will be those two who now have the job of building back up that which has been lost by the departures of those who did so well against expectations ….. but that was then. We now have some incredibly good signings to blend and nurture so let’s look forward not back.

2

HopefulBlue69 added 12:09 - Sep 3 I wonder at the end of the season when town are in the playoffs (hopefully top 2 in fact) how many on here will look back at some of the nonsense written on here and laugh out loud.. Paul Cook didn't get us promoted from L1 or the Championship; we luckily had a great group of players that were regularly added to and a fan base so desperate for success that we all pulled together to get us promoted... Chaplin was a big part of that and I'll miss him but let's give the new guys a chance to show they can also do a great job. It will take some time to get us going but we will be top 6 at least come the end of the season...

1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 12:17 - Sep 3 And Bert, likewise I agree with what you say too. Have total sympathy with Darkhorse. As you (Bert) allude to, it is now all about this next generation creating a new passion and togetherness to replace the one that has now gone. The skill is more than what we had before definitely. But much will hinge on creating a new dressing room and on-field culture with leadership. If all goes well, we will all soon get over this (hopefully) short term grief.

1

johnwarksshorts added 12:20 - Sep 3 Thanks for everything you've done on and off the pitch over the last 4 years. You've been amazing, and epitomised everything that this club stands for. Best of luck gor the future, and one day hope to see you back here.
0

Lightningboy added 12:23 - Sep 3 Well I for one hope to see him back in a town shirt again this season. In the meantime go and prove McKenna wrong.
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