Ipswich Town secured promotion to the Premier League as Championship runners-up after a 3-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the season, finishing 11 points behind champions Coventry and just one point clear of Millwall, according to multiple reports.
During the open-top bus parade, midfielder Marcelino Nunez mocked his former club Norwich City by shouting an expletive, according to reports from outlets including the Daily Mail. It is understood that Nunez spent three years at Norwich before joining Ipswich for a reported £10m last summer, marking the first transfer between the bitter rivals in 24 years. Norwich have described the transfer as an 'extremely difficult decision', highlighting the sensitivity of the deal.
There's been a lot of drinking, a lot of celebrating.
Tensions between Nunez and Norwich fans were evident earlier this season, with reports indicating he was booed relentlessly during the October derby at Portman Road, after which he celebrated by posing with a banner mocking a Norwich fan’s tweet. He faced a similar hostile reception on his return to Carrow Road, where Ipswich secured a 2-0 victory. Manager Kieran McKenna admitted he substituted Nunez early in that match due to fears he might receive a red card.
Veteran winger Ashley Young announced his retirement from football, with reports quoting him as saying promotion was the 'perfect way to go out'. He also mentioned there had been a lot of celebrating and that the team bounced back due to character in the dressing room.
perfect way to go out
Pop star Ed Sheeran, a lifelong Ipswich supporter from Framlingham who has performed sell-out concerts at Portman Road, joined the celebrations and sang in the dressing room, according to witnesses. He described sharing the moment with friends and family as amazing, adding that promotion lifts the spirits of the entire county. The final whistle prompted a pitch invasion by thousands of fans, and in the dressing room, defender Darnell Furlong lifted manager Kieran McKenna onto his shoulders in jubilation.
I think one word that sticks out for us is being humble. A lot was said about us this season, we all bounced back, but I knew what we had in that dressing room.