A win was all they had to do and the result was all but wrapped up within 10 minutes thanks to goals from George Hirst and Jaden Philogene.
It meant there was plenty of time for celebration throughout the match – even if the players and staff had to keep it professional on the pitch.
But once the full-time whistle had gone – the game rounded off with a Kasey McAteer cherry on top – the real fun got going.
Famous fan Ed Sheeran joined in with the players behind-the-scenes, going from being interviewed on the pitch to in with the lads.
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He missed their last set of celebrations in person due to being in Miami during the world tour in 2024.
But he more than made up for it here, singing along to his own tunes in the changing room.
Stakeholder Sheeran was also a sponsor of the club’s shirts for a few years and is regularly seen at matches.
This was not about him but showed just how together the whole of the area had become one again.
Knowing that any mistake on the final day of the Championship season would allow Millwall in with a chance to pip them to second spot and automatic promotion – there was no sign of nerves.
The Lions got their job done at home to Oxford but it was Ipswich’s day in Suffolk – and didn’t the fans know it.
A full scale pitch invasion at the 38,000 capacity stadium kicked off immediately with fans letting off steam after a long season.
Flares were lit and bodies spread across the grass, which will once again host Manchester City, Arsenal, and the Prem big boys.
Fans flooded onto the field and chanted “we are going up”, alongside every other promotion-based song you can possibly think of.
Slowly – over the course of 15 minutes – things cleared up again as the players came back out to celebrate their achievement.
Ipswich were presented a trophy to signify their promotion, letting off fire and confetti cannons.
Players wore “Promoted 26” shirts with fans, family, and friends stood close by to join in.
Manager McKenna eventually had one of the tops on himself, donning it with pride.
The Northern Irishman was subject to plenty of Prem interest the last time he got Ipswich up and it is likely to be a similar story over this summer as well.
For now he has plenty of partying to do with the stadium announcer shouting: “We. Are. Premier League!”
It was in the changing room that the real scenes of joy started to emerge.
Videos show midfielder Jack Taylor stood on a table in the middle of the squad dancing.
Surrounded by his team-mates, Taylor bobbed and jigged from side-to-side to the sound of “Ays” from all the players – imitating influencer Gymskin’s drop the shoulder move.
Former Manchester United and England attacker Ashley Young – who joined Ipswich last summer from Everton – was caught downing some of the champagne in front of everyone and the Sky Sports crew going inside the celebrations.
Young, 40, had his season end in January due to injury and is set to retire.
Elsewhere, holding a selfie stick, Dara O’Shea showed off more as the players sung Michael Jackson‘s Rock With You.
Goalkeeper Christian Walton was handed a camera to get an on-the-ground view of the karaoke going on.
Players in the dressing room were holding cans and bottles (presumably of beer) in every frame.
Then it was Sheeran’s turn, rocking a buzzcut and ginger beard, he had one arm over the shoulder of McKenna and another clutching a glass of Guinness.
Brit Sheeran said “Sing it with me” before launching into his hit song The A Team.
The players huddled around in a circle, belting out the words.
Many wanted to record it on their own phones with Sheeran, in a black coat, holding his hands in the air for the chorus.
McKenna certainly knew the melody, shouting it out with everyone else.
That followed players spraying fizzy at each other with defender Darnell Furlong unleashing a jet of alcohol into the air.
Players stood on the benches around the room and two hoisted McKenna onto their shoulders, caking him in bubbles as he pumped his fists.
After clearing the mess from his eyes, Ipswich continued to celebrate and took themselves onto the coach.
More bottles, plastic cups, and every container imaginable filled with booze was seen dotted around as everyone took a moment to travel into town.
Once there, they were greeted off the bus by waves of adoring fans.
Some had vuvuzelas, others cheered “Waka Waka” as the players went out to the docks for a good time.
Fans were also soaked by jets of beer and champagne as they joined their stars in going through the full anti-Norwich repertoire.
Judging by the chaos of it all, once the partying is over, it may well be a good thing there’s a while until pre-season and the Prem glory to come.
SOURCE: THESUN