The Power of Football: Reviving a Community

Football has always been more than just a game – especially in places like Ipswich. As a young man, I witnessed the heights Ipswich Town FC reached during their last spell in the Premier League. It wasn’t just about sporting success; it was a time when Ipswich felt like it was on the up. Local businesses were doing well, optimism was in the air, and the town was a place that felt full of hope and pride.

Growing up in Ipswich, I went to school alongside local Ipswich legends Kieron Dyer and Richard Wright. I was never a very good player myself – my sole highlight being a side-footed goal for Thurleston High School against Stoke High School from the edge of the six yard box, aged 15. I still haven’t forgotten that feeling of scoring a goal for your team.

I wasn’t great at football, but I was so lucky to grow up in Ipswich during this time; a time when Ipswich felt buzzing and anything felt possible.

Of course, the rise and fall of a community like Ipswich is influenced by a range of factors - local and national government, the ups and downs of the economy. Over the past decade or so, towns and cities like ours across the country have faced significant challenges. The signs of decline are everywhere: once bustling shops now stand empty and boarded up, and the town centre is in desperate need of rejuvenation. Our new MP for Ipswich, Jack Abbott, raised this issue during his first PMQs.

During his eight-year reign, George Burley took Ipswich to three playoff semi-finals before finally achieving promotion to the Premier League on the fourth attempt. We performed well in the Premiership in their first season under Burley (2000–01), finishing in an impressive fifth place – narrowly being pipped by Liverpool on the last day of the season for a place in the Champions League. This impressive finish earned Ipswich a place in the UEFA Cup.

The following season proved to be much more challenging. Despite the high hopes and expectations, Ipswich struggled and were ultimately relegated after finishing 18th in the Premier League. On the final day of the season, we needed a result away at Liverpool, to have any chance of staying up. Liverpool won and Ipswich went down.

At the end of the match, fans held up a banner that read, "We Shared the Glory. We've felt the pain. We're Right Behind You. We'll Be Back Again."

In 2021, Ipswich Town were struggling mid-table in the Football League's League One Division, the third tier of English football. Ipswich announced Kieran McKenna’s appointment as manager on 16 December 2021. Kieran McKenna was 35 years old.

Under McKenna’s leadership, the club achieved back-to-back promotions, and we’ve done it with style and class, playing bold attacking football. Back-to-back promotions from League One to the Championship to the Premier League: 194 points, 193 goals, all with a total transfer spend of less than ￡6m.

After 22 years away, Ipswich are back in the Premier League.

This team, which has been strengthened over the summer, is nothing short of remarkable – and we’re still expecting a few more arrivals today. But this is about more than just football; it’s about the heartbeat of a community. Thousands of us, from Suffolk and far beyond, will be tuning in tomorrow, not just for the match, but for what it represents - a resurgence, a beacon of hope.

Perhaps what’s even more exciting than the football itself is the wider effect this success will have on Ipswich as a whole. The economic boost to local businesses, the restored pride and honour that will resonate with those of us who remember past glories, and the inspiration this will ignite in the next generation. Thousands of boys and girls playing football at schools across Suffolk will dare to dream bigger because of what Ipswich Town FC is achieving.

There’s now a new banner up in the town, "We Shared The Glory, We’ve Felt The Pain, We're Right Behind You, We Are Back Again!” along with a new campaign that will celebrate the impact of the Premier League on local businesses.

As Ed Sheeran proudly sings “The boys are back in town, the boys are back in town” – I'm right there, singing along with a smile on my face - but it’s not just the football club that’s back; it’s the whole town.

Tomorrow, we play Liverpool FC at home in Portman Road. Even if we lose – which of course we won’t – it doesn’t really matter; because in many ways, we’ve already won.

* Ed Sheeran: The Boys Are Back in Town - https://x.com/premierleague/status/1824144794110791963