It seems almost impossible to surmise this season. As people, irrelevant of fandom, we have all experienced a poignant year that has left many of us drained. With that in mind, it probably wasn’t ideal for the club we love to force us through one of the most demoralising seasons in recent memory, with goals becoming as rare as eating inside at a restaurant. It’s been difficult for everyone, and whilst the new hope of a brighter future is just around the corner, I want to reflect on a season that will go down in infamy for providing the worst of times, but may also lead to the best of them.
The ‘null and void’ decision last season drew Town’s season to a merciless end. Back-to-back 1-0 home defeats against Fleetwood and Coventry left everyone steaming, but those lingering thoughts had long-since disappeared by the time the new season came around. Once again, we were treated to another fast start that turned out to be a familiar false-dawn. Freddie Sears scored goals, Stephen Ward could run, and Gwion Edwards knew how to control a ball… those were the days. However, cracks slowly started to show, and a 4-1 thumping at Doncaster sent a reminder of how far we’d fallen. Even in successful spells, no one seemed convinced that we could mount a promotion push, but Lambert’s reign of terror was far from over.
In retrospect, some may say that Lambert got a fine tune out of an awful group. Whilst I don’t wholeheartedly disagree, the roots of the Paul Lambert predicament were deeper than on-field performances. His overall treatment of fans, media, and staff left everyone with a bad taste in their mouths and it wasn’t long before action was taken. Not everyone agrees with the Blue Action protest, but their actions this year have provided the fans with a voice; whilst everyone is stuck at home, kept away from the stadium, the Blue Action group took the initiative to confront the club with the issues that mattered. With the ‘Great Fire of Playford Road’ being hammed up by national media, it was about time that the deep-rooted problems at Portman Road were turfed up for all to see.
Little did we know that our best run of the season would be followed by the most dramatic changes in the club’s recent history. Following a 2-1 win against Doncaster, Paul Lambert faded into the night and it wasn’t long before Marcus Evans would follow.
The end of season run has left a lot to be desired, with the players showcasing an almost baffling lack of passion and confidence. The appointment of Paul Cook may just be one of the most popular appointments in Town’s recent history, with Scouse Batman (as he will be forever known in this column) speaking like a football fan, rather than a corporate machine. Whilst no fine tune has been struck, Cook has been given an opportunity. With the promise of a summer overhaul changing the landscape entirely, Paul Cook has full autonomy to create a squad that can climb up the football pyramid. There is no doubting his pedigree and whilst no one, including himself, has been enthralled by the past few weeks, these games have acted as obstacles in the way of a bigger and better future. I have no doubt that Cook will restore the majesty of our club and, given time, he may just acquire legendary status.
Then we have the new owners. I’m not sure there’s been a bigger buzz around Suffolk since Tamas Priskin sunk Arsenal. The arrival of passionate, genuine and humble men has been so refreshing. Mike O’Leary, Brett Johnson, Berke Bakay and Mark Detmer have provided the fans with a total contrast to Marcus Evans’ radio silence. Their passion and humility has been incredible to see and whilst they make no promises, I am hopeful for a brighter future following the American Dream.
It’s been an incredible season. The months of pain have subsided to engrain hope and belief into a fanbase that desperately needed something to cling onto. The constant disappointments of the past few years, and the abject performances of certain players has fallen away and been replaced by hopes and dreams of success. New management, new ownership, and a new structure has pumped fresh-air into the clogged corridors of Portman Road; now we all feel like we can breath easy again. There is no promise that this new chapter will reinstate the legacy of the club, but I feel as if we are all about to undergo another rollercoaster ride and, finally, I have full faith in the people powering the machine.
We can look back on this season with a lot of regret, but we can also look forward to a future in which we will be proud to call ourselves Ipswich Town fans. The sun will shine again on our great club, and it’s only just started rising.
Thank you for taking the time to read my column. If you enjoyed, feel free to share it around. I’ll see you soon!
ITFC Hub 
Leave a comment