Ipswich Town fans share their love for Co Fermanagh manager during open top bus parade

The Suffolk club returned to the top division after 22 years after beating Huddersfield 2-0 to secure promotion on Saturday.

Thousands of fans turned out for Monday’s bus parade through Ipswich as players and staff serenaded fans with The Beatles’ Hey Jude, with chants of “we are going up”.

The Ipswich Town and the Premier League logo adorned the side of the blue double decker bus, along with the words: “We are Premier League.”

The parade started on Sir Alf Ramsey Way at midday before it ended in Christchurch Park, where Tractor Boys supporters lit flares and cheered their heroes.

McKenna, who took charge of the club in 2021 and has led Ipswich to successive promotions, joked about how the players’ mistakes had helped his side secure promotion at their Portman Road Stadium.

“We wanted to finish it at home, on a bank holiday weekend, so everyone could enjoy it,” he told the fans.

McKenna (37) said the “whole town” deserves the club’s promotion back to the Premier League.

“The players deserve it for how they’ve worked this year [and] last year,” he told Sky Sports News.

“The club deserves it and the supporters definitely deserve it you know, to follow the club loyally for so many years and be waiting for a glorious day like this.”

Asked what was his favourite part of the bus parade, McKenna said they drove past his house where his wife, children and parents came out to wave and show their support.

“The turnout today is so much more than any of us expected,” he continued. “It’s just incredible seeing every single person and the joy on their faces. It’s something to cherish.”

He added that while Ipswich Town didn’t set out to earn promotion this season he wasn’t surprised to see the club do so well.

“We just set out to be as good as we could possibly be and play our football and try and win every match,” said McKenna.

“Of course, the closer you get to the end, you know you’re within reach of an amazing achievement and we’re just so glad that we managed to finish off well. It’s amazing.”

Members of McKenna’s family watched from the stands as Premiership football was secured on Saturday.

Photographs from the Manor House Country Hotel near Enniskillen showed fans celebrating the club's win – days after the hotel promised it would turn “blue and white this weekend” in honour of the club.

McKenna’s family previously moved from London after buying the hotel and turned it into an award-winning venue.

The hotel’s Facebook page also promised followers that anyone wearing an Ipswich jersey will get a free pint.

After the match McKenna paid tribute to the support from his wife and two children.

“I’ve had incredible support from my wife – over 21 years now – and my commitment and sacrifice that I have to make for the job, she supports wonderfully,” he said.

“I’m so grateful to her and my kids here and my parents and brothers and sisters – it’s wonderful to share it with them.”

McKenna began his footballing career with Enniskillen Town United and Ballinamallard United before joining Tottenham Hotspur as a youth back in 2002.