Kings of Anglia: Ipswich Town are Premier League again! McKenna and players react

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0:38Hello everybody, Stuart here to bring you a very special promotion podcast. Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League. A 3-0 win against QPR. Party time at Portman Road again. Remarkably, three automatic promotions in four years under Kieran McKenna and several of the same players to boot. Myself, Alex Ross here in the thick of the celebrations at the end and we've managed to get you plenty of interviews from Kieran McKenna talking about the challenges of this season, how in many ways he takes more pride in this one than the last because of the pressure that came with it, as well as a few of the players.

1:23I believe Alex has spoken to Daro Shea, Jack Taylor, We spoke to the third goal scorer, Casey McIntyre. I had a little chat with Christian Walton as well. So we're going to put them all out in their entirety now so you can enjoy. Hope you're all able to enjoy your celebrations this weekend. Plenty more content to come. But for now, I'll pass you over to Kieran McKenna.

1:50Kieran McKenna:Talk me through the emotions of it all. It's hard. It's hard to enjoy, to be honest. Because, yeah, you just really want it for everyone else. more so to be honest maybe especially the lads who haven't had it in the group but for the supporters again and of course for your family it means so much because they see how much you put into it so yeah I couldn't really enjoy it until 3-0 I thought when we got the two early goals it might be a rare day let the lads give us that we could sit back a little bit and enjoy but it wasn't to be but you know it's all worth it in the end You must be immensely proud Yes, really proud I have to say not just not myself but of my family for again the support that they give me really proud of the staff and the group's not been easy for that group of players, but they've really stuck at it.

2:33Kieran McKenna:You can't ever underestimate how hard it is to get promoted to the Premier League, so it's a great achievement. How big an achievement is it, say, compared to two years ago? Because it's been a very different season. Yeah, I think they're really different. I think what was done before was... I don't think it'll ever be repeated. It was special to do it back-to-back from League One with basically the same group. but I don't think it'll be repeated again with the way finances are going. Stuff like that. This one has been more difficult in some ways although that is an achievement and certainly in different ways may be unrepeatable but this one's been a completely different challenge and it has been a big challenge.

3:11Kieran McKenna:I know how hard we've had to work for it. I know it could have went in a really different direction so I'm really proud that we've kept it together and got it over the line. With a different approach as well? When you sat down last summer and thought how am I going to tackle this season? Was it going to be different? It was always going to be different because leagues change year by year and we're coming into a completely different context with a different group of players. And then we had many, many more challenges over the summer than what we were expecting, to be honest. So, yeah, I think probably, you know, there's some key games.

3:38Kieran McKenna:I'll maybe speak down the line, but I think once we got into it, I had the feeling that we're going to have to do this in a different way. And, yeah, we managed to keep the group together and keep pushing forward step by step with a few steps back. But really, we kept on the train and kept pushing it forward. and yeah, it's different for many different reasons but it's a fantastic achievement. As you've said all along, you have needed everyone, haven't you? Yeah, we have and the seasons always play out like that, to be honest. Different people step up at different times. So many examples over the course of the season, there's probably one in gold with Christian Walton, third goal scorer Casey McIntyre and from front to back there's different stories across there.

4:14Kieran McKenna:I'd say it's not been easy for the lads for many different ways but as a group they've stuck together. They've had some outstanding leadership from Dara and a few other boys in there that have really drove the dressing room and held them together. And them boys really deserve it. How pleasing has it been in terms of their mentality, their character? Because they've been the favourite or one of the big hitters at this level this season. Yeah, that's been questioned all the way with a group and in some ways understand it. In some ways, I think it's, yeah, for me being a little bit over the top because the reality is it's been a new group of players coming to the club for the first time.

4:46Kieran McKenna:Some of them coming to the league for the first time. Some of them moving away from the home club. and yeah we know that's been questioned about the group right the way through and uh yeah we've had to grow that you don't just become a resilient team with a lot of character and togetherness when you walk in the door especially when the group doesn't come together until the end of August so I think that's clearly grown over the course of the season and it's been really evidence for me in this last and now this last run-in and even in the run-in you know people say drawing games and stuff I think the eight games that we had in the space of time that was tough and it took the whole group to be together to push forward and that and to finish with one loss in 15 games or something I think shows that the character of the group has really came together by the end.

5:24Players obviously want to play at the highest level but you want to coach at the highest level how much are you looking forward to the thought of that again next season what does that mean to you to get back to

5:31Kieran McKenna:that level? I'm looking forward to holiday to be honest that's the only thing I'm looking forward to right now I've not got much left to give as we stand here so yeah I'm looking forward to a holiday and then we'll think about what comes next you know week or two's time. Before that celebration tonight? Definitely. No, I'm going to enjoy this one, I have to say. Yeah, I've got my family here and I'm with the coaching staff. I'm going to make sure that we all enjoy it because I know I already have to work for it and you can't take these days for granted. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations, Kieran.

5:58Could that day have gone any better?

6:01Kieran McKenna:Yeah, I could have enjoyed it more if we had the third goal a bit quicker. 2-0 is always tough and, yeah, we started so, so well. And, yeah, you think, you know, it could possibly be a day that we can get this wrapped up early and really sort of just enjoy it we had one here of course with with exeter a couple of years ago but there's those days a once in a lifetime so it's probably too much to ask for um so we give ourselves a decent margin but yeah in terms of from the sideline to be honest i probably couldn't enjoy it until 3-0 but in terms of the crowd the weather seeing everyone here happy third promotion on our home ground in four years i know it's really special things and it all began right from the outset because the welcome you received was extraordinary yeah it was and I say it's you know that's been we've had a few of them now and they've always been a privilege I think it's always helped us I think we've always came out strong um when we've had that and yeah it just really builds that togetherness so brilliant again for lads who haven't experienced that to experience that and experience days like this thank you congratulations um you know you've had such success here do you have to pinch yourself when you think you come from mid-table in league one and now days like this have become the norm haven't they?

7:08Kieran McKenna:I don't think the norm, but yeah, to have again three and four years it's not lost on me, it's special we do work exceptionally hard for a lot of people here but yeah, we still know even that it's special to have days like this so yeah, it's been a hell of a journey seeing the team today, I don't know maybe five of the lads who started today were in League One three years ago and a hell of a lot of change, staff who were here with us in League One supporters who were here with us watching League One football and reporters reporting on League One football. So, you know, you just feel really proud for all of those parties that they get to, you know, get to compete in the best league in the world again.

7:48And another word for the fans. As you said, they've stuck with you through thick and thin. They've been there in League One. How much does it mean to you personally to bring them Premier League football again?

7:57Kieran McKenna:No, it means a lot. I think everyone knows and can see that we've really dived into this. As a family, moved down here, it was a big step. Coming from Manchester, my kids are growing up now in Ipswich. we've thrown everything into it and again I really appreciate their support and yeah we feel part of the community really and you know how much it means to people so yeah to give them Premier League football for one year was really special because you don't know it's not a big town it's a massive football club a massive history but it's not a massive city and bringing Premier League football to this place the people really deserve it and it makes you really proud so to have it twice now is yeah we're really delighted with that.

8:36It goes without saying, you want to stay there, don't you?

8:38Kieran McKenna:Yeah, of course, that's the plan, but honestly, I'm going to give myself a little bit of time before I think about that this time round and just enjoy this one. But of course, that's the goal. Enjoy the celebration. Thank you. Have you got a favourite moment, a significant moment in this season, do you think, when you look back on it now? I think we've had some brilliant highs. Of course, the two Norwich games will stand out. I think the Sheffield United game here was probably lift off for the group. But when you look back at the seasons, honestly, the significant moments are losing here 3-0 to Charlton.

9:12Kieran McKenna:That's the significant moment. Where we were at, the group at that point, to where we've got the group to now, the clean sheets that we've had since then, the resilience that's grown in the group. Wrecks them away. I don't think... Yeah, we give our best face, but also the game could have went either way, but we conceded five goals away from home and you feel that hurt and in the end for me those are the signposts in the season it's not the big wins because you can have a big win we had a big win at Norwich we lose at Portsmouth everyone gets criticised for the same things it's the tough days and how you come through them as a group and how you react and how you pull together tighter those are the significant points in the season and that's been right away through the journey to be honest I could go back to Bristol Rovers maybe that's just my way of looking at it but those are the days that you show yourself as a manager, as a staff member, as a player.

10:01Kieran McKenna:The struggle over the course of the season, I think, has brought us all tighter. I know you probably want to reflect on this one, but immediately in football, minds always turn to the future. Do you think the club in general is in a better place to have a real go at staying there this time? The club's definitely in a better place. We came so quick and we had some brilliant people at the club and I think a really good culture, but in so many ways we were not ready for that step and I think the club in pretty much every department now is in a much, much, much stronger position and those things add up.

10:37Kieran McKenna:Of course, we know it's still a massive step and there's got to be a lot of good decisions made over the course of the summer but I think the club is in a far, far, far stronger position than it was standing here two years ago so that's a good base to hopefully have a big summer. Thank you, Will. Thank you, cheers. Kieran, a few players in this team that have done this before. I'm thinking George, Leaf, Wes and the like, but there's a lot of players here that haven't done this before and they've really bought into it this season, haven't they? How proud are you for those boys? Yeah, I'm really happy for them, I have to say.

11:07Kieran McKenna:For George and Leaf and Wes, you probably feel a little bit like myself. You've had some privileged days and you're honoured to have had them, but for some of the other boys, it's been tough because, you know, we signed a lot of players from the Championship last summer, put them into the Premier League together and we didn't win many games and it's hard and everyone tried their best, but we were short. So them boys are then coming into this season without any real confidence or maybe without having that love or that real feeling of belonging and feeling like they're good players, important players at this club.

11:44Kieran McKenna:So it was difficult for them and it took time for them to build into it. And you can see some examples today of lads who've really grown into that after going through a relegation as their first year in the club. That's difficult. And then players who joined this year who are new to us and new to the club and having to come into the year in probably a more challenging year than our previous years in the division. So you're really happy for them because they all came here with the goal of helping the club achieve promotion and you're delighted with them. So, yeah, those of us who have been privileged to have three of them, we know how lucky we are, but in the dressing room, I'm probably most happy for the boys who've been with us over the last two years and had to really go through some struggle as well.

12:21Kieran McKenna:Thank you. Congratulations. I was going to ask, you're not one for resting, are you, generally? How long do you give yourself before you start to think about the Premier League? Yeah, I can't give you a timescale, but I promise myself I'm going to enjoy this one and switch off a little bit, first of all. So, yeah, kids are in school. It's a couple of weeks until half-term, so I can't jet off anywhere too far. But I'll enjoy it over the weekend with the family and with the staff, that's for sure. And try and give a little bit of time and then everyone turn their minds to what's next. Christian, many congratulations.

12:54Your third promotion as an Aptwich Town player. Yeah, unbelievable feeling. Last time out, probably what I didn't feel was involved. It was a difficult season for myself. So this year, as soon as I got the shirt, I was hungry to achieve big things here. And I feel like we've done that this season. That must make it extra special, the part you've played. Yeah, definitely. When I came into the team against Charlton, obviously it was a tough night. and I was contemplating things that week. I went into the game against West Brom and I knew that was my opportunity to stay in the team and be the Ipswich town goalkeeper that I wanted to be.

13:28So, yeah, obviously today makes everything, all that hard work, worthwhile. A word on the way this group has handled the pressure and the weight of expectation this season, because that's very unlike two years ago, isn't it? Yeah, I think it's probably gone under the radar a little bit. I think everyone else has been looked at. Middlesbrough were probably the favourites back in February. January, February time but I think we've just stayed in our own lane and gone game to game and just made sure that our improvement has been that and yeah we've achieved a massive, massive thing and it's not easy to go straight back up and we've done that so yeah it's an amazing feeling What about moments like this?

14:06The last hour or so on the pitch with the fans, the way things happen at full time, in fact you and the only player are a good spot in amongst everyone for obvious reasons Yeah incredible, it's all part of it obviously success, we've brought success to this club and it means the world to the fans and they're the most important people of any football club um so to do it here and i feel feel it's uh my home now and yeah to do it for this amazing group of fans has been been really special and do it for this manager as well yeah of course yeah um what he's achieved at this club is his legendary status i think now um i think after two promotions probably was but to do three um and the way we've done it the way goes about every day, keeps us level as players, keeps us consistent.

14:50Yeah, he's a special, special manager. So, yeah, obviously goes into history of Ipswich Town managers. And what about the bond in this squad? We know that was a real strength a couple of years ago. These lads clearly have it again. Yeah, of course. Yeah, I don't think you achieve anything if you haven't got that. I think it's obviously tough at the start of the year. We had so many new faces coming into the building. but I think myself and the other lads have welcomed players in and I think the support staff at the club have done that and made everyone feel part of the Iprichtown family that we've created over the last five years A little desperate for another crack at the Premier League Yeah of course we know it's going to be difficult but I think now we've just got to enjoy these moments and then yeah be fully ready for come August Thanks Chris Cheers Cheers Kieran yeah he's coming in a minute when you came here I remember you saying you wanted to find a home you'd had your spell of loans you just said Phil's at home now yeah it does yeah Phil's really at home I say to my fiancé all the time to say to my mum my dad that Ipswich is my home and I love living here I love living in Suffolk I love going out and about the town and seeing fans and yeah moments like this are really special it's been a rollercoaster time for you really hasn't it yeah it has yeah but I think yeah I've just stayed to the attitude and application that I've always showed in my career and you get the rewards on the back of that.

16:17Yeah, a really special moment for myself. Do you think this club's ready for a bit of crack at it next time in the Premier League? Yeah, I think so. I don't think we were too far away last time. I think it was just small margins and obviously it was a tough, tough time last year. But yeah, we'll be more than ready and looking forward to it now. Casey, promotion to the Premier League. How much does it mean to you? Yeah, I mean, it's unbelievable. I mean, today was always about, you know, getting the job done. We found we could get it done on Tuesday, but to finally get it done at home, it's been unbelievable.

16:49You know, you see the fans today and how we've all reacted to this win. And yeah, it's brilliant for the town and brilliant for us. And you wrapping it up at the end with that third goal as well to ensure that this club's going to get back there as well. What a moment. Yeah, brilliant, man. I think I just felt a big fire in my stomach when that goal went in, you know, just to seal it once and for all. I mean, I've worked hard all season. and it's not far my way, but in recent weeks, you know, I felt like a different player, and to see the net ribbon on a day like this, it's dreams like this you're making as a kid, so yeah, it's been brilliant.

17:18What are your emotions right now, Casey? A sense of relief, I'll be honest. It's been a long season, you know, people expect things to happen, because obviously we were in Premier League last year, and it's like, I should go straight back up, but it ain't that easy, you know. It's a hard league, it's a relentless game. We've had a lot of away games, and a lot of games, you know, the boys have been really working hard. We're in relentless, you know, and just to say we've done it now, it makes all them hard ground and all them away trips all worth it. Well, tell us what you've done as a collective to keep that belief within you that you could do the job.

17:46It comes from the manager just keeping us all grounded. We go in every day and we train hard. There's never a day we go in and train and we don't train to 100%. We put our all into training, and that comes from the manager and the staff. So big credit to them and bust us the whole way. And it's great to get it done. What did the manager say to you before the game? You came absolutely flying out of the traps. we just kept saying you know it's our day it's no one else's day and no one's going to take it away from us it was in our hands and we did a great job first half I think we was unbelievable you know we created great chances got the two goals and then you know we just built from there and obviously to see it with myself with the third goal it's unbelievable but yeah I just can't thank everyone enough for the support they've given me the boys everyone who's part of this club I just want to say a big thank you from the bottom of my heart what was going through your head when you got that third I don't really know I think just knowing that the game was done it was over 2-0 you never know if they grab one back they've got the momentum and you never know what can happen but I think 3-0 it's a man that will win for us today and yeah just letting out that relief coming on and scoring I've not done that this season so I'm having a move What's it mean to you to be playing in the Premier League?

18:51Unbelievable I mean everyone wants to play in the Premier League it's where you dream about playing as a kid but you know it's a tough league we're going to have to be ready next season but for now we can enjoy this moment look forward to next season we'll come back in pre-season work hard well I'm going to swear work hard and then yeah we'll see where it takes us but we're all looking forward to it good night beckons say that again good night beckons for you absolutely i think a few beers will be drunk tonight yeah the team to come here and give an extra 10 because of what we've built and our reputation and coming to portland road as an away player you're thinking god i'm gonna be up for it today try and impress against the best team in the league so um i always thought on our day we're probably the best team in the league um consistently we probably let ourselves down at a few games but Like I said, if he comes to the end of the day and he gives you a chance to win a game, to get promoted, you've done your job.

19:40Yeah, the way you came out today was just fantastic. A blistering first nine minutes that really won the game, wasn't it? Yeah, we needed to come out fast. These games, you don't know how they're going to plan out, so it's best to just attack it from the first whistle, which we've done. Thankfully, I don't know who scored the first one. I don't even see it. I thought it was Hurstley. Yeah, delighted for that and delighted for Hurstley. he's been tested a lot this year so it's credit to him I'm just delighted for everyone in the squad we've had some tough nights and tough afternoons that we've had to overcome so to get promoted one more time is so special Kieran's talked about resilience growing over the course of the season I think it's felt like that the last few games hasn't it?

20:25Yeah we've got some serious football players in there with some big characters so to lead that group is I've tried to lead it as best as I can me, Doss some big characters in the changing room we've experienced so yeah like I said just driving the group bringing young players in to tell us tell them how to play and how to fit in this football club and I just can't tell you how happy I am Unbelievable confidence though without the squad just being so confident coming into today Yeah you have to be It's like you get the entrance coming in and the fans are coming out and there are thousands and smoke barriers and all that.

21:05It's tough to not get goose pimples a little bit. So I was just obviously just, I was so ready for the game. And like I said, we came out first 10 minutes with the crowd and they carried us through that first 10 minutes. So, yeah, like I said. And on the whistle at the end, what was it like on the bench? I'm not too great with claustrophobia, to be fair. I ran onto the pitch, got on someone's shoulders, and I wanted to get straight back off. Someone burned me with a flare, and I was like, oh, let's hope for me. So I got off, but obviously, to see their faces, I mean, you can't, this support is the best I've ever seen.

21:47I've never seen, since I've signed, I've not seen an empty seat home or away, and it's just a credit to them. They've deserved days like this. There'll be people remembering this for the rest of their lives, so I'm just so happy for them. And you and your teammates, days to remember. Obviously, I pulled a couple of that. Wes, Leafy, Wolves, Hursley, we've done this twice now and I've said to them, we've done this twice and no one can ever take that away from us. To get promoted twice to the Premier League is rare and we can hold that to us forever. So, yeah, I'm so happy. What are you looking forward to next year?

22:22It's Old Trafford. That's the one that I know you were up for last year. I'm going to go back again. And yeah, hopefully we'll get a result. They don't get that to 10 and we still lose. That'll be better. But all of them is the promised land for a reason. Every stadium you go to is top of the top. So like I said, it's just, yeah, I'm just so looking forward to it. Dara, Premier League captain, you've got this club promoted. What does it mean? It means everything. It's what we set out the start of the season to do. And we've achieved that. And it hasn't been easy. it's been tough I had to work hard for it and yeah I'm so proud to to lead this group of players to lead these people the town back to the Premier League and yeah just over the moon probably words can't really put it into into it yet obviously need to let it settle in still yeah before we talk about the game you've got your family here today your son talk to who's been here today to support you yeah obviously my partner who's who's been with me throughout everything and my son here in Oakland my dad's here my mate my cousin it's lovely days like these are so important for the families because we sacrifice so so much with what we do and they sacrifice so much as well so to have these moments to celebrate today is special memories will look back on he'll look back on and I'm just so happy to have such good people by my side to help me through it it's great you look here and you're on the pitch and you see everyone's friends and family everybody's just so so happy and that's something special and that doesn't happen very often so you've got to cherish these moments.

23:59You spoke before this game talking oh there's going to be some nerves. You killed them quite quickly didn't you? A couple of early goals to really settle things down. Yeah that's the way to do it isn't it? No look we knew that we had to come out of the blocks quick and fast and we didn't. Look the longer the game went on without a score and the harder it was going to be and the more tension there was so I think we did all we could was to get ahead so early and I think we'll probably be disappointed about how we didn't kill the game off then but look 2-0 and then we go and score the third yeah celebrations party and we'll enjoy ourselves you've got to be happy still with how comfortable you've made i know that there were some some uncomfortable moments within the game but to go through to win this on final day with all the pressure 3-0 big build-up but and you handled it really well yeah nobody wanted us to do this this year everybody wanted to see us fail and i'm just proud of us ourselves we believed in it we always thought we could and we proved it to ourselves which is the main thing um like you said there's pressure there and everybody expecting us to go up to do this that the other and they want to see us fall and we didn't and yeah we walked the walk which is the most important thing it's been weird to see people want you to fail because you come into the club as an underdog the season before massive underdogs you come down it's a squad that's worth a lot of money and transfer fees wages things like that and i guess it's been different in that way yeah and look it's the polar opposite the last season so it's different and it takes a while to get used to and you know we had to understand that you know teams were happy just to disrupt us in whatever way we could this season and it probably took us a while to to get used to that to come to terms with it but you know I think we've done unbelievable um it's been a difficult season and yeah like I said it's nice to to get it over the line you know you look at the teams that came down with us last season obviously Southampton are doing brilliant now unless they find themselves in league one unfortunately and it's tough it's not easy you know nothing's given to you everyone expects premier league teams to come back and to step back up straight away, but it's not like that.

25:47It's not like that, and we've did it, and that's all that matters. Yeah, that's what we've seen, isn't it? You've had those hard moments, but you've responded to them well. You think of the low points of the Blackburn draw, Sheffield United, Leicester, those hard moments where I guess you've had to come together as a group, and the responses every time have been really good. Yeah, there's been a lot of that. We've had to respond, and that's the only way to be successful in this league, is to respond when you get setbacks, and I think this group's done that. The character we've shown at times is maybe a bit, underestimated, you know, how much we've had to dig ourselves out of holes.