UK Edition
Ipswich fans ready to 'embrace League One' as historic relegation looms
Martin Dale has seen almost everything at Ipswich Town – glorious European nights under the guidance of Bobby Robson, league title challenges and FA Cup wins beneath Wembley's twin towers. But now he is about to witness something new: relegation to English football's third tier.
Ipswich will tumble into League One for the first time since 1957 on Saturday if they fail to beat Birmingham City at Portman Road. Their fate has looked inevitable for months – they are 14 points adrift of safety, with just four wins to their name all season – but that will not stop Dale, 64, shedding a tear when the worst is finally confirmed.
“Whenever the relegation happens of course I will have a tear in my eye," he told Telegraph Sport, just before the latest of Ipswich's 22 defeats this term – 2-0 at Brentford on Wednesday. "Even though I've known it was coming for months it'll still hit me.
“I've seen us competing at Wembley in FA Cup finals. Now our best hope is the Football League Trophy."
Wednesday represented Ipswich's season in microcosm – moments of competence interspersed with horrendous defensive mistakes that ultimately sealed the side's fate. There were still over 1,600 travelling fans there to see it – a remarkable tally for a side marooned at the bottom of the table – and they were in good voice, despite events on the field. At one stage, fans sang about "going to Shrews-bu-ry" to the tune of Que sera sera.
Paul Lambert, the Ipswich manager, is also looking ahead to next year. He used four academy graduates in his midfield at Griffin Park – with Teddy Bishop, Flynn Downes and Andre Dozzell, in particular, impressing – and the blooding of young talent, traditionally one of Ipswich's strengths, has provided a sliver of light amid the gloom.
“They will need streetwise players with them but you can’t stress enough their development,” Lambert said. “It’s really going to help them. They will learn from it and get better and better at it. They will become a really good side.
“There’s a lot of good things at the club. We've got some great players.”
It is not difficult to find sympathy for Lambert, who also experienced relegation with Stoke last season, and who has won just three of his 26 games in charge of Ipswich since taking over from Paul Hurst in November.
Hurst arrived as one of English football's bright young coaching minds, and was supposed to be the antidote to the more prosaic football offered up by his predecessor Mick McCarthy. That football was enough to keep Ipswich safe but fans had turned long before his departure; surprisingly, few now consider that to be a mistake.
“Despite going down the atmosphere at the ground is the best it’s been in years," said another fan, Tash Arculeo. "I went when McCarthy was there and it was toxic.”
There are no guarantees that Ipswich will find League One much easier – as Sunderland will testify – but fans are relishing the prospect of watching some victories, at least.
“People are looking forward to it, weirdly," added Dale. "They may see us win a few games, and it’ll do us all some good in the long run."
Tash's father, Mark, agreed. "I was angry until Christmas about the performances. Now I’m embracing League One. Most clubs do come back up but some go the other way. I don’t think we will be one of those. We may not win the league, we have to be realistic, but Ipswich should be back in no time."
Lambert seems to have time, at least, and it was notable that there was no ire aimed at the Scot from the away contingent at Brentford. Instead, those fans preferred to focus their frustrations on the owner, Marcus Evans.
“We can’t rely on loan signings again – the owner pumps some money into the club," Dale added. "I just hope he sees what Ipswich means to us."