Town promoted to Premier League with 3-0 win over QPR

Pre-match preamble

Let the madness begin.

Today we are facing QPR, also known as the 'Rs' or the 'Hoops', a club founded in 1882 as Christchurch Rangers. Shouting "Come on you Rs" would seem hazardous to me (try it). Out of context, on the tube for example, it could easily be misconstrued — unless you were at White City or Shepherd's Bush stations of course! I have always liked their hooped strip though; it is redolent of the old-style cotton shirts with a collar, smart, but I am thinking a nightmare to wash and dry.

I can remember visiting Loftus Road when Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles and Mark Lazarus were on the pitch, and Mick Mills, Mick McNeil, Colin Viljoen and Ron Wigg et al were playing for Ipswich. It was a long time ago!

In the reverse fixture at Loftus Road back in November, Town beat them four goals to one.

They are at the moment 14th in the table, so in no danger of going down, and many have said that "they have nothing to play for". I think it doubtful that any professional football team would think they have nothing to play for…

Lots of talk about team choices today, at the station and on the forums.

On paper, we should win without too much trouble, but we all know that in this league, that rarely runs to form. Fans were all sounding optimistic and making the right noises, whilst perhaps hiding any trepidation about this looming match. Are we all travelling in well-disguised hope, or in certainty?

Scary but very exciting sums it up for me, after Tuesday's draw with Southampton did not deliver the necessary three points.

That day found me passing a wood near Tiptree where I spotted swathes of bluebells; I parked up and dived in. A cute pair of dachshunds came trotting towards me and wanted to make friends. I exchanged a few words with their owner and was about to move on when he said:

"Have a good evening."

"I will if my team win," I said.

"Ipswich?" he said.

Half an hour or so later, we went our separate ways — having discussed everything Town in some detail, past, present and future. It was good to meet you, Lawrence. Keep in touch. My fingers are still well and truly crossed for today.

I love how you can connect through football even in the least expected places.

On the train

The train was stuffed full, but I managed to find a seat opposite an interesting young man called Henry, who confided that he was keen to eventually be a sports journalist. Fifteen years old, polite, well-spoken and bright — he reminded me of my grandson Harry (aka Bean). Here's wishing you a bright future, Henry; being aspirational and working hard can achieve amazing things.

The game

(Forgive me, but I do not think anyone wants to read a blow-by-blow account of this match, so here is a précis of the action.)

Town started very strongly, and Hirst easily potted their first goal from close up, in the 3rd minute, from a cross by Davis.

Six minutes later, Hirst obliged with a pass to Philogene, to slot into the net past Walsh.

For a while, at around the 30-minute mark, Town slowed down the pace, whilst still having the game pretty much under control. The fans were geeing them on; they wanted more goals — but to be fair, it might have been a big ask to expect them to keep up that tempo for the entire game, especially on such a relatively warm day.

Davis, Taylor and Furlong all came close to scoring.

I think three goals is the key number for relaxing. From experience this year, 2-0 is just one goal and a mistake, a clever corner, a penalty, away from a draw. A draw will not do. So I was hoping for that magic third cushion.

However, they kept their nerve and their control, with only a couple of attempts on goal by Smyth for QPR easily contained by Walton.

Half time: Town 2 – 0 QPR

In the second half, QPR raised their game and had some chances, but they never really looked like troubling Walton. With subs on for us, Town had renewed energy too, with efforts from Clarke and O'Shea coming close. The visitors also had attempts on goal, with Smyth and Bennie stepping up, but Walton was equal to the task of keeping yet another clean sheet.

The final breakthrough came in the 85th minute, with Mehmeti and Azon both aiming to stop the ball being cleared by Walsh. The ball came free, and McAteer pounced to side-foot it into the back of the net. There was an explosion of noise and realisation… that we truly were going up, up, up.

Flag waving, jumping, and singing ensued. I have little recall of what happened in the last few minutes of the match, but when the whistle sounded, the crowd flooded the pitch with happy, smiling people — crazy but wonderful shared jubilation.

Full time: Town 3 – 0 QPR

It took a little while to clear the happy fans for the presentation of the cup. Asking a crowd to clear a pitch is a little like Canute trying to turn back the tide — but they eventually succeeded where he failed.

The team

Men of the match for Town: Every single one of them. At times, this match was a masterclass. Paul Smyth and Joe Walsh impressed for QPR.

My men of the season

There are two: Dara O'Shea, who has played every second of every game, and Jack Clarke, who has not.

Jack is a tricky player, fast, skilful and accurate with the ball. As our top goal scorer, 16 goals is excellent for the season, especially as he is understandably well-marked, and is often brought on as an "impact sub" on 62 or 72 minutes (ish). It works. But far from being frustrated at this situation, Jack talks practically about his role and shows maturity and sense about his input to the team. Stats say that this season he played 2,379 minutes in total, which I think equates to 19 full games, give or take — making his total even more impressive. I confess he is my favourite player; he has flair. Maybe more minutes (more goals) might be considered? He is popular with all the fans.

Dara has been a rock on the pitch and has made a worthy captain. Following in the commanding and well-loved shoes of Sam Morsy was quite an ask — but he has made the role his own. (I enjoyed the fact that all the staff after the match were wearing shirts with "Promoted" and Dara's number "26" on them.) Unlike Sam, he got through the whole season without a single yellow card, which is an achievement in itself.

A note of thanks

Huge thanks to ALL the players for getting us over the line, and to Kieran, Mark and Game Changer, as well as all those involved in the community work and behind the scenes at the stadium. A shout out too to Louise Cobbold for the amazing portraits of the players she has produced, which have graced the programme this year and the town centre this week.

Mustn't forget the fans either, who do us proud — especially the well-travelled away match supporters who made the journey en masse to Blackburn twice and Portsmouth three times to finally see those two games played this season.

What's next?

The inevitable conundrum is already a talking point: "Who stays, who goes?" And who comes in? Sadly, we noticed that Wes was hugged by all the players as he was subbed off the pitch — was this his last game for the Town, as his contract ends this summer? All the fans want him to stay, but Kieran has said that, after all he has contributed to the club, he deserves to be able to choose his own path at this stage in his career.

But for me, this is not the time for speculation, but for elation; next season's plans will follow in due course.

Post-match pondering

What a season! What a result!

I was surprised at how buoyant and infectious the mood was coming into this defining day — nobody really wants the play-offs. Greeting the players' coach arrival amidst unbelievable amounts of blue smoke and drum banging inspired us all to get fired up and ready to sing. Good call. The vibe was not IF we win; it was when we win and by how many. Great to see all the youngsters enjoying the day, one for their memory banks.

Someone said they were glad we had not won on Tuesday night at St Mary's, as it made today more exciting. That sagacity only works in retrospect for me. I would have happily accepted a win on Tuesday and not have had to feel nervous for the rest of the week. And I am sure they would still have sought to close the season with a bang, not fizzle up to the Premier League…

The party on the pitch was joined by Ed, rocking his new summer hairstyle. I wondered in my last column if he would surprise us today — so good to see him. Imagine the "after party" with the players and our Ed; love to be a fly on THAT wall — haha.

Finally, a big hug from Gary (my seat neighbour) as he headed off with his sons and the usual "See you next time."

Everyone will have special memories of today and the season as a whole, and though remembering is a subjective process, brought together, they make up a whole story. And what a story it has been for the last few years. This season alone brings to mind for me — wrapping up the double against Coventry and Norwich; Azor's "worldie" against Hull City and Darnell's first brilliant goal against Charlton; ex-players inadvertently helping us with own goals; Jack's decisive penalties and much more, including such things as Nacho's effervescent personality and Azon's quiet smile. Of course, there were also waterlogged pitches, injuries, bookings, the FA Cup, contentious decisions both for and against, and the "Portsmouths" — to make up the whole picture.

Putting all those good moments together, with the wobbly ones, I think we truly "ran towards adversity" as our motto dictates: and proved that it works.

The Premier League. Again. I can hardly believe I am saying it; it has been such a roller-coaster year.

Match of the day, Town's on the way!

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