'It's huge': Fans salute promotion-winning team

Fans of Ipswich Town Women joined the players at an event to celebrate the team's promotion to the second tier of women's football.

Ipswich Borough Council invited supporters to the Cornhill, a square in the town centre, on Saturday to mark the achievement.

Holly Lewis, 30, a season ticket holder who was among the crowd, said what the team had done was "absolutely massive".

"It is going to massively bolster the development of the women's game as well as the promotion of the town," she added. "It is going to be huge. It is huge."

The Tractor Girls reached the Women's Championship after spending four years in the Women's National League Southern Premier Division.

Joe Sheehan, the team's manager, said the size of the crowd that gathered "blew me away".

"It has never been done before so what a great experience for us to go and attend there and be greeted by so many fans," he added.

Matt Battersby, 55, from Paris, also went along to the Cornhill to celebrate.

He said: "First time to see the men's and women's teams at the same tiers of football, and I think it is really great for the town and both sets of supporters, and long may it continue."

Roberta Lewis, 27, also a season ticket holder, and said the club has had "a lot of ups and downs" and she has "enjoyed seeing the games".

Referring to the Women's Championship, she added: "Hopefully it will be okay, but we will not find out for the next coming months."

Town sold out their final game of the season at the 2,150-capacity Martello Ground in Felixstowe, where they play home games.

There will be 12 teams in the Championship next season. Ipswich Town Women's opponents will include Crystal Palace, recently relegated from the Women's Super League.

Nottingham Forest were also promoted to the Championship after winning the Women's National League Northern Premier Division.

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