Ipswich Town’s Premier League history is a story of sharp rises, sudden falls and long journeys back.
The Tractor Boys were founder members of the competition in 1992 but survived for only three seasons before suffering a record-breaking relegation. They returned five years later and immediately produced one of the greatest campaigns by a promoted team, finishing fifth and qualifying for Europe.
That achievement was followed by relegation only 12 months later.
Ipswich then spent 22 consecutive seasons outside the Premier League, falling as far as League One before Kieran McKenna led the club to successive promotions. Their return in 2024 ended in relegation, but Ipswich responded by immediately winning another promotion.
From early survival under John Lyall to George Burley’s European qualifiers and McKenna’s modern revival, this is the club’s complete Premier League timeline.
Before the Premier League: Champions of England and winners in Europe
Ipswich entered the Premier League era with a history that compared favourably with many of the competition’s founding clubs.
Under Alf Ramsey, Ipswich won the Second Division title in 1960/61 and were crowned champions of England in their first season back in the top flight. They finished three points ahead of Burnley in 1961/62, winning 24 of their 42 league matches.
Ramsey subsequently left to manage England and led the national team to the 1966 World Cup.
Ipswich enjoyed another outstanding era under Bobby Robson. Appointed in 1969, Robson built a team that regularly challenged near the top of the First Division.
Ipswich won the FA Cup in 1978, defeating Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley through Roger Osborne’s goal. Three years later, they won the UEFA Cup after beating AZ Alkmaar 5-4 on aggregate in the final.
The club also finished second in the First Division in 1980/81 and 1981/82.
Ipswich were relegated in 1986 but returned to the top level six years later. Under John Lyall, they won the final Second Division title before the creation of the Premier League.
The championship made Ipswich one of the competition’s 22 founder members.
1992/93: Founder members…
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