Ipswich On The Up

Katy Sandalls’ club-focus feature on Ipswich Town, promoted to the FA Women’s National League South over the summer and already battling fellow newcomers Southampton for top spot without having dropped a league point. Striker Natasha Thomas, who has scored 103 goals in 128 appearances for the club, explains that Tier 3 has meant dealing with the unknown after years of knowing every opponent in Tier 4. The piece traces the progress behind the club’s sudden national profile, including the 2020 FA Cup tie that brought Manchester City to Suffolk and ended 10-0, and credits a strong academy, manager Joe Sheehan and emerging regional talent. Sheehan has made a double promotion the stated aim. Crowds regularly top 300, with a club record of almost 800 for a derby against Norwich.