How Luke Woolfenden reacted to Ipswich Town getting promoted | OneFootball

The former Ipswich defender showed that he hadn't forgotten his roots as his former club sealed a quick return to the Premier League.

The former Ipswich Town defender has reacted, as his old club follows his new one into the Premier League.

In the end, there wasn't that much drama about it all. Needing a win to secure a return to the Premier League after just a season away, Ipswich Town were two goals up inside the first ten minutes and cruising back to the top flight.

By full-time, they'd won 3-0 and the celebrations began with a joyful pitch invasion. Nothing that anybody else did would make any difference. Ipswich are on their way back to the Premier League following just a year away, joining Coventry City in the top flight next season.

And in the aftermath of the match came the social media reaction, with one reply from former defender Luke Woolfenden demonstrating that the former player hasn't forgotten his roots.

Luke Woolfenden joy over Ipswich Town's Premier League return

Following their promotion-securing 3-0 win against Queens Park Rangers, the official Instagram account for Ipswich Town posted an image with the accompanying message, "We're going up again!" attached to it, and in amongst the celebratory replies from fans was one from a former player of the club.

Defender Luke Woolfenden, the former Ipswich Town defender who signed for Coventry City last summer, posted a row of fire emojis, signalling his approval of their return to the Premier League following a year away.

Woolfenden is a local lad to Ipswich Town. He was born in the town and brought through the youth academy at the club, spending eight years there as a senior player before leaving the club for The CBS Arena at the very end of the summer 2025 transfer window. For him, Ipswich's promotion is a cause for double celebration following his new club's return to the Premier League following an absence of 25 years.

It's clear that Luke Woolfenden hasn't forgotten his roots

Now 27 years of age, Luke Woolfenden's connection to Ipswich Town goes back a long way. He was 11 years old when he first signed to their academy, signing a full scholarship with them at the age of 15 and then professional forms two years later.

He made his debut for them in August 2017 in a League Cup match against Luton Town, and over the following eight years he went on to make 215 appearances for them in all competitions.

And it was an eventful time to be at Portman Road. Woolfenden was at the club when the takeover of the club to Gamechanger 20 Ltd was confirmed in 2021 and appeared in 82 of the 92 league games that they played in their two successive promotion seasons from League One to the Premier League in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Woolfenden has struggled a little for game time at The CBS Arena this season, having made just 17 appearances in the Championship for Coventry City. But when he has played, his performances have been reasonable, and he got a full run out in their final game of the season, a 4-0 win against Watford.

The defender clearly hasn't lost touch with his roots. The nature of professional football means that even the majority of players who sign for their hometown teams will move on in the fullness of time, and with a Championship medal to add to his two previous promotions with Ipswich, he clearly has much to celebrate.

But that connection with his hometown hasn't been broken and, the morning after the night before, Luke Woolfenden will doubtless feel that the two teams that he wanted to win promotion from the Championship this season have both met their targets.