After 22 years in the EFL, Ipswich Town will return to the Premier League next month, and it’s fair to say the two decades they’ve spent outside the top-flight have been eventful.
Whether it’s been relegations, play-off woes, controversial sackings or consecutive promotions, Ipswich have seen it all, and their time in the Premier League next season will feel a million miles away from the four seasons they spent in League One between 2019 and 2023.
However, during the 2020/21 season, arguably the most forgettable season of the lot, thanks to their ninth place finish and games being played behind closed doors, they saw one of the most infamous EFL moments in recent history, and something that will likely never be seen again.
A drab 0-0 draw between Ipswich and Northampton Town at Portman Road on a chilly Tuesday night in February usually isn’t anything to write home about, but the actions of referee Darren Drysdale that night certainly won’t be forgotten in a hurry.
Ipswich Town fans will never forget Darren Drysdale squaring up to Alan Judge
With 90 minutes on the clock, Ipswich Town were chasing a late winner against Northampton to bolster their play-off hopes, and midfielder Alan Judge went down in the box as he looked to win a penalty.
Referee Drysdale went over to Judge to brandish a yellow card for simulation, but the player, who was clearly unhappy with the referee’s decision, walked towards him to dispute the non-penalty call and pointed his finger at him, before the referee appeared to square up with the Tractor Boys midfielder and the pair butted heads.
