ASHLEY YOUNG has hung up his boots and picked up the champagne as he celebrates his retirement with Ipswich’s promotion.
The party has begun in Suffolk after the Tractor Boys beat QPR 3-0 to secure the second spot in the Championship and automatic promotion.
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Ashley Young took centre-stage in the Ipswich dressing room swigging champagne
Ipswich will play Premier League football next season
Ipswich join Coventry on the way to the Prem with automatic promotion Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The Tractor Boys beat QPR 3-0 to secure their spot and avoid play-offs Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Scenes have erupted in the Portman Road dressing room with a table stocked with booze as players danced and chanted.
It was a dream game for Ipswich who took only three minutes for Leif Davis to set George Hirst up for an Ipswich tap-in.
A dominant performance followed for the hosts at Portman Road who were clearly hungry for the automatic spot.
Before they knew it, Jaden Philogene-Bidace was flying – played in by Hirst, he fired the ball into the back of the net.
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Kasey McAteer tucked a third goal home after QPR left themselves wide open having tried to commit men forward.
Kieran McKenna‘s men will head up to the top flight with Coventry, who secured promotion for the first time in 25 years.
But Young will not be joining them as he has opted to close his career with Ipswich.
The 40-year-old began playing at Watford before heading to Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Everton.
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Fans flooded the pitch at full-time Credit: PA
Young – who started as a winger before becoming a full-back – joined Ipswich on a one-year deal in July 2025 after being released by the Toffees.
In November 2007, Young made his debut for England – earning 39 caps for the national team and scoring seven goals.
On social media, Young said: “It’s been some journey that I only dreamt of as a boy.”
“But with this dream there has to be an ending and Saturday might be the last game of my professional career … 23 years and OUT.”
