O'Shea: The Noise and Atmosphere at Portman Road is Special
Friday, 21st Aug 2026 16:49 by Kallum Brisset
Town captain Dara O’Shea insists the home supporters at Portman Road will be crucial in determining whether the Blues secure Premier League survival this season.
In each of the last three EFL campaigns, Town have lost just once on their own turf to secure three promotions in four seasons, two of which have been from the Championship into the top flight.
That record is in stark contrast to the one league victory they achieved all season during their last Premier League campaign two years ago, which ultimately ended in relegation with just 22 points to their name.
Speaking on the eve of the season opener against Sunderland, O’Shea’s message to the Blues supporters was a simple one.
“The main thing from me is keep being yourselves,” he said. “What they’ve been to us, and I hope what we’ve been to them, has been special. I definitely think that the bond we grew last season was special.
“There’s a new set of players coming in and it’s important that we can grow that bond again and grow together. The noise they bring us, the atmosphere and the passion, you can feel it.
“Portman Road is a special place. When you have them there behind you, it does spur you on and adds so much. The QPR game last season was something special, Mark \[Ashton\]’s touched on it already how important it was for us as players and he’s spot on.
“They really pushed us on in the early moments of that game and you saw what it achieved. The celebrations we had together are memories for a lifetime for me and my family, but also for a lot of Ipswich Town fans.
“Last season, the success we had there was a major factor in why we got promoted and it’s got the club back to the Premier League. The noise and the atmosphere that we’re met with every time we play there is special.
“It’s a proper joy to play in a stadium like that with such character, there aren’t many stadiums that are left like it and it’s somewhere that we all love playing.
“Our form last season was amazing and we want to continue that momentum and the confidence we had going into this season. It’s going to be a massive factor in how well we do this season.”
Last time out in the Premier League, the Blues had just climbed two divisions from League One and came up short with just four victories all season despite an outlay of around £120 million on new players in an attempt to bridge the gap.
O’Shea says Town are returning to the top flight more prepared than they were last time, during a summer in which he only arrived in Suffolk after the season had started.
He said: “The big thing is probably experience, in the sense of the amount of Premier League games we have in the squad now compared to last time. You can’t really get away from the fact that we didn’t have too much experience.
“You do need it. The club’s been really diligent in the transfer market and brought in some excellent players, but great people as well, and they’ve really added to the culture and the group that we have here.
“Again, it’s always going to be difficult when you add new faces into it, and it’s important to get the togetherness right. I feel like the trajectory that we’ve been on in pre-season and the feeling within the group, whether it be in the changing room or on the pitch, has been excellent and it’s been a joy to be a part of.
“Everybody’s just really looking forward to getting going properly now, getting into the swing of things, playing games, and competing for three points every week.
“There were loads of little moments in the season that before were quite hard to predict. There’s not just one particular lesson, there’s so many of them and we keep saying it’s important to learn from them.
“We understand what the league can bring and what the league can offer. We understand how ruthless it can be at times as well. It’s not getting too high with the highs and too low with the lows.
“It’s not going to be an easy season, it’s not going to be a plain sailing season. There’s going to be moments, and it’s important in those moments that we stay strong, stick together and don’t let them linger on for too long.
“A massive part of our success last season was that there may be difficult times and times where things weren’t going great, but they didn’t last too long and we were able to bounce back to what we wanted to get to. That will definitely be an important thing for us this season.”
Above all else, the overriding feeling ahead of the Black Cats’ visit on Saturday is one of excitement.
“Massive excitement,” O’Shea added. “As soon as you come in for the first day of pre-season, everybody’s looking forward to that first game.
“With it being at home as well, it’s extra special and exciting for everybody. Not just us, but the fans as well. Everyone’s itching to get back and watching club football.”
_Photo: TWTD_