It's 25 years ago today that Ipswich Town won promotion to the Premier League at Wembley. Ross Halls takes a look at where that team are now...
George Burley's men finally made it to the promised land after three-successive play-off disappointments. The semi-final victory over Bolton will live with those present forever.
The final itself against Barnsley was another rollercoaster of emotions as the Blues won 4-2 in the last domestic competitive fixture to be played at the original Wembley Stadium.
Let's find out where the starting XI and subs are now...
RICHARD WRIGHT
The Ipswich-born keeper had an eventful day as he saw Craig Hignett’s opener bounce off the bar and in off his arm, before giving away a penalty that he saved. Throughout the 90 minutes he made some crucial stops.
Wright helped the Blues finish fifth in the top flight before joining Arsenal in 2001, then moving on to Everton and West Ham, before returning to the Blues in 2008.
In total, he made 355 appearances during his time at Portman Road. He finished his career at Manchester City and has been coaching under Pep Guardiola since 2016.
JOHN MCGREAL
The defender helped Town win promotion in his first season with the club following his move from Tranmere Rovers.
McGreal was a solid performer for the Blues, making 150 appearances during his spell in Suffolk, before finishing his playing career at Burnley.
He is now Town's under-21s manager, having previously had stints in charge of Colchester United and Swindon Town.
MARK VENUS
The cultured defender spent six season at Portman Road, scoring the club’s first goal back in the Premier League at Tottenham in August 2000.
Venus made close to 200 appearances for Town, before winding down his playing career with a season at Cambridge.
His coaching career has seen him assist Mowbray at multiple clubs.
TONY MOWBRAY
The defender had the perfect sign off of his career, scoring a crucial header in what proved to be his final game as a professional footballer.
Mowbray had already made the transition onto Burley’s coaching staff and took temporary charge of the club between Burley’s departure and the appointment of Joe Royle in 2002.
He has since gone on to manage over 800 games for multiple clubs, including two of his former sides in Middlesbrough and Celtic.
GARY CROFT
The full-back got the nod to start, ending a rollercoaster first season at Ipswich which also saw him spend time in prison for motoring offences.
Croft played 37 games for Town, leaving Suffolk in 2002 to have spells at Cardiff, Grimsby and Lincoln City.
He has since founded a successful property business and works as a radio pundit too.
JAMIE CLAPHAM
The full-back was a unsung hero in this side. He made over 250 appearances for Town after joining from Spurs in 1998.
Clapham departed Suffolk to have spells with Birmingham, Wolves, Leeds, Leicester, Notts County, Lincoln City before hanging up his boots at Kettering in 2011.
He is the current head coach of Loughborough Students.
MATT HOLLAND
Captain fantastic lifted the trophy in Wembley’s Royal Box and continued to lead the Blues for the next three seasons.
Holland played over 300 games for Town, before being sold to Charlton in the summer of 2003 and remained at The Valley until 2009 when he hung up his boots.
He is now a respected pundit and broadcaster and is regularly back at Portman Road appearing on Town TV and serving as a trustee for the club's Foundation.
JIM MAGILTON
The Northern Irishman was the hero of the semi-final against Bolton and remained at Town until the end of his playing career in 2006.
Magilton transition from player to manager as he replaced Joe Royle and took charge of more than 100 games as a manager at Portman Road, before being sacked just days after Town’s last victory over Norwich in April 2009.
Since leaving Town he’s managed QPR and Melbourne Victory and is currently the manager of Cliftonville in the Northern Irish top flight. He has guided them to cup triumphs.
JERMAINE WRIGHT
The midfielder is another unsung hero in this side, having been brought in amid comparisons with departing midfielder Kieron Dyer in 1999.
Wright remained with the Blues until 2004 when joined Leeds, before finishing his career with Southampton and then Blackpool.
Two of his sons, Drey and Diaz, became professional footballers with the former currently at St Johnstone in Scotland.
MARCUS STEWART
The forward was Town's third goalscorer at Wembley and went on to find the net 19 times in the Premier League the following season as the Blues finished fifth.
Stewart was sold to Sunderland shortly following Town’s relegation in 2002, before finishing his career with spells at Bristol City, Yeovil and Exeter.
In September 2022, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Earlier this month, he left his role at Yeovil Town as Head of Player Development after three seasons at the club.
DAVID JOHNSON
The frontman once again led the club’s scoring charts in 1999/00 as he bagged 23 goals, but was hampered by a calf injury which forced him off after 20 minutes in the final.
Johnson departed Town the following campaign as he was sold to Nottingham Forest, where scored 50 goals before being forced to retire with a back injury.
He remains in football, working in various roles in the business side of the game and is son Brennan now plays for Spurs, scoring the winning goal against Man United to lift the Europa League this month.
SUBS
RICHARD NAYLOR
The super sub came on for the injured Johnson. He scored the Blues’ second and then played important roles in goals three and four.
Naylor's career at Town ran until 2009 but ended with him playing as a centre-back, having been converted to the role by Joe Royle.
He departed Suffolk for a dream move to hometown club Leeds United, captaining the Whites before beginning his coaching career at Elland Road. He’s now the academy manager at Hull City.
MARTIJN REUSER
The Dutchman slammed home goal number four to take Town into the top flight. ‘Reuser... Premiership’ - immortal words that will be never be forgotten!
Reuser signed for Town permanently for £1million that summer. He scored 19 goals in 104 games for the club, before falling out of favour under Joe Royle.
His playing career took him back to the Netherlands, where he played for Willem II, RKC Waalwijk and NAC Breda before hanging them up. He’s coaching now, managing the Dutch U15 and U16 national teams in recent years.
FABIAN WILNIS
The Dutch full-back was the third and final substitute at Wembley but was a regular starter the following season, notably scoring against Manchester United at Portman Road.
Wilnis spent a decade at Portman Road, playing over 300 games for Town, before he finished his playing days in non-league with Grays Athletic.
He returned to the Netherlands and coaches at hometown club Sparta Rotterdam.
