1. A perfect send-off for Cress
Aside from London Stadium, there was no more fitting stadium for Aaron Cresswell to sign-off his West Ham United career than Portman Road.
Cresswell spent three seasons with Ipswich Town between 2011-14, from the ages of 21 to 24, during which he scored seven goals in 138 appearances and won Player and Goal of the Season awards.
From Suffolk, the left-back made his way down the A12 to east London and West Ham, for whom he has performed superbly over the past eleven years, being crowned Hammer of the Year and helping the Hammers win the UEFA Europa Conference League.
And so, when he came on for his 369th and last appearance in Claret and Blue with just minutes to play, he was welcomed onto the pitch by the supporters of both clubs, responding to their ovation by clapping all four stands.
It was a perfect moment to mark the end of an incredible West Ham career.
2. ‘Too good for England’
You must be some player if you are keeping Jarrod Bowen out of the England squad.
West Ham United’s captain stepped up and showed his quality when it mattered yet again at Portman Road, first by setting up James Ward-Prowse for the Hammers’ opening goal, then by firing the Irons back in front with an unstoppable shot after Ipswich Town had levelled early in the second half.
Bowen’s latest outstanding performance saw him finish the 2024/25 season with 13 goals and ten assists in 34 Premier League appearances.
The Claret and Blue Army made their feelings known by singing that the 28-year-old is ‘Too good for England’.
For Bowen, who has missed out on selection by Thomas Tuchel for two internationals in June, he has the consolation of having his wedding day in the off-season.
3. Super Fab
Łukasz Fabiański was handed a sentimental start by Head Coach Graham Potter for Sunday’s final-day fixture at Ipswich Town, and the goalkeeper responded by producing a trademark performance.
The former Poland international was super at Portman Road, making an outstanding first-half save to keep the game goalless, flying high to his left to push Nathan Broadhead’s curler away with a flying one-handed stop.
Fabiański was secure and strong, making two other important saves and a succession of confident claims as Ipswich tried gamely to avoid defeat.
While the 40-year-old was beaten by Broadhead’s accurate low finish early in the second half, his all-round display showed exactly why he has been such a dependable performer for West Ham over the past seven seasons - and why the Claret and Blue Army spent much of the first half singing for ‘Super Fab’.
4. Double-barrelled delight
West Ham United’s two players with double-barrelled surnames both signed off the 2024/25 season in style at Portman Road.
James Ward-Prowse, who was welcomed back into the squad by Head Coach Graham Potter in January after a difficult loan spell at Nottingham Forest, hit his first goal of the season on the final day, confidently converting Jarrod Bowen’s pass inside the post to give West Ham a first-half lead.
And Aaron Wan-Bissaka showed yet again exactly why he was crowned Hammer of the Year by the Claret and Blue Army with another all-round performance. No player touched the ball more than the full-back, who also completed 65 of his 71 passes, made two tackles, two clearances and two interceptions, and provided an assist for Jarrod Bowen’s second-half match-winner.
5. A day for the fans
The Claret and Blue Army have not had too much to cheer on the road this season, particularly after the excitement of the previous three European campaigns.
However, two weeks after celebrating a 2-0 win at Manchester United, West Ham United’s travelling supporters had another away victory to cheer, this time at Ipswich Town.
The 3,000 who made the short trip up the A12 to Suffolk sang their hearts out throughout, emptying their extensive songbook by serenading departing favourites Łukasz Fabiański, Vladimír Coufal and Aaron Cresswell and chanting for former stars Paolo Di Canio, Winston Reid, Luděk Mikloško and even Dimitri Payet!
After the final whistle, the squad walked to the Cobbold Stand to show their appreciation to the supporters. There were songs, there were tears, there were shirts thrown into the crowd and, above all, there was huge mutual appreciation.
