When the Ipswich men’s team went up to the Championship under Kieran McKenna, they continued that momentum and won promotion to the Premier League 12 months later.
The women’s team, though, will not be getting ahead of themselves by contemplating anything similar at this stage with manager Joe Sheehan stressing the need take the forthcoming season week-by-week.
“It’s a step up and there’s lots of things we’re going to learn about ourselves that perhaps we haven’t had to experience previously.
“But as a club, for some time now, we’ve been ready for this step up and over the first four or five games we’ll get a measure of where we’re at,” he said.
There are tough games ahead against the likes of Crystal Palace, who are looking to bounce back following relegation last year, and last season’s runners-up Birmingham City.
And there is a wider geographical spread from Newcastle United, Sunderland and Durham in the north east to Southampton and Portsmouth in the south, meaning extra travelling time.
“In the division we’ve been in previously, we’ve probably been the dominant team across all the metrics – tactically, technically, really strong mentality, we’ve physically profiled really well, said Sheehan.
“Making a step up now, we’re possibly not going to be that dominant team. We’re hoping there’ll be some areas we’ll have some really good strengths in but we’re going to meet teams now that are going to be really equipped across all of those things.
“We’re less likely to be the dominant team, but that’s also an exciting thing and something we’re looking forward to embracing.”
