Goalkeeper Christian Walton was proud to claim League One’s Golden Glove following a stunning season for Ipswich Town.
The Blues are heading to the Championship after securing promotion from League One with a game to spare, thanks to a relentless surge which saw them finish unbeaten in 19 games and with 13 victories from their final 15 matches.
Twelve of those 15 games saw Walton keep a clean sheet, taking his total to 23 for the season and securing him the second Golden Glove of his career, having done the same while helping Wigan win promotion from the third tier in 2018.
“It was a goal I set at the start of the year,” Walton said.
“I probably reevaluated that in my head in December and January (with Town conceding goals) but I stuck with that goal and was able to tick it off.
“It’s a nice achievement for me. Any achievement like that, a personal one, isn’t just for the individual but for the team as a collective. Golden Boot or Golden Glove is a team thing, it really is.”
Town’s No.1 continued: “It’s an amazing season full of ups and downs.
“For the club and for the community it’s been really, really good. We have done very well as a group and as individuals, which is pleasing, and it’s time to enjoy the celebrations. Before we know it, though, it will be time to come back for pre-season and start working hard for the Championship.”
Walton believes he has improved during his two seasons as a Town player, thanks to the input of manager Kieran McKenna, the Ipswich staff, goalkeeping coach Rene Gilmartin and back-up Vaclav Hladky.
“They all have full confidence in me and have improved me as a keeper and as a person as well,” Walton said.
“I think it’s a whole staff thing. What the manager brings to the club is excellent and I think the whole staff can take a lot of credit from it.
“I came here because I wanted to play for a manager like we have here, who is only going to improve me as a goalkeeper.
“I think I’ve done that this year but there is no stop to that – I want to do the same again next year at a higher level.
“I’ll be working on that through the summer, whether that’s watching videos of the top keepers doing their work or clips of me from this year. I want to keep improving.”
Walton is no stranger to the Championship, having played full seasons there for Wigan and Blackburn while on loan from Brighton, but is now excited to attack the second tier as a permanent Ipswich player.
“Quite a lot of my career games have come there and it’s a top league and a really good level,” he said.
“I think I’ll enjoy it even more at a team I’m permanently registered with, instead of being on loan.
“We know it will be tough but everyone here is ready to work hard and the application towards things will be top.
“The level is good but the level we have played at this year has been Championship level, which we showed against Burnley in the FA Cup, so we need to go into it with full confidence.
“We’ll be ready for the challenge.”
Town go up to the Championship alongside title winners Plymouth Argyle, with Walton paying tribute to the club he started his career with following their promotion.
“Full credit to them, they’ve done well this year,” he said.
“People will have written them off in many games but they have stuck with it and have done really well.
“Full credit to them. We wanted the trophy but they deserve the credit.”
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