 Ipswich had their most successful season to that point in 1960 – 61 , winning the Second Division and promotion to the top level of English football , ahead of Sheffield United and Liverpool . In the top flight , Ipswich became champions of the Football League at the first attempt in 1961 – 62 , with Ray Crawford joint English and European top scorer with Derek Kevan of West Bromwich Albion . Matt Busby described the title @-@ winners as " ... one of the First Division 's most attractive sides ... " . As English league champions , Ipswich qualified for European football for the first time . They met Maltese side Floriana in the European Cup , defeating them 14 – 1 on aggregate in the first round before losing to AC Milan in the second round ; it would be another 11 years before the club would qualify for Europe again . Ramsey quit the club in April 1963 to take charge of the England national football team , and Ipswich finished only four places above relegation in the 1962 – 63 season . To commemorate Ramsey 's success at the club , a statue of him was unveiled outside Portman Road in 2000 by Ray Crawford . 
