how Ed Sheeran became the strong man at promoted Ipswich Town

A sponsor of his favorite club, which he has supported since a young age, Ed Sheeran played an active part in Ipswich Town’s two consecutive promotions to the Premier League, both behind the scenes and in the stands at Portman Road.

Let’s put the rumor to rest straight away: No, Ed Sheeran is not the owner of his favorite club, Ipswich Town, although he is one of its most generous patrons. The English pop star, who lives in Suffolk, was born in Halifax, just a stone’s throw from Portman Road, the legendary home of the Tractors, champions of England in 1962 and the UEFA Cup in 1981.

Ed Sheeran, a lover of the club since childhood, saw it fall from grace, first vegetating for 17 long years in the Championship after relegation in 2002, before continuing his descent into hell in 2019 with a relegation to League One, the English third division (for first time since 1957).

“I live just outside Ipswich and I’ve seen the town go through some really tough times,” the Shape of You singer told ESPN from Miami, where he watched Ipswich Town rise in the Premier League. His favorite club were promoted to the English first division this weekend after a victory (2-0) against Huddersfield, just one year after promotion to the Championship.

Aim to maintain next season

Ipswich have not played in the elite of English football since the 2001-2002 season. Ed Sheeran, who grew up thirty kilometers from Portman Road, has invested part of his schedule and especially his money over the past four years to initiate a new dynamic and enable this sporting revival.

“Ed is a very important person for us, he has supported the club through sponsorship for several years now,” recalled Kieran McKenna, the Northern Ireland manager, a few months ago.

The club’s most high-profile supporter, Ed Sheeran, became a shirt sponsor following the takeover of Ipswich Town by American investors in 2021. He has continued to sponsor the shirts since then, including ownership of the No.17 which he made his own and which now no longer attributed, and should also do so in the Premier League.

“I know that being in the Premier League will not only bring enthusiasm to the club, but also enthusiasm and joy to the city and improve it, which is very important. If we Let’s avoid relegation next season, that will be the biggest success for me, but you never know what will happen,” Ed Sheeran told ESPN.

Seen on several occasions in the stands cheering on his team, sometimes in very good company, such as with Elton John, in December 2023, to attend the Ipswich-Watford match, or serving beer and pies to spectators on the sidelines of a match against Hull City, Ed Sheeran also invited himself from time to time into the dressing room with the players to celebrate victories, the opportunity for the latter to thank him for his presence.

Ed Sheeran promised to invite them all to celebrate this promotion to the Premier League when he returns to the UK next week.