Ed Sheeran hits back at TikToker who branded Ipswich's decision to give singer No 17 shirt as 'embarrassing' - as he explains the real reason why it happened
Sheeran has a minority stake of 1.4 per cent in his local club, which he acquired last year, and previously sponsored the club's kits.
Having first been given the No 17 in 2021, Sheeran has also been allocated that number in subsequent seasons, apart from last campaign when Ipswich were in the Premier League.
Sheeran has also performed concerts at Ipswich's Portman Road ground, with shirts with his name on the back helping to raise money for the club.
However, when Ipswich announced their squad numbers for this season the decision to include Sheeran was criticised in some quarters.
One popular poster on TikTok described the situation as 'baffling' and added that it shows that Ipswich are a 'tinpot' club.
In a video posted on TikTok which has had over 700,000 views, Davoooo said: 'This is genuinely so embarrassing and so tinpot from Ipswich Town right here.
'The fact that this person even wants a number is so entitled it's unbelievable and the fact that Ipswich are giving him a number just shows how much of a small club they are and how tinpot they really are because what are they doing here?
'As you can see the Ipswich Town numbers have been released ahead of the new season and everything looks pretty normal there but then you see we have an imposter amongst us.
'The reason behind this is genuinely baffling. The real Ed Sheeran, the singer, he is No 17 at Ipswich Town. It's not even like he's taking a random number. Number 17 is a pretty desired number, there's a lot of good No 17s across world football but Ipswich decided to have Ed Sheeran.
'The reason behind it, you may as well just hand out a squad number to every single celebrity that supports your football club apparently. It says here Ed Sheeran, a lifelong Ipswich Town fan, got given the No 17 in the 2021-22 season. This gesture was a way for the club to acknowledge his support and connection to the team.
'To give him an actual squad number in your playing squad because he's a regular visitor to your stadium and has done a few concerts there is just tinpot.'
Sheeran responded by writing: 'I bet you're fun at parties bruvva. I didn't ask for it btw they offered back in 2021 and it's been this since. The shirts sell a fair bit so brings in profit to the club. It's really not that deep.'
Ipswich, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, get their Championship campaign underway on Friday night when they face Birmingham away.
After purchasing a minority stake in Ipswich last year, Sheeran wrote on Instagram: 'Really excited to announce that I have bought a small percentage of my hometown football club.
'It's any football fan's dream to be an owner of the club they support, and I feel so grateful for this opportunity.
'I have lived in Suffolk since I was three years old and, while I travel the world and sometimes feel like an outsider in big cities, Suffolk and Ipswich have always made me feel part of the community and protected.
'It's such a joy to be a fan of Ipswich Town. There are ups and downs, but football is all about taking the highs and the lows.
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