Teaming Up
New Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has swapped a coaching role at Manchester United, where he was part of the backroom staff under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, for his first full-time managerial role at Portman Road.
The Irishman and his assistant Martyn Pert have left Old Trafford and will take charge of the League One strugglers for their Boxing Day clash with Gillingham. Ipswich Town fans will be keen to see how McKenna does and who he picks for his first game in charge.
When he looks over his squad he might notice a name that stands out. Ed Sheeran is the No.17 this season, though McKenna might not want to call the multimillion sellling musician up.
Local boy Sheeran was handed the squad number as he is the club’s main shirt sponsor this season.
“This is bonkers really, isn’t it!” Sheeran said in August. “When Ipswich told me I thought they were joking but I love the idea.
“I think this is going be a great season and I’m honored to be a part of it. I just hope this squad number is only ceremonial because I want to see us promoted and that’s not going to happen if I’m playing!”
Even without Sheeran playing the Tractor Boys have been stuck in the mud and former boss Paul Cook left the preseason promotion favorites seven points outside of the outside of the playoff spots.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna Photo: IC
That cannot be pinned on Sheeran, who is sure to be cheering his team on under McKenna. The shirt number was a nod of appreciation from the club for his support, which included playing a gig at their Portman Road ground as well as now sponsoring the shirts.
“Having Ed involved is fantastic for the football club,” said club CEO Mark Ashton in the summer.
“We saw pictures of him wearing the No.17 shirt when he was at the club to perform his Euro 2020 TikTok concert so Paul [Cook] and I spoke about it and we agreed to offer Ed the chance of that squad number.
“It’s our way of thanking him for his support and we look forward to welcoming him to Portman Road this season.”
Sheeran might well be the most high-profile musician to sponsor their local team but he is far from the first.
Scottish band Wet Wet Wet had not quite hit the worldwide fame of appearing on the Four Weddings and a Funeral soundtrack when they sponsored Clydebank FC in 1993. It was a partnership that would last a few years as the rockers brought a touch of stardust to the outskirts of Glasgow but the band got out in 1997 before the club went bust in 2002.
Even less glamorous than the Scottish second tier is primary schools football but that did not stop indie act Mogwai from supporting the kits for St Roch’s Primary & Deaf School in 2018 after drummer Martin Bulloch heeded the call from an old friend among the staff at the Glasgow school.
Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro had their names on the shirts of Bonnyton Thistle Under-9s back in 2009 while The View did the same for Dryburgh Athletic Under-11s a year later.
South of the border many other bands have supported the grass-roots game. Rave rockers The Prodigy sponsored Eastleigh Reds Under-13s in 2012 after hearing that the youngsters warmed up to one of their tracks while heavy metal outfit Motorhead backed Greenbank FC Under-10s in 2006.
Ian Dury & The Blockheads made sure that Glynneath AFC Under-8s had reasons to be cheerful in 2014 when then gave the team new kits after their manager had tweeted about “his little Blockheads.”
Sheffield band Pulp sponsored Sheffield FC’s under-14 girls, giving the world’s oldest football club another reason to hit the headlines, while onetime X Factor contestant Amelia Lilly decided to sponsor a veterans team, Hartlepool Touch Down Hotel Over-40s FC. Her father was one of the players.
Non-league football has been a great breeding ground for musicians to sponsor teams.
Former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown sponsored London Commercial Division club Chiswick Homefields FC for the 2005-06 season, whose shirts were adorned with the message “IB – The Greatest” – the title of his new album.
Last season Enter Shikari sponsored St Albans City of the National League South while The Libertines have sponsored Isthmian Premier League side Margate since 2018, with the band owning a hotel in the seaside town.
The Libertines are not Margate’s first local hotel owning punk rocker sponsors either. That honor went to Bad Manners back in 1996 when they sponsored the club. Lead singer Buster Bloodvessel even went on the pitch ahead of their 1997 FA Cup match against Fulham.
Up the pyramid, Brighton & Hove Albion were sponsored by Fatboy Slim’s Skint record label for several seasons after he invested in the hard-up club in the late ’90s while Jake Bugg has been sponsor of Notts County since 2017.
“It’s amazing, to see your team out there playing nice football is great. For them to do it with your name on the front is even better. I’m sure there are places I’ve been like Germany or Brazil that might not have heard of them. It’s nice to get the team’s name out there,” Bugg told BBC Nottingham at the time. Sadly for him, the team are now playing in the Conference.
Two Welsh teams in the English pyramid have had bands on their shirts. Newport County were sponsored by comedy rappers Goldie Lookin’ Chain in 2004-05 while Cardiff City were backed by the Super Furry Animals in 1999. Both bands sponsored the teams for their FAW Cup games in those seasons.
Oddly, Nottingham duo Sleaford Mods sponsored a Welsh side, The Seven Sisters Under-9s, back in 2017.
Such sponsorships are not limited to the UK. Dublin rockers Fontaines DC sponsor League of Ireland side Bohemians FC this season.
Over in Germany, punk favorites Die Toten Hosen sponsored Fortuna Dusseldorf for a couple of seasons in the early 2000s with the period commemorated with a special shirt in 2018, while Heaven Shall Burn sponsored lower league FC Carl Zeiss Jena for one match in 2014-15.
Along with the band’s name was the message: “Support your local team.” Music to everyone’s ears.
Sunderland midfielder Lynden Gooch (left) and Ipswich Town defender Kane Vincent-Young battle for possession on December 18, 2021 in Ipswich, England. Photo: IC
