For the first time since the 2001-02 season, Ipswich Town FC will compete in the Premier League thanks to finishing second place in the Championship. For those unfamiliar with how such things work across the pond, this occurrence is more or less analogous to a Triple-A baseball team having an excellent season, and then suddenly getting promoted to the MLB level.
Ipswich slogged away in the Championship for many years, but wound up relegated to League One for four seasons. They’ve now been promoted in each of the last two seasons on the strength of an influx of talent, a masterclass in team unity, and an assist of sorts from global superstar musician Ed Sheeran.
Back in 2021, Sheeran struck an agreement with the club to be their new shirt sponsor, ultimately extending that contract through this latest season. My favorite kit during this period featured a promotion for one of Sheeran’s tours, which can be seen below.
After attending the recent Met Gala in New York City, Sheeran made sure to properly celebrate the promotion with The Tractor Boys (that’s one of their nicknames, along with the Blues).
If I were super famous with tons of money, I too would do anything to be associated with my favorite sports team. It doesn’t get much cooler than this for Sheeran to have a personal hand in his hometown club’s massive, sudden turnaround. Also, how awesome is it for the players having such a massive supporter like Sheeran so closely tied to them?
There’s such a cool bond between Sheeran and the Ipswich Town lads. Look at them do a fantastic rendition of his smash hit song “Perfect” in the locker room following their 2-0 victory over Huddersfield in the Championship season finale.
Part of what makes soccer so fun — football, sorry — is how precarious a promoted club’s position truly is. If Ipswich Town finishes 18th or worse in the 20-team Premier League next season, they’ll be knocked back down to the Championship right away.
Given how long it took for the Blues to get here, just making it to the Premier League has to be thrilling. To stay at the highest level of soccer in England, though, it’ll take an exceptional effort. But with Sheeran’s strong endorsement and the elevated profile the club has given its newly prestigious status, more and more players should want to join their side in the coming years.
We’re seeing a somewhat similar situation play out with Wrexham AFC, the third-oldest professional club in the world. Wrexham are owned by famous actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Since they took over in late 2020, the club has launched a documentary series on Hulu, and has enjoyed raging success on the pitch. Like Ipswich Town, Wrexham have locked up two straight promotions and are more or less knocking on the Premier League door, having gotten all the way to League One for the 2024-25 season.
Again, nothing is guaranteed. Just ask the last opponent Ipswich Town defeated.
Alright. That’s probably enough soccer-related exposition for y’all. To close this out and bring everything full circle, let’s honor the best sport going right now in the States.
Please enjoy the bizarre, very funny, and in retrospect, kind of sad Hard Knocks clip of Aaron Rodgers slinging the rock all over the Jets’ practice field to Sheeran’s tune “Shivers.” H/t to my guy and mutual follow Bill Cotter for Congress.
