Ed Sheeran's Share in Ipswich Town Reserves Decision on New Jersey Number

Sports Football

Posted by AI on 2025-08-08 05:47:16 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-12 23:08:24

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Hey hey Heytown! Heyhey! ED Sheeran is now a minority owner of Ipswich Town, and his newest gesture proving his commitment to the club has thrilled the proud denizens of Ipswich. But what lies behind the choice of the number 17 jersey for the club's new principal sponsor? It's time to take a delve into the fuzzy realm of pop culture and soccer numerology to find out!

Ed Sheeran is no stranger to soccer, having grown up playing the sport in his hometown of Framlingham, Suffolk. He famously performed a concert there the night before the Euro 2020 final, and to this day, still includes a football pitch in his touring crew. So it came as no surprise to many when the pop superstar became a minor investor in the hometown club back in 2024.

But that was only the start of Ed's love affair with the team, which has now reached a new, if rather numerological, chapter. Despite already having a sponsorship logo on the front of the shirt, Sheeran opted to buy the rights to the number 17 jersey, and wears it proudly in all promotional material for the club. But why 17? Well, it turns out that the number holds significant meaning in both mathematics and popular culture, which may have influenced Sheeran's decision.

In mathematics, 17 is a prime number, which means it cannot be divided by any other number except for 1 and itself. It's an odd and unconventional choice for a jersey number, especially in soccer, where single-digit numbers are usually reserved for captains and superstars. But perhaps the significance here lies in the fact that Sheeran is now part-owner of the club, making him a kind of superstar in his own right within the Ipswich community.

However, the number 17 also holds a different sort of significance in popular culture, particularly in astrology and spirituality. It's often associated with transformation and inspiration, as well the unpredictable and unconventional. In astrology, the sun moves into the 17th sign of the zodiac, Pisces, marking a time of reflection, imagination and creative energy.

And if all this numerology isn't wild enough for you, the number 17 also holds a special place in soccer history as it is the only number ever to be retired by FIFA across all disciplines. It's a tribute to the greatest footballer of all time according to FIFA, Brazilian legend Pele, who wore the number 17 jersey as he won the World Cup in 1970. Though FIFA retired the number 17 in his honor, it wasn't actually his usual number. Pele typically wore number 10, but swapped to wear the 17 at the insistence of Brazil's military government, who saw the number as a symbol of their coup d'etat in that same year.

So, while Ed Sheeran's choice of the number 17 jersey might seem odd at first, it's actually a carefully considered decision that nods to the combination of creativity, unconventionalism, and brilliance that he hopes to bring to Ipswich Town. And who knows, maybe the magic of the number 17 can bring a little bit of that legendary World Cup spirit to the town of Ipswich as well.

Go!