Ipswich Town shirts are among 200 lots Blues sponsor and minority shareholder Ed Sheeran has donated for charity auction in Stowmarket later today.
Sheeran has gifted items including musical instruments, clothing, trainers, jackets and T-shirts, as well as Town kit from his sponsorship of the club and other sportswear, to the St Elizabeth Hospice and its young adult service, Zest.
With online bidding already under way at Stowmarket-based Bishop & Miller, a white adidas Town away shirt from 2021/22 has reached £550 at time of writing with a keeper’s jersey and shorts from the same season at £156. A first-kit pair of shorts of the same vintage is at £35.
Clare Chater, direction of income generation at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: "We’d like to thank Ed for his amazing generosity in donating such a fantastic series of items for the auction. It’s a truly unique opportunity for all Ed Sheeran fans!
"Our thanks also go to Bishop & Miller for hosting the auction, which will raise vital funds to support our services. Annually, our hospice team supports thousands of people, throughout East & Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth & Waveney.
"We’re reliant on donations and fundraising to continue our work and every penny raised by the auction will make a difference to those under our care.”
Oliver Miller, managing director of Bishop & Miller Auctioneers, added: "It is very exciting to be able to host an Ed Sheeran auction on behalf of the hospice. We know how much of a global superstar he is and people genuinely love to own something from his own collection, so this auction is a great opportunity to do just that.
"We are proud to be supporting St Elizabeth Hospice and Zest once again, to be able to raise money for such a worthy cause by holding an auction is worthwhile, every bid really does count on the day so we will try and make as much money as possible. We are expecting global interest in this auction as he is so well known in all corners of the world so watch this space who knows how far his objects will travel!”
The auction takes place at 7pm this evening with viewing in person from 4pm at the Bishop & Miller saleroom in Stowmarket.