'It was electrifying': Fans give verdict on Ed Sheeran homecoming

The large stage is placed at the end of the football pitch and is lit up pink. Ed Sheeran stands in the middle of it, wearing a white T-shirt and holding a guitar. The pitch is covered by the crowd, with people also watching on from seats in an adjacent stand.Alice Cunningham/BBC

About 90,000 people are expected to attend the gigs across the weekend

Lewis Adams
BBC News, Suffolk

A crowd of 30,000 people packed out Portman Road stadium to welcome superstar Ed Sheeran home.

The pop singer said returning to Ipswich on Friday was "really cool", having not played a major gig in his home county of Suffolk since 2019.

Fans have travelled from across the globe to witness three Sheeran concerts in a row, held at the football club he supports and owns a minority stake in.

Marlene Krueger travelled from Germany to be in the front row and said it was "amazing".

"It was a really special show for us but also for Ed, because he was really happy to be home," said the 22-year-old from Munich.

"Ed is a really down to earth person, he never feels like that celebrity who's not relatable."

Marlene Krueger smiles at the camera. She wears an Ipswich Town cap and has long brown hair.Alice Cunningham/BBC

Marlene Krueger said buying tickets for all three nights was a no-brainer

It was a night of homecoming gigs in the UK, with Oasis returning to Manchester for the first time in 16 years.

But there was only one concert on the agenda in Suffolk.

About 90,000 people were predicted to attend the shows over the weekend.

Martin Cox has tickets for all three shows, and he travelled from London to hear some of his favourite tunes.

"It was a wonderful night, Ed was clearly really enjoying playing at his home stadium," the 70-year-old said.

"The crowd was fabulous and it was absolutely stunning."

A wide-angle picture showing the scale of the crowd, which entirely covers the football pitch. The stand next to the pitch is also full. In the foreground, people raise their arms. The stage is lit up blue and white.Alice Cunningham/BBC

Portman Road was packed out for one of Ipswich Town Football Club's most famous supporters

Kieran McKenna has sunglasses on top of his head and is wearing a navy shirt. He is standing by seats outside a box at the gig and is surrounded by people either standing or sitting.Stuart Howells/BBC

Manager of the men's football team, Kieran McKenna (pictured left), was spotted enjoying the show

Mr Cox also had high praise for his fellow supporters around him.

"Ed likes people to scream-sing and these girls to my left, they were scream-singing perfectly - it was really, really amazing," he added.

"He wanted it and they gave it big time."

A head and shoulders image of Martin Cox. He is wearing a white T-shirt and dark sunglasses. He is standing in front of Portman Road and looking into the camera.Cameron Noble/BBC

Martin Cox booked a hotel so he could enjoy all three of Sheeran's gigs

Crowds were wowed by a surprise performance by Westlife, who gave a rendition of Flying Without Wings.

It was a moment that brought the house down, according to Linda Kennedy.

She said it was well worth the three-and-a-half hour trip from Bournemouth.

"It was just [Sheeran], a guitar and his loop pedal - how does he do it?," Ms Kennedy asked.

The gig ended a years-long wait for the 56-year-old to see the performer in action.

"The whole experience was electrifying," she added. "It was just amazing."

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