Five signs the Premier League is coming to Suffolk

Barrack Lane is the site of a huge Ipswich Town mural

A Suffolk town is a hive of positivity as its football club prepares for a long-awaited return to the Premier League this weekend.

Ipswich Town host Liverpool at Portman Road on Saturday at 12:30 BST after a 22-year absence from the top-flight.

Across the town, banners, bunting and even a mural have been put up to spur the Tractor Boys on.

Here are five signs Premier League football is on its way back to Suffolk.

1. Ipswich Town mural

Town fans were given a pleasant surprise on Monday when a team of painters arrived at the bottom of Barrack Lane.

They were there to create a mural commissioned by TV broadcaster TNT Sports.

Over five days, images of manager Kieran McKenna and captain Sam Morsy, among other players, were revealed, with the work completed on Friday

A spokesperson for TNT Sports said the mural would be in place for at least a month.

2. Tractor Boy Sheeran

Ed Sheeran was filmed driving an Ipswich Town-themed tractor to announce his minority ownership in the club

While it is well known Ed Sheeran is one of Ipswich Town's biggest fans, he has returned home recently to help prepare the club for the Premier League.

It was announced this week the singer-songwriter had worked in collaboration with the club for one of their kits.

He helped incorporate parts of the county into the design, including Framlingham Castle which he described as a "huge landmark of Suffolk".

It was also announced on Thursday via a video shot in Suffolk that Sheeran had bought a minority stake in the club.

In the video, he can be seen driving a Town-themed tractor on land owned by Kiln Farm in Kesgrave, near Ipswich.

3. Bunting and banners

Ipswich Central's banner celebrates the club's return to the Premier League after 22 years

The town centre has been adorned with blue-and-white bunting and banners in the run up to Saturday's match.

Independent businesses have backed the Tractor Boys by decorating their shop fronts in club colours.

But most prominent is a banner placed by the Ipswich Central Business Improvement District on the front of the town hall.

It reads: "We shared the glory. We've felt the pain.

"We're right behind you. We are back again!"

Ipswich Central said it wanted to celebrate the benefits the Premier League would have on local businesses and communities.

4. University partnership

The University of Suffolk branding has appeared on the Sir Alf Ramsey stand

While Portman Road has undergone several improvements to ensure it is ready for the Premier League, fans will notice there is some new branding at the stadium.

The club partnered with the University of Suffolk earlier this year and, as part of this, its name has been placed on the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.

John Cavani, director of marketing, communications and international at the university, said the educational institute was "excited" for the partnership.

"Our partnership provides us both with the opportunity to promote Ipswich as a place to study, visit and work, and also a chance for our students to work with sports professionals in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain skills in their chosen career path," he added.

5. Memorial garden

Stuart Andrews is the head plant buyer at Notcutts Garden Centre in Woodbridge

Stuart Andrews is a lifelong Town fan and helped to create the club's garden of remembrance at Portman Road.

He said he had visited it on Friday "to give it a freshen up to make sure everyone sees this fantastic memorial garden looking its best for the first game of the season".

Mr Andrews added it was an honour to work on the garden.