As fans of Ipswich Town, we have been thrilled to see the creative and iconic Call Me Ted artwork featured on the covers of our matchday programmes this season. These illustrated designs have been a vibrant addition and have quickly become a fan favorite. However, the club has recently moved the artwork to the inside back cover as a tear-out insert, citing obligations to sponsors and partners.

While the club remains supportive of the artwork, they believe sponsors should be presented in a more "real format" rather than an illustration, which has led to this change. Despite the intention to showcase both the artwork and sponsor branding, we feel the illustrated designs should remain front and center, where they belong.

We like the idea of the artwork being a perforated gatefold at the back of the programme so fans can easily remove it and use it as a pin-up. However, it would be best if the design also appeared on the front cover, keeping the fan-driven initiative visible while maintaining the flexibility of the tear-out feature. If illustrated logos are an issue for sponsors, the illustrators can simply leave them off their designs (exactly like the new TNT mural on Norwich Road).

As a graphic designer with no affiliation to the Call Me Ted project, I strongly believe that sponsorship obligations shouldn’t dictate the creative direction of the programme. Sponsors and partners play a key role, but fan-driven initiatives like Call Me Ted reflect the heart and soul of the club. Allowing sponsors to influence these decisions risks losing the unique identity that makes Ipswich Town special.

We call on Ipswich Town to return the Call Me Ted artwork to the covers of our matchday programmes. Show your support for this initiative by signing the petition below and ensuring that fan creativity remains a central part of the matchday experience.

Join us in asking Ipswich Town to reconsider their decision!