A unique addition to the Borough’s art collection has come to Colchester and Ipswich Museums thanks to a generous donation from the founders of Call Me Ted, the grassroots art initiative that celebrated Ipswich Town Football Club’s 2024/25 Premiership season, both on and off the pitch.
With the return of the club to the Premier League, brothers and life-long Blues fans Richard and Steve Haugh, alongside Kevin Bennett and Andy Mortimer, set out to design gig-style posters for each of Ipswich Town’s 19 home games during the season.
Originally intended as a small-scale passion project blending football culture with creative expression, their Call Me Ted initiative quickly gained momentum. The club itself embraced the project, featuring the artwork on its official matchday programmes.
Inspired by their past work on music event posters, the team collaborated with 19 different artists - one per match - resulting in a vibrant and diverse series that has resonated with football fans and art lovers alike. A complete collection of these designs, each signed by its creator, has now been presented to Colchester and Ipswich Museums by Richard Haugh on behalf of Call Me Ted.
Each artist has brought a distinct style, some capturing the essence of vintage souvenir programmes, others bringing influences from 20th century British art and architecture and even comic books. The first design in the series was by Richard’s brother and Town season ticket holder Steve Haugh, aka Go Bernard, and symbolised different generations watching the club. Fellow dedicated Tractor Boy – and global music star - Ed Sheeran provided the final poster of the season, incorporating one of his original paintings.
Other notable contributors included leading Suffolk-based artists and illustrators Sam Peet, Catalina Carvajal, Joel Millerchip, Brie Harrison and Lily Hammond. Ipswich resident Lily has also created a major new artwork especially for the current Colour Shape Pattern exhibition at the Wolsey Art Gallery in Christchurch Mansion, where Richard presented the Call Me Ted collection to curator Emma Roodhouse and Councillors Carole Jones and George Lankester.
Richard says: “Call Me Ted was born in the summer of 2024 with the aim of marrying our love of art and the finest football team the world has ever seen, Ipswich Town FC. We’d experience of doing artworks for the Uprock music nights we ran in Ipswich, and thought it would be fun to return to this, but focus on football instead of music.
“The initial idea was we'd hand out posters to local shops, pubs and restaurants to put up in their windows ahead of the matches, and bring some colour to the town.
“Once we'd put out Steve's poster for the opening match with Liverpool there was no going back. The reaction from the club, fans and the creative community was genuinely mind-blowing. It was meant to be just a fun, hobby project but it snowballed very quickly.
“We've loved getting to know each artist, spending time with them and then producing something we're all proud of. For us, it's the stuff of dreams. Coming along to hand over these signed posters to the Museums team, knowing they’ll put them on display in the future, has been another ‘pinch me’ moment.”
Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council portfolio holder for Planning and Museums, says: “We’re thrilled to accept these beautifully designed artworks. They showcase the incredible talent of so many local artists through original imagery and a range of styles and football culture themes.
“Beyond making lasting memories of the Premiership season for fans, they capture an especially important year in the history of Ipswich Town Football Club and of our town. Now they’ll be part of the Borough’s art collection forever.
“Together with everyone at Colchester and Ipswich Museums, I’m truly grateful to Richard and the rest of Call Me Ted for their generosity.”
Councillor George Lankester says: “As a season ticket holder at Portman Road, I looked forward to seeing each new Call Me Ted poster appear ahead of home games and in the matchday programmes. People liked them so much they soon began collecting the programmes as souvenirs of a very special season.
“Call Me Ted has perfectly captured the community aspect of supporting Ipswich Town and how much that means to us. It’s a great example of the local arts scene, the football club and the community coming together and collaborating on an initiative that has really resonated with fans.
“Another reason to have pride in the town, the club and our creative talent!”
The complete Call Me Ted collection of signed designs from the 2024/25 season presented to Colchester + Ipswich Museums is:
Poster #19: Ipswich Town v West Ham United by Ed Sheeran
Poster #18: Ipswich Town v Brentford by Dan Thomas
Poster #17: Ipswich Town v Arsenal by Kelly Anna
Poster #16: Ipswich Town v Wolves by Cult Kits x Zooligan
Poster #15: Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest by Kate Jackson
Poster #14: Ipswich Town v Tottenham Hotspur by Annabel Pearl
Poster #13: Ipswich Town v Southampton by Matt Smith and Andrew Kitchener
Poster #12: Ipswich Town v Manchester City by Lily Hammond
Poster #11: Ipswich Town v Brighton & Hove Albion by Jamie Eke
Poster #10: Ipswich Town v Chelsea by James Treadaway
Poster #9: Ipswich Town v Newcastle United by James Hobson
Poster #8: Ipswich Town v Bournemouth by Brie Harrison
Poster #7: Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace by Melbourne-based Town fan John Barrett
Poster #6: Ipswich Town v Manchester United by Simon Farr
Poster #5: Ipswich Town v Leicester City by Sam Peet
Poster #4: Ipswich Town v Everton by Suffolk artist Catalina Carvajal
Poster #3: Ipswich Town v Aston Villa by Joel Millerchip
Poster #2: Ipswich Town v Fulham by Tom Armstrong
Poster #1: Ipswich Town v Liverpool by Go Bernard
Picture shows : Collections & Learning Curator Emma Roodhouse and Councillor Carole Jones with with Call Me Ted founder Richard Haugh.