Ipswich Town Football Club's top sponsors are celebrating huge exposure after Saturday's match against Liverpool at Portman Road.
A host of locally-based companies were prominently displayed during Town's nail-biting first foray in the Premiership on Saturday.
The team held its own in the first 45 minutes but succumbed to the football titan in the second half.
Stowmarket software company Halo and singer Ed Sheeran are principal partners of ITFC.
Others whose names were emblazoned prominently across the stands were Ipswich-based business lender Fleximize, Ipswich headquartered law firm Birketts and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) - a global firm which recently moved into its new UK headquarters at Ransomes Europark. The University of Suffolk also enjoyed huge exposure.
Halo founder and chief executive Paul Hamilton said the collaboration with the team matched well with the company's ethos.
"Partnering with Ipswich Town FC has been an incredible journey for Halo Service Solutions," he said.
"This collaboration not only amplifies our commitment to excellence but also aligns us with a team that shares our passion for innovation and community.
"Together, we're driving success on and off the field, creating meaningful connections and delivering outstanding results for our clients and supporters alike."
The firm operates on three brands on display at the stadium HaloITSM, HaloPSA and HaloCRM - with HaloITSM featured on Town's shirt sleeve.
It was founded in 1994, but its big breakthrough came in 2018 with the release of NetHelpDesk which helped propel it ahead of the competition. It is now one of the fastest growing companies in the world, with 100% growth for the past three years.
It employs more than 150 workers across its offices in Suffolk, Australia, USA and UAE.
"We are very proud of our Suffolk roots and there is a lot of pressure being a software company in the technology industry people often ask us why we are not based in Silicon Valley or Austin, Texas perhaps," said Mr Hamilton in the run-up to the big match.
Having supported Town through its meteoric rise people were saying that Halo "has the magic touch", he said.
"Against the odds they have gained promotion to the Premier League putting Ipswich on the map and helping put Halo on the map in terms of association with the Premier League now."
The company employs young graduates who are keen football fans. "It's a bit of a fairytale," he said.
Town's commercial director Andy Wooldridge said the club took "great pride" in the network of sponsors - which has grown over the last year.
“A great number of our partners are also businesses with local roots, who have a real pride in Ipswich and Suffolk and share many of the same values as the club," he said.
"This brings an even greater sense of pride because we now have the opportunity to showcase many of these businesses, as well as the town and county, to the world, following promotion to the Premier League.
“While promotion has given greater opportunity for the club to engage with global brands, due to the increased exposure, working alongside some of the brilliant businesses based in Ipswich and Suffolk will always remain an important area for us as we all look to thrive in the Premier League.”
Birketts chief executive Jonathan Agar said the law firm - which has its head office just a stone's throw from the Portman Road stadium - was "an exceptionally proud partner of Ipswich Town last season" and delighted to renew the deal".
"One attribute that unites us, apart from our geographic location and our focus on excellence, is our desire to have a positive and sustainable impact on our local community. Together we look forward to playing a role in Ipswich’s commercial and sporting success for many years to come.”
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