Ipswich Town set to take on X Factor star in pre-season game

8 July 2016

2 minute read

Ipswich Town are to take on a team that will include X Factor star Olly Murs in a pre-season friendly according to a report from their club website.

A mixture of youth players, reserves and fringe players will be facing Coggeshall Town on July 22nd, a team that includes Murs in their ranks. The pop star trained with the non-league team in order to prepare for the charity event Soccer Aid and even played in some of their games towards the end of the season.

And Murs will be continuing to play for Coggeshall in their pre-season friendlies with one of the highlights set to be when Ipswich come to town on the 22nd with the club hoping to get a bumper crowd for the occasions.

Murs isn’t just some gimmick to bring in people as well. As well as playing in Soccer Aid, he was a semi-professional for Witham Town before injuries stopped his budding career. After that fell through he went on the X Factor and went on to become one of the most successful acts the show has ever seen.

The owner and manager Coggeshall Town, Graeme Smith, said: “Olly is nephew to my assistant manager, John Pollard, and has been a family friend of mine for many years,”

“He has loved every minute of his time with us and has now started to get involved with the club off the pitch as well.”

“Olly really believes in what we are trying to do here and wants to play his part. The club was struggling for 20 years or so but over the last two years we have made great progress.”

“We’re an ambitious club. We have won back to back promotions, now play in the Eastern Counties League First Division and our aim is to get into the Ryman League as soon as possible.”

“We have played Ipswich twice in the last three years and I know Olly and the rest of the lads are looking forward to the game coming up. It will be the highlight of our pre-season and I’m sure it will be a great night.”