A MANNINGTREE teenager wowed onlookers as he arrived at his prom on a giant tractor as he paid homage to his football team's nickname.

Evan Baldwin, 16, went to the Manningtree High School prom on June 28 in an Ipswich Town FC related vehicle.

Evan pulled up to the prom in a tractor, in reference to the club's nickname, The Tractor Boys.

Dressed in a bright blue suit and Ipswich Town Hawaiian shirt, he caused a stir. 

Fun - Evan with the tractor and Ipswich Town FC flagFun - Evan with the tractor and Ipswich Town FC flag (Image: Angela Baldwin)

Angela Baldwin, Evan's mum, said: "We were talking about how he wanted to travel into the prom with a fancy car or something.

"However, Evan said he wanted to go in something cool like a tractor."

Evan said: "Part of it was because of the club's promotion to the Premier League but I mainly went in a tractor because I didn't want to go in a normal car... because that's too normal. 

"You might as well go in a tractor, why not?"

Youth - a younger Evan on a tractorYouth - a younger Evan on a tractor (Image: Angela Baldwin)

Evan has been a fan of the club for many years, following them throughout the many league changes and squad differences.

"My family have always been fans and I always was too but I started properly watching the games a couple of years ago."

Angela said: "I think he got it in his blood from me, his dad's not into football at all.

"Evan started to go to matches two or three years ago with friends at school and has been a season ticket holder for the last three years. 

"He has five or six shirts and has a flag, which he has taken to the prom."

Style - Evan wearing this year's ITFC Hawaiian shirtStyle - Evan wearing this year's ITFC Hawaiian shirt (Image: Angela Baldwin)

Evan thoroughly enjoyed the prom with his friends and partied for hours, celebrating the school's last night together. 

He said: "It was quite enjoyable, we were all talking and dancing together.

"I stood outside talking to my mates for a bit and then we went into the hall for about seven hours."

The Tractor Boys nickname was coined during the club's brief period in the Premier League from 2000–01 to 2001–02 when the team regularly competed against more 'fashionable' clubs.

Ipswich Town FC was promoted to the Premier League after securing 96 points in a remarkable Championship campaign this year.

And Evan is not the first person to make an unusual entrance to his prom. 

In 2022 Lillie Link, of Thorpe, wanted to make a statement when she arrived for Tendring Technology College’s Year 11 prom at Colchester Community Stadium.

Her mother Louise Link and uncle Graham Simpson suggested the idea of arriving on a tank as a surprise.

A video of the arrival went viral and was watched more than 14 million times in TikTok.