Norris Green singer-songwriter Ryan Rooney put together the Iliman Ndiaye chant that has become a big hit with Everton fans

Ipswich Town fan Ed Sheeran’s trip to Portman Road last Saturday was ruined by Everton’s 2-0 win with a goal from Iliman Ndiaye (inset), opening the scoring

It was a case of ‘Ryan Rooney one, Ed Sheeran nil,’ last Saturday as the aspiring Scouse singer-songwriter left Portman Road with the sound of his own ditty ringing in his ears while the Suffolk-raised chart topper saw his beloved Ipswich Town beaten by Everton. Sheeran, who owns a minority stake in the Tractor Boys and sponsors their shirts, was left dejected as his side were left waiting for a first win after winning promotion to the Premier League with goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Michael Keane securing a first away victory for Sean Dyche’s men in 10 months.

For 22-year-old Rooney, from Norris Green – who wasn’t even born the last time Ipswich picked up three points in the top flight – the trip to East Anglia proved a dream come true though as his fellow Evertonians repeatedly belted out renditions of his musical ode to summer signing Ndiaye, who opened the scoring in spectacular fashion some 17 minutes into the contest. When asked about the song, the player himself said: “Yeah, I’ve seen it. I don’t really know the words yet, but I think I’ve said before, it’s really important to have a good connection with the fans.

“They get you going, you get them going. I’d like to think with the type of player that I am, with dribbling and things like that, it gets them going so I’m really happy to be here and have a connection with the fans.”

READ MORE: Everton new stadium addition can be inspired by star who beat Goodison ‘hero’ in arm wrestleREAD MORE: Everton get controversial Liverpool vs Chelsea referee they fumed over three times last season

The song, which has quickly become a firm favourite with match-going Blues goes: “I am in love, I can’t deny, our number 10 his name is Iliman Ndiaye; From Senegal to Bramley-Moore, he’s f***ing magic he’s the one that we adore. Ole, Ole; Ole, Ola…”

Rooney told the ECHO: “A lad called Ben, had sent it over to me on TikTok. He sent the words over and I tried to do my thing with it, to try and make it as catchy as possible and when I nailed the ‘ole, ola’ bit, it got me going.

“We had a song a couple of years ago for Allan, the Brazilian midfielder, to the same tune. So I tried to work on it as best as I can.

“It’s surreal. Iliman has become a fan favourite very quickly as he’s a great player and I feel that his attitude towards the fans is great and has been since he signed for the club.”

He added: “I’m made up with the response from the Everton fans, we are the People’s Club, and what a great moment for me being at Portman Road on Saturday, in amongst it with all my fellow Everton fans trying to get me involved as much as they can. I was standing with one of my best mates and we go every week, home and away.

“It was one of them, it was on the coach going to the game, and we said: ‘We really hope he scores.’ We had an inkling he could do it but football’s a sport where anything can happen.

“The Ipswich defender controlled the ball not as well as he would have liked and Iliman was there to put it past the keeper. It was just bedlam at that point to celebrate going 1-0 up.

“For not just me but all the Everton fans, it was boss that he scored given that we’d all just been singing his name. It got quite a few more renditions during the long trip home too, 100%, it was non-stop.”

Singer-songwriter Ryan Rooney from Norris Green

Rooney reveals that it was seeing some local lads of yesteryear on television that led him on a musical path from a young age. He said: “I do my own stuff. I’ve had about six songs out and the dream is still alive with the music, and I’ve got a podcast now, Riverside Toffees, that I co-host with a good friend, which is something that I love doing.

“Like football, music has always been a passion for me and hopefully it picks up again. The music that I do, it sort of flickers between emotions and life, I’ve got a song called ‘It Is What It Is’, which is all about going out on a Saturday night with your mates in town when you’re 18 or 19.

“I remember being about five years old when my nan was cooking a Sunday roast, and she had the film Help! on. She went out to the kitchen and came back to see that I’d put all my toys to one side because I was mesmerised by the Beatles and John Lennon in particular.

“I absolutely adore Oasis – unfortunately I didn’t get tickets for next year – plus the likes of Phil Adams, Sam Fender and Bruce Springsteen.”

Although Ndiaye’s twinkling toes that have inspired Rooney’s big hit in the stands with Blues supporters, he reveals some of the attacker’s team-mates might also be getting their own songs in the near future. He said: “Iliman is the kind of player that gets fans off their seats. The ball just seems to stick to him and even when there are two defenders on him, it will bounce correctly for him, and he’ll get past them in some shape or form.

“He’s hit the ground running in his Everton career. I think that apart from getting three points, the most important thing for me is to be able to love going to watch Everton and be excited while you do it.