Influencers draw large crowds at football pitches

Social media stars The Sidemen were mobbed by crowds while filming online content in a town.

KSI, TBJZL and Behzinga from the YouTube group were at Suffolk New College's five-aside football pitches in Ipswich on Thursday.

They were filming football challenges at the venue.

Wearing an Ipswich Town FC top, KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji, said he expected the side to be promoted back to the Premier League next season.

The Sidemen group has more than 22 million subscribers on YouTube, with videos amassing millions of views.

Videos on social media showed the stars being mobbed by fans.

"It's been incredible," said musician KSI speaking afterwards.

"Everyone has been very nice and accommodating. The facilities were perfect."

Charlotte Rossiter, events manager at Suffolk New College, said the football challenges involved people competing for money.

She said she believed a student at the college won £6,000.

Ms Rossiter said word spread quickly that the influencers were at the venue: " More and more people turned up, so by the time we managed to get them out they were mobbed."

She said the stars were "really nice" and were "great with the students".

Tiago Miguel, 18, from Ipswich, took part in one of the football challenges: "It was surreal [seeing KSI] – I've watched him all my life. He had so much aura."

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