Norwich (1 Viewer)

[Irish Sky Blue]

I went last night which was the first competitive game I have seen this season due to being on holiday. It is also the first game I have seen at Carrow Road for nearly forty years. The last time I was there was to see us win 2 - 1 with goals from, I think Ian Wallace and certainly from Garry Thompson.
I was struck last night by the atmosphere outside of the ground before the game and also by the ground itself. Not surprisingly it is a completely different place to the one I remember. It has been well developed with lots of bars and restaurants all it seemed being well used and making the club money. It has the feeling of a well run club with owners who seem to care and know what they are doing. The area around the ground has been developed too with expensive looking river/canal side flats and a new retail park. The old Carrow Road was a nice ground but wasn't a patch on Highfield Road in terms of the facilities or the infrastructure, quality of stands etc. Why oh why didn't we stay at Highfield Road and develop it? Hillfields doesn't have the setting of the Norwich ground but the club could have been the hub for the revitalisation of the area in the way that Carrow Road seems to have been in Norwich.
Even though this was a low key game with a small crowd there was still a feeling of expectancy outside the ground from the Norwich fans milling about, again something I remember many times from games at HR. (Yes lots of "flat" occasions there too I know). Despite relegation, Norwich, club and fans give off a feeling that they are going in the right direction .
Our club has historically been and has the potential to be again, a bigger club than Norwich. The population of our catchment area is much bigger than theirs. I know some on here will say that their crowds were much bigger during their spell in League One. Give our fans something worth watching and they will come back. That started to happen with our brief spell of success Last season.
It would be great to have that buoyant, expectant atmosphere at the Ricoh. So all we need are new owners that care and Wasps going bankrupt!

 

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[OffenhamSkyBlue]

Didn't they have close-on 25K ST holders when in L1???

 

[fernandopartridge]

I went last night which was the first competitive game I have seen this season due to being on holiday. It is also the first game I have seen at Carrow Road for nearly forty years. The last time I was there was to see us win 2 - 1 with goals from, I think Ian Wallace and certainly from Garry Thompson.
I was struck last night by the atmosphere outside of the ground before the game and also by the ground itself. Not surprisingly it is a completely different place to the one I remember. It has been well developed with lots of bars and restaurants all it seemed being well used and making the club money. It has the feeling of a well run club with owners who seem to care and know what they are doing. The area around the ground has been developed too with expensive looking river/canal side flats and a new retail park. The old Carrow Road was a nice ground but wasn't a patch on Highfield Road in terms of the facilities or the infrastructure, quality of stands etc. Why oh why didn't we stay at Highfield Road and develop it? Hillfields doesn't have the setting of the Norwich ground but the club could have been the hub for the revitalisation of the area in the way that Carrow Road seems to have been in Norwich.
Even though this was a low key game with a small crowd there was still a feeling of expectancy outside the ground from the Norwich fans milling about, again something I remember many times from games at HR. (Yes lots of "flat" occasions there too I know). Despite relegation, Norwich, club and fans give off a feeling that they are going in the right direction .
Our club has historically been and has the potential to be again, a bigger club than Norwich. The population of our catchment area is much bigger than theirs. I know some on here will say that their crowds were much bigger during their spell in League One. Give our fans something worth watching and they will come back. That started to happen with our brief spell of success Last season.
It would be great to have that buoyant, expectant atmosphere at the Ricoh. So all we need are new owners that care and Wasps going bankrupt!

Norwich are a well managed club but your comments about their catchment area don't really take into account that there is only one league club within a 50 mile radius of them! CCFC on the other hand have 7 or 8, albeit in a more densely populated area.

Norwich is a far more prosperous place than Coventry too. Plenty of people in Coventry seem to earn reasonably well mind, but in my experience are tight and bargain shoppers (the city centre demonstrates this to a degree)

 

[christonabike]

It begs the question what would we get every week if we were in the Championship and new owners who were genuinely trying to build the football club again, spending a few quid not stupidly but investing so any player sales went back into the team and we had a sensible arrangement with Wasps so the match day experience was so much better such as food and drink etc and entertainment before and at half time?
I would say we would struggle to get more than 18000 for a few years until people got back into the habit of going and bridges were mended with the fans. We could of sold 35k when we returned but 25k have fooked off since lol!

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Didn't they have close-on 25K ST holders when in L1???

I am sure you are right. However our success rate is shocking over the last 40 odd years.. I would think that over that period we have won less league games than virtually any other league club. Winning games last year in League One felt as good as winning games in the PL. if we had a sustained period of success, even promotion from this league, people would come.

 

[stupot07]

Around 14/15k average with the odd high attendance, our support is shit.

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[Irish Sky Blue]

Norwich are a well managed club but your comments about their catchment area don't really take into account that there is only one league club within a 50 mile radius of them! CCFC on the other hand have 7 or 8, albeit in a more densely populated area.

Norwich is a far more prosperous place than Coventry too. Plenty of people in Coventry seem to earn reasonably well mind, but in my experience are tight and bargain shoppers (the city centre demonstrates this to a degree)

We are a bit on the periphery of those teams. We are the only League club in Warwickshire and if you look south and west of the city we are the only league club until you come to places such as Northampton, Oxford or Cheltenham. An area more densely populated than Norfolk I would think. Take your point about prosperity though.

 

[Hobo]

Norwich are a well managed club but your comments about their catchment area don't really take into account that there is only one league club within a 50 mile radius of them! CCFC on the other hand have 7 or 8, albeit in a more densely populated area.

Norwich is a far more prosperous place than Coventry too. Plenty of people in Coventry seem to earn reasonably well mind, but in my experience are tight and bargain shoppers (the city centre demonstrates this to a degree)

I agree with most of this. I don't think Coventry people are tight, they just go down the road a few miles to spend the cash. Coventry reflects the people who have to spend the little money they have there. We still have a lot of poverty in Coventry,,,a hangover from the late Seventies. Some families three generations unemployed.

We are having a new wave of prosperity through two Universities. But they are not bringing in die hard Coventry fans.

The reality is we probably didn't move from HR soon enough. We spent valuable resources trying to develop it.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Around 14/15k average with the odd high attendance, our support is shit.

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Look at what we have had to put up with. The last real sustained period of success under JH saw us have the best attendance in the Midlands, much higher than Villa. Average attendance over 34000 for one season. Three consecutive seasons over 30k. As I say, a bit of sustained success and the support will be there.

 

[italiahorse]

People do try and come back but there are only so many matches that people can watch where they never see a shot on goal.
Anybody watching the first few games and not a season ticket holder will be reviewing there Saturday's.

 

[stupot07]

Look at what we have had to put up with. The last real sustained period of success under JH saw us have the best attendance in the Midlands, much higher than Villa. Average attendance over 34000 for one season. Three consecutive seasons over 30k. As I say, a bit of sustained success and the support will be there.

That's was nearly 50 years ago when football was cheaper, when Coventry was a proper working class city, and before the demographics and culture of the city have been completely changed by migration . we only averaged 21k in our first season at the Ricoh.


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[rondog1973]

Whatever league we are in, 9 seasons out of 10 we will be in the lower half of the table. We have been on slow, soul destroying decline since the new millennium.
Yo yo clubs like Norwich and Leicester have the stimulus of a promotion campaign every few seasons to maintain a keen fan base whilst ours melts away to a puddle of disillusionment.
If our fortunes were transposed, then so would the attendances.
Think it was only last year that Leicesters historic attendance average exceeded ours, despite the shit of the last 15+ years.

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

Whatever league we are in, 9 seasons out of 10 we will be in the lower half of the table. We have been on slow, soul destroying decline since the new millennium.
Yo yo clubs like Norwich and Leicester have the stimulus of a promotion campaign every few seasons to maintain a keen fan base whilst ours melts away to a puddle of disillusionment.
If our fortunes were transposed, then so would the attendances.
Think it was only last year that Leicesters historic attendance average exceeded ours, despite the shit of the last 15+ years.

Totally agree

 

[Irish Sky Blue]

That's was nearly 50 years ago when football was cheaper, when Coventry was a proper working class city, and before the demographics and culture of the city have been completely changed by migration . we only averaged 21k in our first season at the Ricoh.


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That is true. However people in this city are no different to those in Nottinham, Derby or Norwich. Give us some of what they have had and our gates will be up there.

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

I lived there for 8 months , there is bugger all else to do in Norwich to be frank.

 

[Perryccfc]

I lived there for 8 months , there is bugger all else to do in Norwich to be frank.

What the hell did you do for 8 months? There's loads to do in Norwich.

 

[Brylowes]

What the hell did you do for 8 months? There's loads to do in Norwich.

Yes there is, Norwich is a brilliant city and TBH puts Coventry to shame.
Also Perry I'm sorry I stayed to long at the funeral, got pissed and didn't
Make the game, and thanks for taking Josh on the train.

 

[The Great Eastern]

I lived there for 8 months , there is bugger all else to do in Norwich to be frank.

Were you in Norwich Prison for those 8 months. Loads to do in Norwich and the surrounding county ! I've now lived in Norwich for 29 years and I'm never short of things to do and see...

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

I am all ears to hear what you do in Norwich .... Plus it's miles away from anywhere , I suppose if you like the cultural desert of East Anglian region with its boring flat landscape , pikey filled and run holiday resorts and matrix of overhyped broads then you would be happy. I will give you an example take somewhere like London or Edinburgh where there are an enormous amount of everything and choice including festivals theatres and venues as well as everything else right on your doorstep. I lived there working for 8 months in 2005 and Monday to Thursday was like a graveyard at night . It may have changed but I found it totally boring place and area that can be explored and all done in a week.

 

[fernandopartridge]

There is a cracking owl sanctuary nearby and of course Longstanton Spice Museum (as pictured in my avatar).

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

There is a cracking owl sanctuary nearby and of course Longstanton Spice Museum (as pictured in my avatar).

Oh twit twooo oooo can't wait to see it one day, no wonder they all go to the football there's naff all to do. What's it famous for umm turkeys and the quiz of the week which was a acknowledgement by the media how boring the place is.

P.s admiral Nelson was from Norfolk , but moved to Portsmouth as it was so boring there.

 

[Red John]

That twit twoooo bit made me chuckle

 

[chiefdave]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attra...folk_East_Anglia_England.html#ATTRACTION_LIST

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attra...folk_East_Anglia_England.html#ATTRACTION_LIST

That confirms it, there is actually more interesting things at T5 Heathrow than the whole of Norwich

 

[letsallsingtogether]

Around 14/15k average with the odd high attendance, our support is shit.

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No our support is superb for the quality of football we have watched over the years.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

That is true. However people in this city are no different to those in Nottinham, Derby or Norwich. Give us some of what they have had and our gates will be up there.

Careful you will upset a few on here who like to blame the City fans for everything.
Wish they would fuck off and support another team.

 

[letsallsingtogether]

That's was nearly 50 years ago when football was cheaper, when Coventry was a proper working class city, and before the demographics and culture of the city have been completely changed by migration . we only averaged 21k in our first season at the Ricoh.


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21k in the championship bloody marvellous that is.

 

[Paxman II]

It does only take success on the pitch and very quickly the fans return that otherwise can't be bothered particularly when it's lower league football. 34 years in the top flight had our club used to top billing football. It has been a hard faal from grace. but there are others, Sheff Utd, Sheff Wed for example and of course not so long ago man City did a similar thing to us and spiraled into league 1. The difference there is they did not hang around too long in the doldrums and look at them now? Not saying we can emulate them but we are club with a large fan base and if we can jump through the hoops and agony of getting promoted we will soon start solving the clubs other issues too. I think it fair to say this club has been through enough punishment and for once deserve some better fortune.

 

[ollyservetta]

I remember reading that students at Norwich university are more likely to settle in Norwich after they graduate than any other university ,says something about the the city and surrounding area . ive been there a few times and it is a nice place , nice people and good fans

 

[pw362]

I am all ears to hear what you do in Norwich .... Plus it's miles away from anywhere , I suppose if you like the cultural desert of East Anglian region with its boring flat landscape , pikey filled and run holiday resorts and matrix of overhyped broads then you would be happy. I will give you an example take somewhere like London or Edinburgh where there are an enormous amount of everything and choice including festivals theatres and venues as well as everything else right on your doorstep. I lived there working for 8 months in 2005 and Monday to Thursday was like a graveyard at night . It may have changed but I found it totally boring place and area that can be explored and all done in a week.

Coventry city centre is a graveyard 7 night's a week now

 

[Brylowes]

I am all ears to hear what you do in Norwich .... Plus it's miles away from anywhere , I suppose if you like the cultural desert of East Anglian region with its boring flat landscape , pikey filled and run holiday resorts and matrix of overhyped broads then you would be happy. I will give you an example take somewhere like London or Edinburgh where there are an enormous amount of everything and choice including festivals theatres and venues as well as everything else right on your doorstep. I lived there working for 8 months in 2005 and Monday to Thursday was like a graveyard at night . It may have changed but I found it totally boring place and area that can be explored and all done in a week.

Absolute shite, I'm in Liverpool at the moment which IMHO is the best city around, London
Is good but just to big, Norwich would be in my top 5 without a doubt.
Do you live in Cov by any chance, because I'm from there but moved away years ago, was
Always very proud and protective of the place. I've visited most UK city's and would have
To say,sadly if there's a city or town with 150.000 population or more with less to offer than
Coventry I've not found it yet.

 

[Brylowes]

Norwich are a well managed club but your comments about their catchment area don't really take into account that there is only one league club within a 50 mile radius of them! CCFC on the other hand have 7 or 8, albeit in a more densely populated area.

Norwich is a far more prosperous place than Coventry too. Plenty of people in Coventry seem to earn reasonably well mind, but in my experience are tight and BARGAIN SHOPPERS (the city centre demonstrates this to a degree)

TBF there isn't really any other type of shopping available is there.

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

Absolute shite, I'm in Liverpool at the moment which IMHO is the best city around, London
Is good but just to big, Norwich would be in my top 5 without a doubt.
Do you live in Cov by any chance, because I'm from there but moved away years ago, was
Always very proud and protective of the place. I've visited most UK city's and would have
To say,sadly if there's a city or town with 150.000 population or more with less to offer than
Coventry I've not found it yet.

Amazing that Norwich is in the top five, I mean places like Bath, Bristol, Glasgow,, Newcastle and Bournemouth , even those without mentioning Cardiff London and Edi , wow . Poor old places like Birmingham , Stoke Manchester and Liverpool . This must be some place. Even Cheltenham ( remember the gold cup ) and Brighton pale into the background

In my mind Norwich sits between Lincoln and Boresville , how wrong I was.......

I have not lived in Cov for 30 years by the way .

 

[idm1975]

I remember reading that students at Norwich university are more likely to settle in Norwich after they graduate than any other university ,says something about the the city and surrounding area . ive been there a few times and it is a nice place , nice people and good fans

There fans are arseholes got chased once there back in the 90's at a midweek game we realised we couldn't get away from them, there were 4 of us, so stopped short of the car and confronted them...they stopped to and started telling us what they were going to do to us whilst we just turned and walked to car and drove off. There buses for away games also pit stop on way back in the town where i live.....gobby inbred Norfolk twats and nothing more.

 

[Brylowes]

Amazing that Norwich is in the top five, I mean places like Bath, Bristol, Glasgow,, Newcastle and Bournemouth , even those without mentioning Cardiff London and Edi , wow . Poor old places like Birmingham , Stoke Manchester and Liverpool . This must be some place. Even Cheltenham ( remember the gold cup ) and Brighton pale into the background

In my mind Norwich sits between Lincoln and Boresville , how wrong I was.......

I have not lived in Cov for 30 years by the way .

Liverpool I've already said is the best, I'm there now Bristol is good agreed, as is Newcastle,
Bath nice but small and if you wanted a night out you would head for Bristol.
Stoke LOL, Cheltenham there are 362 other day's in the year, Manchester how ever hard it try's
Is always in Liverpools shadow, Bournmouth" don't forget your pension book, interestingly you
Forget to mention some of the better ones, Leeds Sheffield and Nottingham.
London is a world city and is Aprox 40 times the size of Norwich.
This all started with your claim, there's nowt to do in Norwich when in truth there is, top class
Restaurants, more pubs and clubs than you could shake a stick at, it's picturesque and has
A cultural offer many far larger cities would die for.
I have no attachment to Norwich at all, I'm just pointing out some of the obvious things that
Managed to pass you by during your 8 month stay.