Norwich City Personal Account

It was Saturday afternoon and the National Express train was pulling into Norwich station at half past two, this meant that in just 30 minutes the match would begin. Today my beloved Norwich City would play Sheffield United and the excitement was building. The doors of the train flung open and dozens of Norwich fans exited. They all walked off smiling and excited about the game. I joined them gaining their excitement along the way. All of a sudden there was a sea of yellow shirts hastening towards to the game. As I reached the ground I collected a programme for the pricey sum of three pounds and prepared to enter the stadium. As I walked towards the correct turn style I passed Neil Doncaster (Norwich City's Chief Executive), who was deep in conservation. It was interesting to see him there as moments earlier I had heard him interviewed on the radio via my MP3 player. I flashed my season ticket and entered through turn style four, at last I was in the ground

I entered the Barclay end bar and looked around at the fans drinking beer and watching the television screens. The team had already been announced and the manager had made four changes. I did not feel I needed anything to eat or drink, so I headed for my seat. Once I was sitting the sun was beating down on me, so I removed my coat and along with my programme placed them under my seat. Within moments the group I usually sit with began to arrive and we discussed the team and the tactics. The consensus was that there was heightened concern over an inexperienced defence. The team ran out to warm applause from the Norwich faithful with the excitement building. It was time for us to sing as we belted out at the very top of our lungs our famous old football song 'On the Ball City.' The match begins and the noise level picks up as we belt out all our classic football chants. The sound from the away fans was minimal to say the least. Around us is a cauldron of sound as the fans are expectant of a home win. Things look bleak as our team is being dominated by the pretenders from Sheffield. Half time soon arrives without much to shout about. Fans remain positive as the team is clapped off

The second half starts in a similar fashion, but Sheffield United are incapable of taking a chance. But, as the half wears on Norwich get stronger and the volume within the ground goes up. Disaster nearly strikes when our goalkeeper makes a brilliant save. Glory though is ours as with 92 minutes on the clock Lee Croft runs

deep into the Sheffield half before playing a clever pass to Jamie Cureton. Cureton plays the ball back to croft, who advances into the penalty area, the whole Barclay stand stands in anticipation. Croft turns away from the defender and majestically strikes the ball left footed and into the back of the net. The stadium erupts with joy as we hug and high-five everyone in sight, at last the game is won.

Football brings together a real sense of community and evokes reactions that are rarely seen anywhere else. The Norwich City majority shareholder has compared the feeling of community between football fans, as that of a church. On this evidence it is hard to disagree. After all there are few other circumstances where grown men would agree to openly hug each other in such a public arena. The celebrations after than goal were more intense than I have ever experienced before.