When I think of Norwich, I think of Coleman’s English Mustard, an amazing Cathedral, Nicholas Parsons and Sale of The Century, Alan Partridge (Aha!), Delia Smith, and a Norfolk Turkey. Separately that is, I don’t mean Delia reminds me of a turkey, and of course Football. Football has been played in and around Norwich in some form since 1868. This date coincides with the formation of the first English teams like Nottingham County, and Sheffield United. Norwich, however, was not in the same league so to speak as they played with 13-or-14-aside, and they scored touchdowns. Football, as we recognise it today, arrived in 1881, when the Norfolk County Football Association was formed.
Norwich City FC, did not arrive until a meeting was held at the Criterion Café in White Lion Street, Norwich, on Tuesday 17th June 1902. Norwich City played in the Norfolk and Suffolk League, in blue and white halved shirts with white shorts, and was nicknamed “The Citizens”, a common nickname for any side named City. On March 3rd 1905, at a grand public meeting held at the Agricultural Hall, a motion was passed that led to Norwich becoming a professional club. They were then awarded a place in the Southern League. A popular pastime in Norfolk and Norwich in particular, was the breeding and showing of canaries. Canaries were first brought to the area by Dutch settlers at the beginning of the last century. As this association grew the club’s nickname changed to “The Canaries”, and in the summer of 1907, it was decided that the club’s colours should change. So they dumped their blue and white and started to play in yellow shirts with green collar and cuffs, which they have continued to this very day.
The Canaries colours are reflected in the club badge. (PIC 1) The badge was chosen from a competition held in the Norwich Evening News in 1971. The winning designer’s name was lucky Tim Watson, I say lucky because it must be great to watch your team, knowing you designed the badge they play behind and often give a little kiss after scoring. A number of clubs adopted this way of getting a new badge and logo. Tim’s badge is a shield, and has a giant canary perched on a football, either that or a normal canary on a table tennis ball. If you look closely you can see the date Norwich turned professional on the ball. I have no idea when and why, but this has recently changed in favour of eight lines increasing in size. (PIC 2) There are too many lines for it to be laces in an old football, and motion lines are usually horizontal rather than vertical. Answers on a postcard please. In the top left-hand corner is Norwich Castle and the Royal Lion of England from the city’s coat of arms. (PIC 3)
These arms date back to 1562, and depict Norwich Castle above the golden passant lion of England. The castle on the Norwich badge is far more accurate than the castle on these arms, unless of course there were once domes on the castle, or domes were intended at a future date. Whatever the reason the castle is domeless. (PIC 4) You will see that the Royal Lion is the same as the lions that appear on the England shirt. May I take this opportunity to thank, Norwich City’s Marketing Administrator Gemma Gifford, for her kind help in my research of the above. Norwich continued on through the years and started to attract bigger crowds. In 1935 it was realized that the Canaries nest at the unfortunately named Ruymp’s Hole, in Rosary Road, was becoming too small, and a new site needed. On 11th June 1935, work began on the Carrow Road site, and just 82 days later a crowd of 29,779, watched Norwich beat West Ham 4-3. Today Carrow Road holds 27,244. From the Viking, Norvic and Anglo-Saxon, Northwic, Norwich is derived from the words Nor, meaning north and Wic, meaning harbour or port. From the Middle Ages up until the industrial revolution was in full swing Norwich was the second largest and busiest city in England after London. Norwich does have the wings of a canary but if they had the bowels of a cow they would fly over Portman Road tomorrow and, well you know the rest. That is because Ipswich are their local rivals. To find out even more on Norwich City FC just sing your way to www.canaries.co.uk
