By Nathan Jackson
August 1 2010

When I went to Carrow Road for their pre-season friendly against Everton, I realised just how much of a facelift that the ground had gone since my last visit. With my family on my mother's side being from Dereham, I have always had a soft spot for the Canaries and it's nice to see that the new version of the ground is quite a nice one.

Norwich have always been a team that I have looked out for the results for. With my family being on my mother's side being from near Norwich, I often get into conversations about the club with some of my cousins, yet I have very rarely been to Norwich.

I had gone once in the 1992/3 season but couldn't really remember much of the experience given that I was only eight at the time, so when I saw that they had a pre-season friendly against Everton, I thought "why not" and went with one of my cousins.

Having heard about the infamous road system leading to Norwich, I decided to drive down to Newark and get the train from there. I got to Peterborough and was told there was a bus service, fair enough I though......but it's only because of the bus service that I know just how awkward the roads to Norwich are. The journey of around 70odd miles took over 2 hours due to the numerous roundabout and single lane roads leading up to Norwich. It wasn't fun.

Luckily, the journey did take us right by Carrow Road and the train station turned out to be a 5 or so minute walk from the ground. The area around the ground also seemed to be very nice, with a large shopping area nearby that included sport shops, restaurants, a cinema and various other activities. Off of the top of my head, I can't think of another ground in the top four divisions that has as much to do around it as Carrow Road.

After having a look around, I went to try and find the entrance to the ground that I would be using. I was to be in the Watling Stand but couldn't find any turnstiles anywhere, what is turns out is that if you have brought tickets for the green section you can see in the picture above, you have actually got tickets for their executive area....at no extra cost.

Thankfully had it not been for a highly useful steward, I wouldn't have known where the entrance was. Infact, whilst I'm at it, I found everyone around the ground to be friendly and knowledgable, although there was one very strangle guy who stands right next to you and shouts "HELLO!!!" and the whole conversation could make you deaf.

Anyway, once getting into the ground I settled into my seat and I was reasonable pleased with what I saw.

The view from the Watling Stand was good, and the seats just infront of the press box could see the TVs used for replays and TV footage. You were relatively close to the pitch and the stand is of a similar height to the away end at Rochdale and offers a similar view.

The the left is the Barclay Stand, a large two tiered stand that was for home fans only. This is where the main section of Norwich's atmosphere came from. When Norwich scored and the music came on, this was the only stand seemingly truly joining in and there was plenty of support coming from that stand, not bad for a friendly at all really.

The stand opposite was near enough identical, with the exception of containing some of the executive boxes.

The final stand at the ground is the newest and the biggest. It is shared with the away fans, whom get a fairly sized chunk of the stand. Most of the Norwich fans seemed to favour this stand. Although the home fans in this stand were silent, Everton fans did make a fair bit of noise on the limited occasions that they did sing.

In terms of atmosphere, obviously it was a bit limited due to the fact it was a friendly, but you half expect that when it's a league game that they do make a fair bit of noise.

Overall I did enjoy my trip, although I don't think I would ever drive here. It's certainly not the longest journey that we'd ever take from Lincoln, but it is one of the most awkward and dull. The feeling for the day was that it was quite safe around the area and you don't really have to worry about any violence.

Norwich City's Carrow Road

Discussion started by theimps.ka (IP Logged), 01/08/2010 14:47

theimps.ka
01/08/2010 14:47

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Newporter
02/08/2010 09:43

The car journey between Lincoln and Norwich has got to be one of the worst in England.My best time is about two and half hours and normally it is nearer three, especially if you get stuck behind a tractor or a turnip lorry. Two bits of dual carriageway: Sleaford bypass and Swaffam bypass ,and the dreary sights of the south Lincolnshire flatlands.
If I didn't have to drive for work, I would never ,ever, do it.The compensation is the city of Norwich, a fine looking place, with lots to do and great shopping even if the locals do talk funny.

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