Whether Roman Abramovich takes a keen interest in his local non-league football club near his sprawling ?18m estate in West Sussex I'm not sure, you would have to ask him ? but good luck, he doesn't say too much.
Even if he does, as to whether he provides much needed financial backing in the form of kits and goalposts is a totally different matter.
But that is exactly the role of City's newest board directors, Andrew and Sharon Turner, for small North Norfolk club Dilham FC, who ply their trade in the North East Norfolk league.
For Sharon, the connection goes way, way back and the ongoing support is a way of carrying on a family tradition if you like.
Having been born and brought up in the tiny village of Dilham, near North Walsham, it is extremely refreshing to see the highly successful owner, along with her husband Andrew, of Norwich-based finance company Central Trust maintain such a strong connection with her roots.
Her brother, Shaun Sidell, is the current Dilham manager and, at the age of 47, is still one of the better players on the club's books.
Sharon's father, Keith, actually went one better, playing for the club as a teenager and, until his passing away recently, holding the role of club secretary. With many of her uncles playing for the club and various other family relations representing them at one point or another, you get the picture – Dilham FC is in the family blood.
According to the now secretary, Roger Bunton, the part that the Turners play in the survival of the club is a massive one.
“Sharon and her husband, Andrew, buy equipment and shirts for us and have done for quite a few years and I can assure you that Sharon comes from a long line of football fanatics,” Bunton said.
“The other year they bought us brand new continental goalposts and nets ? something which that we, as a club, could not have afforded, and it is all out of their own pockets as well, as far as I know, it isn't connected to their business.
“They also sponsor the Broadland Charity Cup, which is based at Wroxham. The four clubs that take part are Dilham, Horning, Hoveton and Wroxham and it's being played later on this year.
“That is also sponsored personally by them and it's great that they are interested in us and football in Norfolk. The whole family are big fans of football and sport in general.”
Bunton was also keen to point out that it is not just Sharon who likes to get her hands dirty and immerse herself in the unglamourous world of Norfolk's local football scene.
Despite having no personal connection with the area, Andrew can also often be spotted on the fields of North Norfolk now and again, cheering the boys on.
“For the Broadland Cup, they are both there and as supportive as each other. Both Sharon and Andrew attend and get involved with the presentation of the trophies. They also pay for the trophies for the winners, runners-up and man-of-the-match awards and what have you.
“They also run the raffle at the tournament so they do like to come along and really get involved, which is great.”
And as for the team itself, was the backing of the Turners ? whose fortune has been estimated at some ?275m ? proving successful on the pitch? Unfortunately not.
“Well, sadly we have just been relegated from Division One of the North East Norfolk league,” added Bunton.
“We've got a very young team and are rebuilding for the future. Most of our players are aged between 16 and 22, 23 and they've found it tough but we are very grateful for the backing we receive from Sharon and Andrew and we realise that in that respect, we are very lucky.”
Family backgorund or not, I do not think you would find many football benefactors with such a passion and commitment to local football and the community as a whole.
Whilst they now look towards a healthy future with the Canaries, you get the feeling that Dilham FC will never go without.
The fact that Sharon is so keen to look after her own and that her husband feels so compelled to get involved as well says a lot about them as people.
Let's not forget that these very people run an extremely successful and profitable business and time must be at a premium.
It would be very easy to throw money at it and walk away?”here we go, take this blank cheque, and spend what you want, goalposts, kits, whatever?”
But the very fact that they are there, on windswept and ice-cold afternoons in Wroxham or Hoveton, helping out with raffles and presentations speaks volumes.
Something just tells me that City will be in safe hands with these two.
Tom Haylett
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