If ever proof of Canary devotion was needed, then we got it this week when it was announced that every single Carrow Road season ticket had been snapped up for the coming season.
Gluttons for punishment you could say, but the remarkable loyalty displayed by City fans shows no sign of waning and according to Capital Canaries chairman Ian Russell, it is something that we should all be proud of.
The fact that the club has under-performed on the pitch makes the 20,000 season ticket sales even more impressive and Russell believes the 'Roeder effect' is a major factor.
But with that comes added pressure for the City chief and after a miraculous escape from relegation last time out, expectations will be a lot higher for 08/09.
“I'm very proud of the news that the cap of 20,000 season tickets has been reached,” said Russell, chairman of the largest Canary supporters group outside of Norfolk.
“Whichever way you look at it, it's a fantastic achievement for everyone involved and must be the envy of clubs up and down the country.
“Over the past five or six years, it's been the exception to see empty seats around Carrow Road and how many clubs can boast that? It bucks the trend and to some extent defies logic; if we're honest, we've had four very barren seasons and yet still the fans keep coming through the turnstiles.
“There's no question that Glenn Roeder's almost immediate resurgence of the team a third of the way through last season has perhaps whetted the appetites of the Norfolk footballing public once again.
“But that will go hand in hand with raised expectations of course, so the manager will be evermore in the spotlight to deliver in this coming campaign.”
The 'affordable football' policy adopted by the powers that be at Carrow Road has certainly helped the Canaries maintain some consistently large crowds since the play-off adventure back in 2002.
But in this day and age, with inflated prices and the credit crunch meaning most are feeling the pinch, it is still a remarkable achievement to beat last year's figure (19,714) on the back of a campaign in which Norwich only survived relegation by three points.
Take City's friends from down the road for example. There has been no official word from Portman Road but sources close to the Suffolk club say their season ticket figure is around the 13,000 mark.
And this is after Town so very nearly scraped into the play-offs. Backed by Marcus Evans' millions, you would have thought there would be a bit more optimism in the blue and white half of East Anglia.
But Canary fans are fast getting a reputation for their loyalty, and Russell believes that the football world should now sit up and take notice.
“Over the years we are continually reminded of what incredible hotbeds of football the likes of the North East are, yet rarely the same is said about East Anglia.
“The season ticket sales success comes as no real surprise to those of us that have supported City over the past few years because we know how difficult it can be to buy tickets when the team even gets a sniff at doing well.
“Norwich City fans are passionate about the game and appreciate good football; somewhere deep down we all share a perpetual hunger to see a team in yellow and green playing the opposition off the pitch.
“Despite the appalling start to last season, the good run leading up to the Leicester game resulted in a huge away support at the Walkers Stadium that day ? the most remote of chances of sneaking into the play offs and suddenly it was reminiscent of trying to get a ticket for a top Premier League game.”
But why do they keep coming back in their droves, especially after three years of chronic under-achievement?
“Undoubtedly it's largely down to the much written about unique relationship between club and supporter,” Russell stated.
“There's no question that invested time and resources into football clubs listening to fans has brought a lot of success to many clubs and Norwich City is probably one of the leaders in this field because they've been doing it for some years.
“There's always been a very healthy core of loyal City fans, but the club has succeeded in drawing in the additional fringe supporters over the past seven or eight years from when we were probably averaging nearer 16,000 rather than 24,000.
“Ultimately though, we all want to see a good product and success on the pitch will be a crucial ingredient if the club is going to underpin consistent supporter growth.”
It's the club's commitment to competitively priced football and incentives for families that has certainly helped attract a new breed of supporter in recent times.
And Russell believes that in a time when prices ? especially in the Premier League ? are on the increase, the Norwich hierarchy should be congratulated for their forward thinking.
“The football club has done its homework and has clearly demonstrated that prices are pitched correctly. Revenue from football fans is not only taken from a match ticket. In today's world, profit streams can be nurtured from the paying punter in the stadium bars and restaurants.
“25,000 people as a captive audience can spend money as part of the matchday experience and I believe this is one way our club is able to give back to the loyal supporter in the form of offering affordable ticket pricing.”
If you are based near London and are interested in joining the Capital Canaries, visit www.capitalcanaries.com or email the Membership Secretary, Ian Stamp, at membership@capitalcanaries.com.
Tom Haylett
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