On a Saturday I would normally rebut any suggestion from Mrs P that she’s going shopping in the City and wants me to go with her. Something along the lines of one of the dogs isn’t well and I need to stay with him/her or I need to watch the underwater hang gliding live on Channel 321. Some fabricated excuse like that as I hate shopping and there’s rarely anything I want to look at, let alone buy.
But this Saturday just gone was rather different as Sue had earlier made me go through our wardrobes to see what I could dispose of.
I found loads of old NCFC memorabilia, some of which I will never offload, but I came across a few items I would never require anymore so we decided to drop them down to *On the Stall City* at location #13 on Norwich Market – opposite the Garnet.
That’s the stall leased by Andy, Sharon and Jacob Bowles who have often contributed to MFW with their tales from the Club’s Farke-era pre-season tours to Germany and other places too.
All profits from this venture go to the admirable Community Sports Foundation [CSF] so I thought this was a reasonable thing to do.
My donation included my own 1990s Mitre N&P goalkeepers top that I’d forgotten I’d bought and never got to wear, an initial printed training top worn by James Vaughan, a vintage unframed Evening News glossy of Hucks and Matty Svensson celebrating a goal and a couple of other bits and bobs.
All of the clan were in situ and our welcome was terrific – quite a few City fans and other curious folks were buzzing around to see what was on offer as well.
Speaking with the Bowles family was interesting so I thought I’d mention a couple of my remembered highlights. Straight away, Jacob asked me who my favourite player is/was, who is my favourite manager and what was my best game of all time.
In answer to the latter I said Bayern away and, being half my age, Jacob quickly countered with City 3, Forest 3. Who was I to disagree?
As for the managers, Jacob mentioned Paul Lambert and I recalled Mike Walker but Sue has never been particularly fond of him so I think we quite rightly settled on Daniel Farke.
In between, they mentioned that my goalkeeper top was particularly rare and they’d only had one in before which they contrived to get Gunny to sign. I wondered how when it was green and black but Mr Bowles senior pointed to the white lining on the collar inside the shirt where Bryan had made his mark on the previous one.
There was then a bit of nitty-gritty from Andy, who asked what I reckoned he might sell the JV top for. I said £50 without the initials and £20 with them to which he and Jacob replied I was probably right as their collective memory of Vaughan was him *falling down* on the touchline and never playing in a City shirt again.
After a quick sarcastic enquiry from me about how Norwich City Council were facilitating the stall, Sharon said they have been *pretty good*. We didn’t take that line of chat any further.
And then Andy got a little bit serious when he told me: “We don’t get enough scarves. They sell out really quickly and we are always looking for new donations”.
I was astounded when he added that the most important current requirement for the stall was bog-standard first-team shirts.
There’s no way I can quote him directly as it wasn’t the time or place for notebook and pencil but he said that some folks can’t or don’t want to lash out fifty quid or whatever for a brand new top every time one is released therefore they are very much in demand so supporters can get a shirt at a reasonable price.
Loyalty doesn’t have to be brand new – I occasionally wear my 1902-2002 double Canary badged blue and light grey to this day. My name’s printed on the front of it near the DPC logo.
While it could appear that this is a pretentious local newspaper advertorial piece it really isn’t. It’s based on a very entertaining 10 minutes or so I enjoyed on Norwich market with three of the nicest, most genuine people you are ever likely to meet. Four if I include Sue [who took the pics].
Bring something along, buy something or just go along for a chat and a shufti.
I can assure you that Andy, Sharon and Jacob will be pleased to see you.
**As a footnote I turned up in my 2013 official training top [see middle pic] and even Jacob couldn’t tell me who “CI” was although he and Andy both reckoned it was probably a member of the backroom team. If anybody knows the answer I’d be fascinated to know.
What a great initiative to recycle old NCFC tops etc – I must get some of my old ones in the washing machine later today and pop along to their stall later in the week. A really great initiative and the CSF has done a superb job at the Nest in creating wonderful facilities for the next Dereham Deco/Wymondham Wonderkid etc to develop their skills.
I’m sure the Bowles family missed their annual ‘pilgrimage’ to Germany more so than we missed reading about their exploits.
I’m off to join the queue for tickets to watch the game V Gillingham and I see that ‘Vaccine Certificates’ will be required to gain entry – quite divisive I know, but I have to say that I am in favour of such a decision.
Morning Ed
I saw the requirement for *vaccine certificates* too so yesterday Sue’s no. 2 son got mine for me – the NHS got back within a couple of hours but the process was a bit awkward – I had to make a video clip of myself to apply!
I’m useless with android devices so I’ll still keep my bit of cardboard with me just in case.
The stall is well worth a visit I can assure you and the shirts would be very welcome.
Cheers
Great article, MP and great pics too! So pleased for Andy, Sharon and Jacob and the On The Stall City market stall. What a superb initiative and can only wish them all success. Brilliant feelgood stuff. Well done all!
Hi Chris
Sue is a far better photographer than me. And more photogenic too but, hey!
The Bowles clan had no idea we were turning up so the experience was as genuine as could be and like you I wish them every success.
Cheers
Nice stall that one, but must admit haven’t been in Norwich for quite a while now. Ah , Martin on vaccine certification , I guess your lad went and got a bit complicated and applied for you on the NHS app and you now have it safely esconsed on your little phone..
I like a bit of paper so my route was online to the NHS covid jab passport site , Google found it. All you need is your postcode and NHS number enter them and 4 days later it pops in the front door via the postie.
As I’m being irrelevant what’s your take on Celtic and Rangers having B teams in the Scottish pyramid. RangersB currently top of the lowland league with promotion in their sights. Better than the U23 s or not ?
Morning Bernie
I left the whole thing to Jonny with the strict understanding it didn’t involve Test & Trace. He actually did his at virtually the same time and we both heard back almost together.
Nowt wrong with a bit of paper – as I said to Ed [above] I’m keeping my cardboard pass on a *just in case* basis!
As for the old firm I cannot begin to compare standards as I simply don’t see enough Scottish football if I’m honest – unless it’s Celtic!
I’ve nothing against it in principle – it’s been going on in La Liga and the Bundesliga for donkeys so I guess I’m quite cool with it.
Cheers
I went with Buddy the Border Collie on Friday and met Jacob and Andy. I had a nice chat with them and bought myself a waterproof training top and one of their bags-I also persuaded them to move a Rangers top into a less prominent position. I’ve got some stuff I’ll take to them when I’m back in Norwich next week (maybe have a beer with you Martin).
The stall is a brilliant cornucopia of all things Norwich City.
Hi Don
I’m glad your experience of *On the Stall City*was as good as mine. Apparently The Bowles’ sometimes have their dog with them on the stall – the beastie wasn’t there on Saturday – so maybe Buddy had a natter as well?
I didn’t clock the Rangers shirt so they must have hidden it well or, heaven forbid, sold it 🙂
Give me a shout about the beer
Cheers mate
Hi Martin
A really enjoyable read will have to pay this stall a visit next time I get down to Norfolk I can drop of a couple of books on cities history and my other half with go to the Mecca on Dereham Rd if it is still there her being a ManU supporter.
Team GB seen to be grabbing the headlines with a few medals today so let’s hope it continues.
No big rumours so far today on out going or in coming just the rubbish about TC and £20m to Aston Vanilla.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Healthy and Keep Safe
Hi Alex
I cannot always say this but it was enjoyable for me to write as well. Feelgood isn’t me but a quick visit made both of us feel, erm, good.
There’s still a Mecca on Aylsham Road if Covid didn’t close it for good [all the signage is still there] but I don’t know about the one on Dereham Road.
Don’t forget who owes you a beer next time you visit Nelson’s County.
Cheers
Got the location wrong for Mecca Aylsham Rd
No worries about the drink just a proper chinwag
I wouldn’t bother trying to drive any further outwards on Aylsham Road than the Mecca – Norfolk County Council Cabinet member for Transport, Highways and Infrastructure and chairman of Transport for Norwich, Councillor Martin Wilby, has seemingly made that virtually impossible during the working day.
How about that for a *job title*, hey?
My son, who is a volunteer coach with CSF, donated some of his stock old City shirts and training tops direct to CSF, and was asked if he wanted two or three of them back, as they were quite scarce and valuable, but he declined, and told them to just sell them. The CSF facilities at the Nest are great, and don’t just cater for football. Shame they got rid of the bowling green, though! And I bet those people who come in to the city from the north on the A140 are really pleased they’ve finished the new entry and exit!
Good luck to Sharon, Andy, and Jacob. Great supporters, doing a fantastic job!
Hi Jim
We pass the Nest a lot on the way to Mundesley – or did until Norfolk County Council and/or Highways decided to change the Boundary traffic lights so right now we go Coltishall/N Walsham Way to avoid the hassle. Another Wilby masterstroke of course.
I will take the time to drop by at some stage now the restrictions have, erm, lifted and have a little look as I’d love to see it for myself. I always considered it the longest pile-up of sand in my living memory! When it was Anglian Windows social club we went to #1 son’s firm’s barbecue and were absolutely amazed at the scale of the site.
Seriously the aims of the CSF are admirable and anything we can do to support them, even in a small way, is great.
As for OTSC, Andy said the same about my GK top but to me a donation is just that. It was very refreshingly honest of him and I hope they make as much as possible from it.
No-one’s having my 1902-2002 centenary shirt until the devil takes it from me 🙂
Cheers
Thanks Martin, I was unaware of the stall, haven’t been into the City, other than to the station since just before the first lockdown.
I’ll certainly get a few bits together that I keep for nostalgia mainly from 20-30 years back. if CSF can benefit all’s the better.
I’m finding the Olympics and The Hundred are giving some valuable respite from the footy., we’ve under 3 weeks to Kick- off but it will come soon enough.
Hi Colin
I’ve not got into the Olympics yet but as soon as the boxing and track events start in earnest I’m sure I will. Field events do nothing for me at all, probably cos I was useless at them as a youngster, I guess.
I can guarantee you a friendly welcome at OTSC and if I’d had the time I would have loved to have asked Jacob about some of the stuff that was on sale. They’d really appreciate everything you might bring along with you.
I took along an FC Nantes shirt which looked like a better designed one of ours – think Colmans era – for a laugh, but they were pleased to receive it.
Cheers