Canaries All Over The Word; Scotland And Skopje

It does have 43 followers on Facebook, a Twitter account, and a website. The last two of these are mainly down to one man.

We began life when Jamie Hart first used the term Scottish Canaries, and other City fans got to hear of this via the club’s matchday programme. Contacts were made, and a few years down the line we’re still here.

Our Facebook description probably sums us up best – “For all Scottish based Norwich City FC fans, or those with a Scottish connection”. We know that there are many more Norwich City fans based in Scotland who have no connection to the group (yet). Some are Norfolk born and bred, but now living and working here. Others are Scottish born and bred, but for whatever reason choose to follow The Canaries. We also know of students who study here, come from Norfolk, and want their football devotion recognised whilst away from home.

Following the Canaries isn’t easy for us. We have fans based from the south to the north of the country. We did think about running a bus to games, but with fans based over a such a large area, how would that be practical? People also have their own preferences. Some devoted Norwich fans based up here never attend a game nowadays. Others, including myself, usually manage 6 or 7 home games, and a similar number of away games in a season. We have at least one devoted individual who holds an Away Season Ticket – he also manages 6 or 7 home games.

Based near Edinburgh, I can fly to Norwich in about an hour. Stansted is also useful. If I drive, it’s about 6 or 7 hours each way. The train is also about 6 hours via Peterborough. For those in the Highlands you can add several hours to those journey times. Throw in hotels or B&Bs, and home games can be like mini breaks. Away games are often easier. The Midlands, and north of England are easily reachable by train. Even Brighton can be a day trip via air and train. London is positively bliss.

When the fixtures are announced, those of us in southern Scotland eagerly look for trips to Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough if in the same division. TV changes in recent seasons have even blighted some of these games, but that’s the price football has decided to pay.

If you can’t actually get to a game, there are obviously alternatives. I can remember following games on Teletext or Ceefax. Now it’s Sky Sports, or “via the red button”. The web gives access to Canary Player, and I know I’m not the only one listening to Chris Goreham describe our ups and downs. Others use streaming services, but I’ve never had much luck with those. Either they freeze, or my anti-virus software goes into meltdown. If we’re “live on Sky”, it’s a positive joy. It’s worth noting, however, that if you don’t have Sky at home, many pubs up here won’t show non-Premiership games.

Who knows what will come next? Maybe Norwich will go down the road of a dedicated TV channel? Maybe they’ll create their own online streaming service? Only time will tell.

If I’m following games via Canary Player, I also like to check the message boards. It’s fascinates me to think that all round the world other City fans are listening to the same game. I try to imagine what a fellow Canary in, say New Zealand, is making of another pointless away day, or a good Carrow Road performance?

I can picture Carrow Road very well. I usually sit in the N&P Upper for games, so if I can’t be there I can really visualise the unfolding events. For fans further afield, who’ve never been to Carrow Road, it must make things more difficult? Maybe I’m wrong? Maybe their imaginations will be more intense?

It is a strange experience being a Norwich fan up here. Many people just think you’re mad. A small number are hostile, wondering why you don’t follow a local team? I have my reasons. The green and yellow colours can be misunderstood in some parts of Scotland – it’s a related to religion. A fair few wonder why you don’t follow a “big” team like Manchester City? Glory hunting was never my thing. I can well remember the responses I got from friends and colleagues when heading off to places like Exeter or Hartlepool in our League One season…