First Team
Matches
Sat 31 Jul 2021
Norwich United
First Team
M Gee (52')
1
1
Haverhill Rovers F.C.

Match Preview

Neil Wood1 Aug 2021 - 09:43
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"Good afternoon everybody and welcome to Plantation Park for our first game of the 2021-2022 season, including a warm welcome to our visitors Haverhill Rovers.

It seems an eternity ago that we were unceremoniously knocked out of the Norfolk Senior Cup by our neighbours Wroxham 3-0 back in April, in what was to be our last action in another Covid ravaged season.

On reflection this was a great result for us. Not in the context of progression in the competition, but it laid bare the work that needed to be carried out in the preceding months ahead and boy have we been busy!

Our most important signings have come off the pitch this summer with the appointment of Toby Nickerson as Technical Director and Jason Swatman as U21 Manager.

Toby has a wealth of experience in football and community operations with his full time role of over 15 years at Norwich City’s Community Sports Foundation. In a role the club was crying out for, Toby has had an immediate impact on a number of key projects and to be perfectly honest we wouldn’t have achieved half of what we have without his skilled input. I’m sure you will read more about the fruits of his labour in the coming weeks and months.

Jason has served his managerial apprenticeship as assistant and in youth roles at Dereham, Great Yarmouth and Wroxham, as well as being involved with the recruitment and coaching of Norfolk’s youth sides for many years. Jason has already used his contacts to great effect recruiting talented, young players who are keen to learn and develop whilst playing competitive senior football. As first team manager it’s so important to have an U21 set up focused on developing players for the senior side and preparing players physically and mentally for the rigours of senior football.

We have been delighted that three players have made the step into the senior side this pre season from our youth system, all of which had established themselves in the U21’s last season.

Jaden Snelling has earned his first senior contract at the club and has shown in training and pre-season fixtures what a bright future this young man has ahead of him. Pace and power, with an eye for goal, we have been delighted with his progress to date.

Lennie Blythe has been with the club since U7 and has had an excellent pre-season. Left sided, full of running, with an excellent delivery. Lennie has fitted in brilliantly and demonstrated maturity beyond his years, never phased by what has been asked of him.

Tom Grand has taken huge strides since the end of last season. Another left footer, who is calm and composed in possession and can operate in a number of positions. Unfortunately for Tom a 10 day self isolation period hampered the final weeks of pre season but he is back now and will certainly make his senior debut soon.

We will introduce some of our senior signings in the weeks to come and inform you of some other projects we are working on to drive the team forward.

Finally can I take this opportunity to thank all of our staff personally for what has been a hectic and demanding pre-season. Toby for your vision and drive. Andy for fighting the battles I don’t have the patience for. Shaun for being relentless in your standards and diligence with our fitness. Mark for having your sessions interrupted every week, while we steal the goalkeepers. Dillon for being a top Swiss army knife, nothing has been too much trouble. Sam for being a one man physio masterclass and driving standards in this area. Jason & Casey for your freshness, enthusiasm, understanding and assistant refereeing skills. Alex for your organisation and most importantly being a humble and gracious Italian.

Enjoy the game. UTP."

Steve Eastaugh
Manager
Norwich United

Plantation Park

Plantation Park

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Match details

Match date

Sat 31 Jul 2021

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

121
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club sponsor - Hilditch Homes Ltd
Club sponsor - Dyno Rod
Shirt Sponsor - Keeler Recruitment
Club Kit Supplier - 4 Sports Group
First Team Tracksuit Sponsor - The Alarm Company
Player Sponsor - The Jaymic Workshop Ltd
Player Sponsor - Pentaco Construction Ltd
Player Sponsor - EMM Ltd
Player Sponsor - M&M Flooring
Player Sponsor - Kett Autopaints
Player Sponsor - East Anglia Brickwork Ltd
Player Sponsor - SP Heating & Renewable Services
Player Sponsor - Premier Education
Player Sponsor - TWK Financial Services
Player Sponsor - Largo
Player Sponsor - Tony Perkins Butchers