27.02.04 - SOUTHAMPTON U19 - MATCH OFF

Last night's snow and the general poor weather conditions have led to tomorrows Under-19 match at Colney being called off. As soon as we get a new date we will post it here.

26.02.04 - SOUTHAMPTON UNDER-19 MATCH PREVIEW

Norwich City's Academy Under-19 welcome the runaway group leaders Southampton to Colney on Saturday morning (11am). The updated league table shows the Saints well on course to clinch the group and move into the Academy play-offs. Nevertheless Norwich are not without hope - earlier in the season The Canaries inflicted the only Academy defeat of the season so far on Southampton in the game on the South Coast. Ryan Jarvis, in a rare Academy appearance, and Danny Crow scored for City in a 2-1 win. The Saints will be disappointed to have lost on penalties to Tranmere in The Youth Cup last week and a difficult game beckons for the Canaries.

Discussion at Southampton

26.02.04 - LACKLUSTRE RESERVES LOSE OUT A young Norwich Reserves side lost 2-0 at Wycombe Wanders on Wednesday afternoon in a game which saw Ryan Jarvis return to action. Our roving reporter was there to pick up some good photos from a mediocre match. For the match report and pictures click here or on the picture.

24.02.04 - JOE LEWIS IN SECOND PLACE WITH ENGLAND

England Under-17s finished second in a four nation tournament in the Algarve at the weekend, with Joe Lewis playing a significant part. England drew 0-0 with hosts and eventual winners Portugal and according to TheFA.com website "Joe Lewis looked assured between the posts". The Three Lions then went on to draw 1-1 with France with David Knight of Middlesbrough in goal before a 3-0 win against Finland secured second spot in the table. The next international action at this level sees a UEFA championship qualifying group being played out in Yorkshire at the end of March.

Joe Lewis in England kit

24.02.04 - YOUTH CUP PICTURES

We are again grateful to photographer Roger Harris and Peter Rogers at Norwich City for allowing us to publish a small selection of pictures from the Youth Cup 5th Round game at Old Trafford on 17th February. Although ending in defeat it was certainly a night to remember for the young Canaries and their big following among a 6000 crowd. For more details click here or on the picture.

23.02.04 - CROW STRIKE NOT ENOUGH AGAINST HAMMERS The Norwich Under-19 Academy team lost 2-1 at West Ham United on Saturday, with Danny Crow's tenth Academy League goal of the season failing to secure a share of the points. After a goalless first-half, West Ham took the lead on fifty minutes only for Crow to equalise ten minutes later as he ran onto a Howlett through ball. The Hammers went on to get the winner on 75 minutes. For the match report and a selection of pictures kindly supplied by the Ironworks Gazette fanzine click here or on the picture.

20.02.04 - JOE LEWIS IN PORTUGAL WITH ENGLAND

Joe Lewis is with the England Under-17 squad this weekend, the youngsters following the senior team down to the Algarve for an International friendly tournament being staged as part of the build up the Euro 2004.

The tournament also serves England as preparation for the UEFA Under-17 Championship qualifying group to be played in South Yorkshire from 24th - 28th March. In that tournament England will face Armenia, Iceland and Norway in games to be played in Sheffield and Doncaster. With three games in four days in Portugal Joe can expect good opportunity to further his international career. The full tournament programme: Saturday 21st Feb (Lagos Municipal Stadium): 2pm Finland v France 4pm Portugal v England Sunday 22nd Feb (Dr. Francisco Vieira Stadium - Silves): 2pm France v England 4pm Portugal v Finland Tuesday 24th Feb (Cap. Josino da Costa Stadium - Lagos): 9.30am Finland v England 11.30am Portugal v France If you wish to follow England's results, they will be available on the website of the Portuguese FA www.fpf.pt and we will also present a summary here at foncy.co.uk next week.

20.02.04 - TRIAL GAMES While there has been much interest this week surrounding the Academy Under-18 side following their F. A. Youth Cup game against Manchester United, the search for a professional contract at another club for the recently released third years continue. Following the Reserve Team game that Greg Crane and David Chick played in at Boston last week, comes the news that the Lincolnshire third division side would like to take another look. This news comes after the duo were joined by Damian Batt over at Cheltenham this week for another Reserve Team game, this time a 5-1 win over Oxford United, once again the news coming back is encouraging and it seems that they will again be invited back.	Damian Batt
Next week Bristol Rovers is the venue for a behind closed doors friendly with Crane and Chick being joined by David Tyrie and Aaron Osborne, and with Kidderminster also showing an interest it looks like being a busy time for the lads over the next week or so. We wish them all every success.

Nicky Howell - put Norwich 1-0 up

18.02.04 - CUP DREAM ENDS ON NIGHT TO REMEMBER Norwich Under-18's played their hearts out in front of a 6000 crowd at Old Trafford last night, including a good Norwich following, and were hard done by to come away with nothing as they went down 4-2 to ManU. Nicky Howell put Norwich 1-0 up but luck wasn't on the Canaries' side as Matt Halliday put through his own goal before United needed a dubious penalty to secure the win in the second half. Adam Smith finished off the evening with an impressive effort from 20 yards. For John Landamore's emotional account of the evening click here or on the picture.

Norwich are now left to "concentrate on the league" and, like the first team, face West Ham United on Saturday as they travel to Romford for a tough looking game (11am kick-off). The updated league table shows West Ham third in the group and Norwich will be looking to avenge a heavy defeat inflicted by West Ham earlier in the season in the match at Colney.

18.02.04 - HENDO ON TARGET FOR ENGLAND While Norwich Under-18's were giving their all at Old Trafford, Ian Henderson was playing for England at Under-19 level in Holland. He got on the scoresheet too as England won 2-0 with James Milner of Leeds getting the other goal. For the match report and a selection of somewhat dark pictures click here or on the picture.

15.02.04 - MAN UTD CUP MATCH PREVIEW

Louie Donowa in action at Old Trafford in 1983

Norwich City's Academy go into one of their biggest matches for years on tuesday evening when they visit Old Trafford in the fifth round of the F.A. Youth Cup (7pm kick-off). City will undoubtedly need to be at their best to get a result against the biggest club in the country but will be looking forward to playing at the "Theatre of Dreams". Norwich can expect a good following in Manchester, a few coaches are making their way up from Norfolk and Northern Canaries are also expected to turn out in force. While City fans will have one eye on whether Ryan Jarvis beats his battle against time to be fit for the game, the win in the last round against Sheffield United showed that City do not have to rely on the teenager star. City have twice before played at Old Trafford in the Youth Cup.

In 1983 City won 1-0 (Louie Donowa) on their way to winning the Cup. The match, played in front of 1234 spectators saw Jerry Goss, Tony Spearing, Jon Rigby and Paul Clayton amongst the Norwich youngsters. In 1996 City also travelled to Manchester but Keith Webb's side - including Darren Kenton, Craig Bellamy, Adrian Forbes and Adrian Coote - went down 1-0 as Che Wilson deflected a shot into his own goal. We wish the youngsters all the best for the big game!

15.02.04 - YOUNGSTERS SECURE A POINT With Sammy Morgan resting the Under-18s in readiness for tuesday's cup tie at Old Trafford, a very young Norwich City side made up mostly of Under-15's drew 2-2 against a young Ipswich side on Saturday. John Bell and Chris Martin were the scorers in an entertaining game. Michael Spillane scooped the "Top Canary" nomination. For the full match report and a good selection of pictures click here or on the picture.

14.02.04 - EAGLE SOARS OVER IPSWICH In preparation for next Tuesdays F. A. Youth Cup tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Ipswich Town kindly agreed to play City's Under-18 side at their Playford Road training ground on Friday. In the event City ran out winners with former Town schoolboy Robert Eagle scoring the only goal of the game after just two minutes. For more details and a good selection of pictures click here or on the picture.

14.02.04 - CHICK ON TARGET FOR BOSTON

David Chick scored one of the four goals Boston Reserves knocked past York City Reserves on Wednesday night. Along with Greg Crane, Chick played 90 minutes and is hoping his performance was enough for Boston to take a second look. Meantime Crane, along with David Tyrie, has been invited for trials at Rushden And Diamonds plus Bristol Rovers, while it seems Wycombe Wanderers would like a further look at Damain Batt.

11.02.04 - CRANE AND CHICK TO TURN OUT FOR BOSTON Greg Crane and David Chick will be playing for Boston United Reserves in a friendly tonight. The pair, along with Damain Batt, were released by Norwich last month and are currently having trials at various clubs. Chick came on as a second half substitute for Kings Lynn on Saturday, while Crane and Batt both played 90 minutes for Wycombe Wanderers reserves against Oxford on Tuesday.

David Chick

11.02.04 - IPSWICH TOWN UNDER-19 MATCH PREVIEW

Norwich City's Academy Under-19 side will now meet Ipswich as originally planned on Saturday in Suffolk, and not, as recently reported, on friday. The updated league table shows Ipswich at the bottom of the Group and Sammy Morgan will be looking for a confidence building performance following last week's heavy reverse against Millwall. Whether the Academy Director tries to play the team in for tuesday's Youth Cup tie in Manchester or prefers to rest his stars ahead of the big game remains to be seen. Before Christmas City lost 3-1 against Ipswich in the match at Colney, warning enough that league position counts for nothing in local derbies.

11.02.04 - RESERVES BEAT LEAGUE LEADERS Norwich City Reserves beat league leaders Reading 2-1 at Colney this afternoon with second half goals from Danny Crow and Clint Easton. It was an impressive result for the second string, missing Mathias Svensson who pulled out at short notice. For the full match report click here or on the picture.

09.02.04 - PRO CONTRACT FOR EX-CANARY LEWIS BLOIS

You will have read last month that FONCY revealed that Lewis Blois, former Academy trainee and first year professional with The Canaries, was travelling to Canada for a trial with Toronto Lynx. We can now reveal that Lewis - also a former FONCY Youth Team Player of the Year - has indeed been successful in securing a contract with the North American outfit. Lewis is all set to fly out on March 12th, but before then there is another hurdle to overcome - the small matter of a wedding to Becky on March 7th. The pair are to have a few days honeymoon at Niagara Falls before he joins his new team mates on a pre-season tour in Puerto Rico with the season then getting underway in April. The North American season runs from April through to September, when Lewis will then decide if he wants to move into coaching (something he has been doing with Football In The Community here in Norwich) or continue playing in the winter indoor league. Everyone at FONCY would like to take this opportunity to wish the happy couple all the very best, and at the same time wish Lewis every success in Canada.

Lewis Blois in his Academy days

08.02.04 - HEAVY DEFEAT AGAINST THE LIONS

Norwich City Under-19's fell to a heavy 3-6 defeat against Millwall at a blustery Colney on saturday. Sammy Morgan used the game to test two Under-16 trialists in Shabazz Baidoo and Andrew Cave-Brown with the former grabbing an injury-time goal. City's other goalscorers were Lee Blackburn from the penalty spot and Adam Smith. For the full match report and pictures click here or on the picture.

08.02.04 - RELEASED PLAYERS ON TRIAL

Both Damian Batt and Greg Crane will be having trials this week with Wycombe Wanderers. The defensive duo are all set to travel to Wycombe on Monday and are expected to be involved in the Reserve Team fixture against Oxford United on Tuesday confirmed City's Academy Director Sammy Morgan. Meanwhile David Chick was named as a substitute for Kings Lynn on Saturday at The Walks where The Linnets overcame Banbury United to go top of the Dr. Martens League Eastern Division. Chick came on for the final 15 minutes and received warm applause from the home side when he forced the Banbury keeper into a fine save.

Greg Crane in action

08.02.04 - ANDY'S STAR PERFORMANCE

Andy Blofeld, normally better known around Colney for his hard work in the office in Academy Administration, hit the headlines in last week's Pink-'Un. Andy starred for Garden House in their 3-2 (aet) win in the Pink 'Un League Cup against Angel Gardens and scooped the Man of the Match award in the game that featured as "Sophie's Choice" in the local league coverage. Andy's modest comment when questioned by foncy.co.uk on the subject: "I don't know what game she was watching!". Andy is always a great help to FONCY and this website in particular. To read more on his exploits visit The Pink Un here.

03.02.04 - MILLWALL UNDER-19 MATCH PREVIEW

The Norwich Under-19 Academy side return to action this weekend when Millwall are the visitors to Colney (12 noon kick-off). This is the first time that the Canaries have faced the Lions this season, as November's visit to London fell foul of the weather. Last season Norwich won the only encounter with Millwall 1-0 thanks to a David Chick goal. City will undoubtedly be looking to continue their recent good form against a Millwall team currently eighth in the group as the latest league table shows.

01.02.04 - DATE AND VENUE SET FOR F. A. YOUTH CUP CLASH

It has been announced that City's Academy side will play their F. A. Youth Cup encounter against Manchester United on Tuesday 17th February with a 7pm kick-off. The game will not be played as first thought at Altringham, but will be staged at Old Trafford. It will be a fantastic experience for the lads as Academy Director Sammy Morgan pointed out. "There was plenty of motivation for us to do well, just at the thought of playing against Manchester United, but with the added bonus of playing at Old Trafford we are, as you might expect, looking forward to the game. I said that once I knew we had drawn United it would be no bigger or no smaller game than playing against Sheffield United, it might however be a little bit different."

01.02.04 - JOE LEWIS GETS ENGLAND CALL-UP

Joe Lewis in England kit

City keeper Joe Lewis has been called up to the England Under-17 squad who are all set to face Portugal, Finland and France in an international tournament in Portugal towards the end of the month. Joe should have joined the party on Tuesday 17th. February, the same day as City take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in the F.A.Youth Cup. However it seems that under the circumstances Joe will be allowed to join up with his England team mates a day later.

01.02.04 - THIRD YEARS RELEASED

It was not all good news to come out of Colney today when it was announced that Greg Crane, David Chick and Damian Batt would not be offered professional contracts at Norwich when their scholarships finish at the end of this season. Everyone at FONCY would like to take this opportunity to wish Greg, David and Damian the very best for the future and at the same time thank all three for some memorable football over the past three seasons.

David Chick