Norwich City: Flo Allen on opportunities for Canaries women
The Canaries host Cambridge United in NR1 and hope to build on an incredibly positive game against Ashford Town in April in front of a 7,500 strong crowd.
Allen has confirmed that this will be the first of two matches to be played in City’s main stadium this season as they continue to push their women’s side forward.
City’s Women have made a strong start to the league campaign under boss Martin Herdman and bounce into this contest on a high having thrashed Cambridge City 5-0 in midweek.
Allen is confident that Sunday’s Carrow Road showpiece will be another step in their quest for growth.
“It was a really historic day for the club,” Allen said, reflecting on the previous Carrow Road game. “We were super proud of all the planning that went in beforehand and were meticulous with certain aspects.
“We were so proud that on the day we surpassed all of our expectations and ambitions of what we had hoped for an attendance – we were like ‘wow, this is amazing’. Now we have a platform to build off, and we’ve got to make sure that we build on this success every year.
“Last year, we reviewed it and asked how to improve and build on it. This year we are hoping to have two games at Carrow Road.
“We have a great team beyond a team within our office that work so tirelessly from our commercial teams, to our media teams and to our operations team to putting events on. As a club, there is so much we want to do and so many ideas that we’re trying to get off the ground.
“They are all for the growth of the women’s team and game. We aren’t just inspiring our local community but also our next generation of young girls who will be wearing a Norwich City shirts in the future.”
That Carrow Road game marked a real year of progress for City’s women, who saw attendances increase at the Nest and recorded their highest league finish in nine years under Shaun Howes.
Promotion is one the mind of every one of a yellow and green persuasion – but attracting new fans to their matches is the target whilst searching for on-field success.
Last year’s game at Carrow Road has given them a marker to assess their progress and aim for better.
Norwich City welcomed 7,500 to Carrow Road for a game with Ashford Town in April. (Image: Angela Sharpe)
“We’re hoping to build on the attendance numbers of last year’s game. We’re hopeful that those who enjoyed the game will return again and I’d encourage everyone to tell their friends, bring a mate and hopefully we’ll see them there on Sunday.
“We’re super excited by what we’ve got planned and we’re hopeful that many will have watched the Lionesses’ over the summer and would have wanted to support their local women’s team,” Allen said. “We have such a strong bond between the local community and the football club.”
The club have sold nearly 5,000 tickets for Sunday’s clash and are hoping to feed off a new faction of supporters inspired by the Lionesses’ success over the last year which has included a European Championship victory and becoming runners-up at a World Cup.
City’s target is to capitalise on the ever-increasing interest in the women’s game, and Allen believes they are ready to make a success of it whilst more eyeballs are on them.
“How great is it that the Lionesses have been two major finals in the last 13 months? It’s brilliant and a great advert for women’s football.
“We see Lauren Hemp, a North Walsham and Norfolk girl, who is flying the flag very high at the moment. We’re very excited by what they’ve done but also the benefits the domestic game will now see.
Lauren Hemp has flown the flag for Norfolk with the Lionesses’. (Image: ©Focus Images Limited
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“Attendances are increasing, there’s more commercial interest and viewing figures are up. It’s excellent to see this growth and as a club and a country we have a duty to capitalise on it.
“We have to create some really clear strategies on how we move forward and grow. Women’s football is in an unique position where we are forging a path that will hopefully create a sustainable platform going forward
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