Police had to be called to Norwich City's training ground when a supporter interrupted a training session to demand a trial with the club.The Canaries first-team squad and manager Peter Grant looked on in amazement as the fan had to be escorted from the Colney site on Monday by two police officers.
Police had to be called to Norwich City's training ground when a supporter interrupted a training session to demand a trial with the club.
The Canaries first-team squad and manager Peter Grant looked on in amazement as the fan had to be escorted from the Colney site on Monday by two police officers.
But despite the bizarre incident, the club said it was happy to continue to allow fans into the training ground to watch the players prepare for matches.
Players and other staff initially treated the man's demands as a joke when he turned up and insisted on being given a trial.
It is believed some players jokingly urged the manager to give the intruder a trial. But the situation turned nasty after the man became more agitated and angry and eventually he was escorted out by police. It is not believed he was arrested or that any charges will be brought by the club.
Norwich City spokesman Joe Ferrari said: “Someone did come to the training ground and ask for a trial and when that was declined he became difficult and consequently the police had to be called and the man was escorted from the premises.
“The club is happy to let fans come along and watch the players train, but obviously in this case the situation reached a point where it was necessary to call the police.”
The club moved to the state-of-the-art Colney training ground in Hethersett Lane a decade ago from the previous site in Trowse. Despite the otherwise closed-off world which professional footballers inhabit, fans are free to watch the players train. However, the ground has CCTV cameras which are manned by staff who are not taking part in the training sessions.
A police spokeswoman said: “We were called just before noon to the training ground following reports that a man in his 20s was acting in a disorderly manner. We spoke to the individual concerned and escorted him away from the area but no arrest was made.”
Ü Do you have a Norwich City story for the Evening News? Contact David Powles on 01603 772447 or e-mail him at david.powles@archant.co.uk
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