David Cuffley Fans' groups have welcomed Norwich City's plans to stop the drift of young fans away from Carrow Road, after the club announced season ticket prices for next season.

David Cuffley

Fans' groups have welcomed Norwich City's plans to stop the drift of young fans away from Carrow Road, after the club announced season ticket prices for next season.

The Canaries are losing support in the 16-21 age group, which represents just two per cent of their season ticket-holders, while the proportion of over-60s watching matches is rising each year.

As City announced season ticket price rises of 2.8 per cent for the 2008-09 campaign, director of sales and marketing Andrew Cullen revealed the family area at the stadium is to be extended by 4,600 seats.

The cost of under-12 and under-16 season tickets has also been cut and a special rate has been introduced for under-21s.

Mr Cullen said: “We are losing a lot of fans at 17 and 18, while 16 per cent of our season ticket-holders are over 60.

“Next season, the family area will be extended to take in all of the Norwich & Peterborough Stand and most of the Norwich Union Community Stand, making an extra 4,600 family seats available - bringing the total up to nearly 7,000.”

Season ticket prices will be cut in family areas from £53 to £50 for under-16s and £38 to £25 for under-10s. A new under-21 price of £150 will also be introduced in the family area and the Barclay Stand.

The move was welcomed by John Tilson, chairman of the Independent Supporters' Association, who said: “With the attraction of Premiership football and TV, we have got to be mindful to make sure youngsters keep wearing the yellow and green of Norwich, rather than going off and buying the colours of Chelsea, or whoever.

“As for the rise in season ticket prices, it's pretty much what we expected. It's just above inflation, so we cannot be critical of the club really.”

There are three deadlines for existing season ticket-holders to renew their seats. A fan meeting the first deadline can save up to 13 per cent.

Cost of an adult season ticket in the Barclay rises from £356 to £366 if it is renewed by March 1. The price rises to £398 until May 9, then £415 up to and including May 17. If City perform a miracle and win promotion to the Premier League in May, the price rises to £479 after May 9.

Early renewal brings other potential advantages. If City win promotion, there will be no price increase for fans who renew before March 1. If they are relegated to League One, they will receive a 20 per cent rebate, making the cost for an adult in the Barclay £292.

The club's interest-free payment scheme has been extended from nine to 12 months.

Existing season ticket-holders in the Norwich & Peterborough Stand will not have to give up their seats because of the extended family area, but if they wish to move, they will get first refusal on 250 seats in J Block in the Jarrold Stand, which are to be made available as season tickets for the first time.

City have 19,714 season ticket-holders this season, more than any other Championship club, while their average home attendance of 24,378 is the second highest in the division, bettered only by Sheffield United.

For more, see the season ticket graphic on our website www.eveningnews.co.uk and more on Roger Munby in sport.

What do you think of the changes? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk