The mystery surrounding why Canaries' fans have to wait until the end of next month to get their hands on the club's new kit has been revealed. Many fans have been bemused by the fact they are not able to buy Norwich City's new strip until late July, given the fact lots of rival teams were sporting their new outfits by the end of last season.

The mystery surrounding why Canaries' fans have to wait until the end of next month to get their hands on the club's new kit has been revealed.

Many fans have been bemused by the fact they are not able to buy Norwich City's new strip until late July, given the fact lots of rival teams were sporting their new outfits by the end of last season.

The Canaries unveiled new home and away kits - sponsored by low-cost airline Flybe - at a launch event earlier this month.

Andrew Cullen, the club's director of sales and marketing, said: “The reason is not to do with the shirt manufacturer (Xara), it is to do with the logo in the middle of the shirt.

“There was an option of going for a screen print process, but we decided to go for a flock-weld based design instead.”

A flock-weld involves creating a raised pattern on the shirt, which gives it an embossed rather than flat look. Mr Cullen said: “We felt that in the long-term the flock-weld logo would give the shirt a greater quality, as the screen prints can often fade. Some clubs go for the cheaper option, but we wanted to distinguish ourselves.

“With the flock-weld there were only two companies in the world that did them, as far as I knew - but now I believe there is only one in Ireland, so it's just a case of waiting for our turn.”

Each season about 25,000 replica kits are bought by city fans. The first batch of 4,000 new kits will arrive in late July and will be reserved for season-ticket holders and members. Shirts will not go on general sale in the Canary Store until late August, after the new 2006/7 Championship season has started.

Mr Cullen said: “What we are doing with the new shirts is on a par with what we did with the new Proton sponsored shirts in 2003/4.”

The cost of the new shirts will be £39.99 for adults, or £44.99 long-sleeved, and £29.99 for junior sizes.

Special offers include 20pc discount for season-ticket holders and 10pc for members if they return the 2005/6 home shirt when buying a new kit before September 30. Under-16s bringing in last season's home shirt and buying a new one can claim a free football.

What do you think of the Canaries new kit not being ready until the end of July? Write to Evening News Letters, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1RE, e-mail eveningnewsletters

@archant.co.uk or visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/forums

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Do you have a World Cup story to tell? Telephone Evening News reporter Lewis Hannam on 01603 772428 or e-mail lewis.hannam@archant.co.uk