Craig Bellamy.
Norwich City supporters group which has helped the club through troubled times to fold
David Cuffley
Friday, September 7, 2012
6:45 PM
A supporters’ group that has ploughed well over £350,000 into the Canaries’ academy has brought down the curtain on 16 years of fund-raising.
The Friends of Norwich City Youth, formed in 1996, has handed over the last of their donations to the club after holding a winding-up meeting.
Chairman John Landamore, the driving force behind the group known as “Foncy”, confirmed: “We paid the last cheque over in August, about £10,000, and we have ceased working as a fund-raising organisation.
“We are a bit sad about it but nothing stays the same forever. It has been an absolute delight to be able to serve the club the way we have.
“We’re planning to carry on doing the website and the match reports, and as individuals we’ll still be up at Colney. We’re still the only club in the country to do a match day programme for academy games.”
Foncy’s contribution to City’s academy reached a final total of £363,696.57. The 57 pence is a reminder that the organisation was formed in darker days, when the club was in desperate need of every penny.
Players to come through the ranks thanks in part to the group’s work include Craig Bellamy, Robert Green, Adrian Forbes, Darel Russell to name but a few.
For more on how the group was formed, who was behind it, its legacy and why it is folding see tomorrow’s Norwich Evening News.
To pay tribute to the group’s work leave a comment below. The best will be used in Saturday’s paper.
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9 comments
It is with great sadness that I read that FONCY has ceased to operate as a fund raising organisation for the Norwich City Academy.As the first Academy Manager at the Club I had the honour and privelege of working alongside Gordon Bennett (former Head of Youth and later Chief Executive) who was the brainchild behind the formation of FONCY. This was an era when the Club had financial difficulties and in such times it is the youth development programme which bears the brunt of inevitable cutbacks. The support given, both financial and moral by the members of FONCY was hugely appreciated by myself, staff, parents and of course by the young players themselves. FONCY made it possible for example for young players to participate in tournaments such as The Northern Ireland Milk Cup.The young players who were fortunate to make such trips will have wonderful memories not least returning with the Junior Milk Cup Trophy on 3 occasions .Such valuable experiences would not have been possible without the dedication, hard work and sacrifices made by John Landamore and his committee. On behalf of everyone involved at the Academy during my tenure as Academy Manger from 1998-2004 may I thank all members of FONCY for their outstanding contribution to the development of young players at the Club over the last 16 years. I would urge the Club to recognise in some way their gratitude to those concerned for their dedication and passion. They were indeed true friends of Norwich City Youth.
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sammy morgan
Monday, September 10, 2012
John Landmore for the NCFC Hall of Fame surely? Must be worthy
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lindsay McNeile
Sunday, September 9, 2012
cant say i really knew what hard work you guys had done for the club until now but you are by the sounds of it our unsung heroes. great work guys lets hope the next few generations of canaries are willing to dig deep and stand proud if or when needed. OTBC
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greengreengrass
Friday, September 7, 2012
Incredible commitment, loyalty and passion from John and all involved at FONCY. I sincerely hope the football club will honour their tireless and remarkable efforts.
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ianrcanary
Friday, September 7, 2012
Raising money? Then you glimpse the BBC football webpage, talk of chubby Spud Rooney's fitness, his latest book . . huh . . his emerging, burgeoning, literary career.Ghost writers folks. Milking yet more? We appear to see football clubs, players, et al , as charity cases. When in reality, y'know the real world WE live in, they know nothing of the recession, they live, as the Yanks says, 'in the tall cotton'. Love City - I have for decades, but keep your feet planted firmly on the ground?
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Dissaster
Friday, September 7, 2012
Some people talk and others just do.
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Swiss Canary
Thursday, September 6, 2012
I dearly hope the club will be making every effort to celebrate the work done by the group and treat those how have worked tirelessly over the years raising money. Whilst the club is now on a secure footing and playing in the Premier league, one of the reasons for this is because of the sterling work done by Foncy and other groups when we on the brink of collapse.
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Andy JR
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Sad about FONCY finishing, they did so much good.
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Lindag
Thursday, September 6, 2012
What a great effort from these guys over the years. The Friends of Norwich City Youth or FONCY should be truly proud !
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Dubai Canary
Thursday, September 6, 2012