Norwich City: Motorcycle football at the Nest in the 1930s

The pitch is the same, as is the ball. So far, so good.

But then only six players per side take to the pitch.

And instead of walking onto the field, they make their entrance riding motorcycles.The old Norwich City football ground the Nest on Rosary Road. Taken in 1928/9 during a match between Coventry and Norwich. A minor fight took place between players - squaring up to each other - with fisticuffs and kicking rear portions of their anatomy to boot. (Image: Newsquest)

Imagine what the health and safety officials – let alone the groundsmen – would have to say if such a spectacle were proposed at Carrow Road today.

Well, from the 1920s to the 1950s motorcycle football enjoyed an enthusiastic following.

And today we are delving into the archive to tell the story of how the sport took place at the Nest, Norwich City’s former home ground, more than 90 years ago.

Before Carrow Road Norwich City played their home fixtures at the Nest, a disused quarry on Rosary Road, and here we see them in action against Sheffield Wednesday during an FA Cup game in 1935. (Image: Newsquest)

Rewind to May 8, 1930.

Norwich City manager James Kerr had just finished discussing signing some new players and others returning from injury.

He then asked members of the press to encourage their readers to support the motorcycle and trick-riding event two days later.

An advert for the Coventry vs Grimsby motorcycle football match at the Nest on Rosary Road, Norwich published on April 9, 1930. Search the EDP archive at localrecall.co.uk. (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Kerr said: “I can promise a splendid afternoon’s sport.

“Apart from an interesting afternoon the spectators will have the satisfaction of helping to provide the summer wages and the heavy expenses of building the team for next season.

“I ask them to come in their thousands,” he concluded.

Coventry players pressed into the Grimsby goal area during the motorcycle football match at Norwich City's former ground the Nest on May 10, 1930. (Image: Newsquest)

The motorcycle football match on May 10, 1930 saw Coventry face Grimsby with a pre-match performance by famous trick rider Don Brandish.

One month later, we reported on another motorcycle football match at the Nest arranged by Mr Kerr – this time the German International motorcycle football team played against Coventry.

A newspaper clipping from the EDP archive (localecall.co.uk) published on May 31, 1930 announcing a motorcycle football match between Germany and Coventry later that summer in June. The match was preceded by the first ever women's game of football played at the Nest. (Image: Newsquest)

The following year on May 9, 1931, Coventry returned for a third time to draw 4-4 with Watford.

The motorcycle football match on May 9, 1931 between Coventry and Watford ended in a 4-4 draw. Here we see the buildup to Watford's second goal, where the Coventry goalkeeper stopped the ball but a Watford forward rushed through to score. (Image: Newsquest)

This seems to be the last report of a motorcycle football match at the Nest in the archive.

Perhaps by that stage, the groundsmen were fed up with nursing the turf back to health.

Motorcycle football: did you know?  

• The sport was based on the rules of Association Football.
• Matches took place on full-size pitches and consisted of two 35-minute halves.
• Players wore specially adapted fireman’s boots with steel caps and rarely bothered with crash helmets.
• The motorcycles had small tanks and were stripped of all surplus parts to reduce the weight and boost speed.

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Norwich City Football Club goal line celebrations after scoring at their home ground, the Nest, on Rosary Road. Date unknown. (Image: Newsquest)