City fan travels 50,000 miles in 30 years to Carrow Road

The 45-year-old is celebrating three decades of making the journey from Northern Ireland to Norfolk to watch the Canaries this weekend.

Jonathan Martindale, pictured here when he was 15, with Bryan Gunn who played as City's goalkeeper at the time (Image: Supplied by Jonathan Martindale)

Mr Martindale has racked up roughly 50,000 miles during his biannual visits to Carrow Road from Donaghadee, near Belfast, which equates to about two trips around the world.

Mr Martindale was introduced to the Canaries when they played at Ards Football Club - his local team at the time - during City's 1995 pre-season tour around Northern Ireland under Martin O'Neill.

"I was a little 14-year-old with my sticker book and I was getting all the signatures of the players," he said.

Mr Martindale collected the signatures of the players who played against Ards FC, including Martin O'Neill's, which can be seen towards the bottom left side (Image: Jonathan Martindale)

At the game, he met Brian Pointer, a Canaries fan in his twenties who had travelled over from Norwich, and the two became pen pals.

"For the next 12 months, Brian sent me the match programme, both home and away, with a copy of the Pink Un, which arrived on my doorstep all the way in Northern Ireland every Monday morning," said Mr Martindale.

Mr Martindale has been accompanied by his son, Jack Martindale, to the Norwich games for the last 17 years (Image: Supplied by Jonathan Martindale)

A year later, for his 15th birthday, Mr Martindale made his first journey to Norwich for a match against Watford, where he was reunited with Mr Pointer.

The programme from the game in 1996 (Image: Supplied by Jonathan Martindale)

Mr Martindale was invited onto radio during his first visit to the club (Image: Supplied by Jonathan Martindale)

Mr Martindale said: "I still vividly recall seeing all the signs as the train came into Norwich and on the other side was Brian.

"Football, specifically Norwich City, brought us together and from it has come this lifelong friendship.

Carrow Road in 1996 (Image: Joanthan Martindale)

"In the 30 years that followed, trips to Carrow Road have become a family affair. They initially started with my wife only, but for the last 17 years my son Jack has also joined me and we've made the most fantastic memories."

Jonathan here with his wife, Christina, his son Jack and Brian Pointer (Image: Supplied by Jonathan Martindale)

Mr Martindale, who has a bar in his home dedicated to the Canaries, will be at the game this weekend with his wife while his son plays in his own fixture with Ards FC.

He said: "It will be Christina and I only because Jack is now playing for Ards FC, which is a full circle moment since Ards FC is the team that started my journey following Norwich."

Mr Martindale has a bar at his home dedicated to Norwich City Football Club (Image: Jonathan Martindale)