Story added: 5th March 2024

Foundation Takeover Game 2024

On Saturday 2nd of March 2024, the Carrow Road spotlights were shining on the Community Sports Foundation for the charity’s ‘Takeover Game’.

Introduced with the intention of drawing attention to all of the fantastic community work done by the Foundation, this season’s Takeover Game against Sunderland ensured that the 27,000 people packed inside the stadium gained a greater understanding of the organisation’s purpose and the impact it has throughout the county.

Smiling through the rain

A wet and blustery day in Norwich, pre-match saw a variety of Foundation-run activities take place both outside and inside the stadium. Fans flocked to the South Stand to take pictures with Sportysaurus and to watch our disability dance troupe, also taking time to participate in some of our community challenges, which included a pick-your-own-starting-XI and a chance to conduct your own ‘post-match media duties’. There was also a smoothie-making contraption, where keen cyclists could hop on an exercise bike and pedal to blend their own fruity drinks!

Inside Carrow Road, our pan-disability football team took to the turf prior to the player warm-ups for a series of small-sided games. Despite the wet weather, all of our participants made the most of the experience, with wild celebrations following every goal scored. Norwich City first team player Sam McCallum was on hand to watch some of the games, taking time to stop for photos and high-fives.

The first half of football was followed by a customary lap of honour for our participants and staff, who were warmly acknowledged by the Carrow Road faithful… despite the miserable weather!

Head of Fundraising, Emma Fletcher-Dungay was quick to praise the fantastic support shown by both the fans and the club staff and players:

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Norwich City Football Club, in particular the staff, directors and players who fully supported our aspirations to take over the game.

“The fans, as always, were amazing and welcomed us as we walked around the pitch at halftime – it really helped with the awful weather conditions and certainly didn’t dampen our parade!”

The Norwich first team players also wore one-off Community Sports Foundation branded warm-up shirts, which will be auctioned off to raise further proceeds for the charity in due course.

Thanks to:

Yellow Brick Mortgages – for sponsoring the pre-match warmup tops provided by the Community Sports Foundation.

3B Data Security – for changing their pitch board advertisements to show their support of the Foundation.

CIM – for attending our partners event and gifting the CIM football!

BBC Radio Norfolk – for their hospitality in hosting Foundation apprentice, Billy, for the day.