Norfolk.
A county which has been dominated by Norwich City for as long as we know, a huge club currently fighting for survival in the top flight of English football, it leaves fans of football alike with just one obvious contender to support in their local county.
However, a new club has arisen.
Before 2009, Kings Lynn FC casually applied their trade in non-league, having won an impressive 37 different trophies in their 130 year history. These trophies included the Northern Premier League, the Southern League, the Eastern Counties League, the Norfolk & Suffolk League, the Norfolk Senior Cup and last but not least, the East Anglian Cup, which they won on five separate occasions (four consecutively).
A club which was heavily supported, The Walks Stadium contained 5733 spectators (1200 seated) and entertained their record attendance in the 1951/52 season as Kings Lynn reached the FA Cup first round against Exeter City. On a day where just short of 13,000 fans attended, it were the Grecians who advanced with a 3-1 victory.
Particularly around the late 1990s Kings Lynn enjoyed a financially positive spell as they sold star man Mark Paul to Southampton for a hefty £60k fee which allowed manager Gary Mills to complete their record signing- securing the services of Lyndon Rowland for £5k from Halesowen Town.
However, the former Kings Lynn team suffered their demise at the beginning of the 2007/08 season in a unexpected manner- as champions. Securing the Southern League Premier Division title the Linnets earned promotion to Conference North for the upcoming season, but were unfortunately demoted back down a league due to ground grading issues. To rub salt into wounds, the following season Kings Lynn went financially under and were forced to fold midway through the season.
However, not all hope was lost, as from the ashes of Kings Lynn FC rose a new side- Kings Lynn Town FC. Beginning in the Premier Division of the United Counties League, the Linnets finished as runners-up in their first season whilst also sensationally reaching the semi-finals of the FA Vase before losing out to Coalville Town. In their follow up season, KLTFC replicated their excellent league position and were runners up once more, but this time were promoted to the Division One South of the Northern Premier League- which they won on their first attempt.
Following back to back promotions and their geographical position, Kings Lynn were relocated to the Premier Division of the Southern League, which they would clinch the play-offs in in the 2017/18 season, but not before winning the Norfolk Senior Cup against Fakenham Town. In the play-offs, they reached the final but dramatically lost out to Slough Town FC 2-1. This did not falter the Kings Lynn passion though, as they went again next season and once again fought in the play-offs, this time defeating Warrington Town 3-2 in the final to deservedly gain promotion to the National League North.
With the Walks Stadium now improved, it held 8200 fans and therefore complied with the league's rules and regulations, meaning that the Linnets were eligible to compete- and compete they did.
Bringing in the likes of Michael Gash, Alfie Payne on loan from Norwich, and Jordan Richards, this team became a definite threat to the likes of York City and Boston United who were always predicted to be up there. But the main signing which propelled the Linnets to success was the signature of Adam Marriott from Boston United. Marriott has so far scored a phenomenal 42 goals so far in 49 games, absolutely obliterating the top scorer charts for the National League North, with his closest competitor being a very skilful Lee Ndlovu of Brackley Town. Marriott's stats are unchallenged however, as he scores a goal every 95 minutes in the National League North.
Unfortunately, I am writing this at an unfortunate time, as bottom of the league Bradford Park Avenue have just grafted out a hard-earned three points at the Walks Stadium with the goal coming from Tom Clare. This goal has left the Linnets two points off of table-toppers York City with three games in hand, in what is expected to be a very heated and close closing to the season. Even if the Town do settle for a play-off position, this would be a proud achievement for the club to say where they were ten years ago, barely surviving as a newly formed club, and now battling to compete in next season's pinnacle of non-league football; the National League. It is fair to say that manager Ian Culverhouse, a former Norwich City right-back is doing an impeccable job of bringing in the right signings who don't threaten the club financially whilst also providing the results on the pitch.
And of course it is ironic that it would be a former Norwich stalwart, having made just shy of 300 appearances for the club, to be the one to bring a new Norfolk team into the football league. A new club to get behind. A new club to support. A new club to bring smiles onto the faces of those lost Norwich City fans who have perhaps fallen out of love with the Premier League's evident distance from the supporters, with the money bags and preposterous ticket prices taking over the higher divisions of football and may look for a more local, close community which can be found at the Walks Stadium, home of Kings Lynn Town FC.
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