Фанат «Норвича» из Северной Ирландии празднует 30 лет поездок на матчи команды

Even the most travelled Norwich City fans would be shocked at the miles clocked up by Jonathan Martindale. The 45-year-old is celebrating three decades of making the journey from Northern Ireland to Norfolk to watch the Canaries this weekend. 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. 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. 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. 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. "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." 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."