A prestige friendly with Norwich City is providing the perfect curtain raiser to Gorleston's 125th anniver-sary celebrations.The Greens entertain the Canaries in the pre-season fixture at Emerald Park on July 16 in what will be the first-ever match against City's first team.

A prestige friendly with Norwich City is providing the perfect curtain raiser to Gorleston's 125th anniver-sary celebrations.

The Greens entertain the Canaries in the pre-season fixture at Emerald Park on July 16 in what will be

the first-ever match against City's first team.

Retiring chairman Jimmy Jones said: “I am absolutely over the moon this game has been arranged.

“We had tried to get them to come for the last five or six years without success.

“They have said they will send their strongest possible team, so it promises to be an occasion to remember.”

Capacity for the game looks likely to be restricted to 1,300 unless crowd barriers are installed at the ground.

Jones described it as a “Catch 22 situation,” with the club wanting to maximise attendance but not having the funds to pay for additional safety measures.

“When Norwich played at Lowestoft and Dereham there was an attendance of 2,000 and we were hoping for a similar crowd.

“It is a big match, but the cost of installing the safety barriers looks like being prohibitive and it would restrict spectators moving around the ground.”

Plans are being made for Gorleston to entertain an FA representative team in February or March to mark next year's anniversary.

It is the end of an era tonight with Jones formally standing down as chairman at the club's annual meeting.

He has promised to remain closely involved with their club, which appointed him life president in 1982.

The Greens kick off their pre-season matches away at Leiston on July 9 before entertaining Dereham on July 12.

Tickets are on sale for Gorleston's pre-season friendly against Norwich City, at Emerald Park on Wednesday, July 16 (7.45pm).

They are available from Planet Football, 164 King St, Gt Yarmouth and Music Lovers at 107 High St, Gorleston.

The club house at Emerald Park will be open on Sunday, July 6 and 13, from 10am to 2pm for ticket sales.

Prices are £10 adults and £8 for concessions, children under 16 and OAPs.