GORLESTON FC did themselves proud when they staged their pre-season friendly against Norwich City at Emerald Park last week.

Now the hard work starts as preparations begin for the first game in the Premier League, a home tie against Haverhill Rovers on Saturday, August 13 kick-off 3, followed by a trip Kirkley & Pakefield the following Tuesday.

The club are searching for a first-team shirt sponsor.

“We promise to make whoever takes on the role very proud,” said secretary Ann Santon. “We will be travelling round East Anglia so it’s an excellent way of advertising.”

A name or company logo on the first team shirts will be seen at grounds as far away as Essex and there is the chance of being on photographs in the local press. A company logo and a link to the sponsor’s own website will also appear on the Gorleston FC website, which had almost 30,000 visitors during last season.

Chairman Reg Cadmore will be delighted to speak to anyone who can help or who would like to sponsor individual games or match balls.

For further information please ring the secretary on 075979 26329 or 01493 600590.

Another new face has been added to Richard Daniels squad with the signing of ex QPR, Tooting & Mitcham and Braintree Town player, Andrew Howell. He is a 22-year-old from Gorleston who has played under Ian Holloway and John Gregory and has major experience, a very versatile player who will add strength to an already strong squad.

For the Norwich City game, despite the weather, everything ran smoothly and a large crowd of 1,100 enjoyed the day, with no problems in or out of the ground.

The club were also proud to welcome Sky Sports News along with all the other media representatives and have had their name mentioned in the press all over the world!

Thanks went to the local school, Ormiston Academy, for providing the parking facilities, and to everyone who helped to stage the event and to all the sponsors.

The biggest thanks went to Norwich City for not only agreeing to the game but sending such a strong side, complete with manager Paul Lambert. The Gorleston players certainly enjoyed the experience.

Gorleston started the game with last season’s championship-winning team but it took the Canaries only six minutes to score when Grant Holt thumped the ball home from a narrow angle. Defender Zak Whitbread made it 2-0 five minutes later with a header from Wes Hoolahan’s cross.

Gorleston goalkeeper Elliot Pride denied Holt with a fine fingertip save but it was 3-0 after 27 minutes when Holt scored from the penalty spot. Korey Smith scored the fourth in the 33rd minute, helped by a slight deflection. Two minutes before the break, Steve Morison nodded back Tom Adeyemi’s cross for fellow substitute Simeon Jackson to head home to make it 5-0. Pride made two more good saves leading up to half time.

Gorleston fielded a totally different line-up in the second half, with their new signings taking to the field and, arguably, put up a better performance.

Bradley Johnson drilled in the sixth for City, Aaron Wilbraham was thwarted by a fine save from substitute keeper Jack Whatmough but made it 7-0 in the 75th minute.

Gorleston: First half – Elliot Pride, Thomas Daniels, Reece Hunn, Gary Williams, Adam Thurtle, Eddie Thompson, Chris Sandford, Aaron Huggins-Bowers, Ali McKenna, Steve Taylor, Bradley Hough.

Second half – Elliot Pride (Jack Whatmough, 53), Tarren Grint (Kyle Ingram, 81), DJ Kareche, John Bell (Josh Armes, 83), Kyle Howell, Darren Cockrill, Ian Morgan (Simeon Randell, 86), Scott Woodgate (Jack Garrod, 72), Mitch Forbes, Ollie King (Christy Finch, 76), Liam Harvey-Cooper (James Pipe, 76).

Norwich City: First half – Rudd, Francomb, De Laet, Whitbread, Tierney; Fox; Korey Smith, Adeyemi; Hoolahan; Holt (Morison, 30), Chris Martin (Jackson, 30).

Second half – Ruddy; Russell Martin, Barnett, Ward, Brindley (Dawkin, 71); Bennett, Crofts (Ball, 86), Johnson, Surman; Morison (Wilbraham, 61), Jackson (Vaughan, 61).

Following the death of one of the greatest Gorleston players of all time, Bert ‘Sailor’ Brown in December 2008 aged 93, the club introduced a trophy in his memory.

The third Sailor Brown Tournament will take place at Emerald Park this Sunday.

Yarmouth-born Brown played for Charlton, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa and represented England, scoring four goals in six unofficial wartime internationals.

Returning to his home town in 1949, he enjoyed a successful spell as Gorleston player manager in the 1950s, leading the club into an epic FA Cup first-round encounter with Leyton Orient.

The other teams taking part in this year’s tournament will be Great Yarmouth Town, Kirkley & Pakefield, Waveney Athletic and Cromer.

There will also be a youth team tournament running concurrently and Sailor’s daughter, Julie Munro, will travel down from Scotland to be there.

Gorleston are the current holders whilst Kirkley & Pakefield won the inaugural tournament in 2009.

The day starts at 10am and entry to Emerald Park is just �2.