30.01.2003

Norwich City Football Club has joined the go-fm consortium which is applying to run the local radio licence in North Norfolk. The Club has agreed to take a small shareholding in the new radio station.

The Canaries have a strong fan base across North Norfolk and see value for the Club and its supporters in being part of a new local radio venture in Norfolk. The Club also believe that there is a great opportunity to develop further support and revenue growth from this area.

Norwich City Football Club will be a shareholder in Absolute  Radio Norfolk Ltd, which is the holding company of go-fm. Other shareholders include local radio group Central Norfolk  Radio Ltd as well as Absolute Radio (UK) Ltd.

Chief Executive of Norwich City Football Club, Neil Doncaster, will take a seat on the go-fm board as a non-executive director. He joins go-fm’s Chairman Michael Gurney, who is a director of local PR and Advertising firm The Point Organisation. The other non-executive directors on the go- fm board are Hugh Lawson, who is MD of Norwich International Airport, Clive Scott from the community radio operator Central Norfolk Radio Ltd and Paddy Seligman, who is amongst many local roles a local magistrate and member of the Police Authority.

go-fm’s Chairman Michael Gurney commented: "We are extremely pleased to welcome Norwich City Football Club as shareholders in Absolute Radio Norfolk Ltd and our bid to bring new radio to North Norfolk. It was always envisaged that we would work closely together, but now The Canaries will actually be a part of our business, which means their ideas can be included in our plans at the highest level. Their joining our venture adds weight to our licence application to the Radio Authority.

"We equally look forward to go-fm playing an important role in supporting the club. In many ways radio and football are very similar... supporters and listeners alike tend to share a passion for something really local and important in everyday life. Both go-fm and Norwich City Football Club have very central roles in the community. This is a positive and  mutually beneficial affiliation."

Neil Doncaster added: "North Norfolk is a very important area for Norwich City and is heavily populated by NCFC supporters. The new radio station will help us reach those supporters. We’re delighted to be part of this new venture, which may generate further revenue for the Club and should be of enormous benefit to the whole North Norfolk community. We already have strong media ties with both the BBC and commercial broadcasters; this relationship compliments these at a more localised and focused level."