Malaysian tour for City

[Huckerbys right foot]

Norwich City will join the Premiership big boys this summer - promotion or not - when they embark on a tour of Malaysia.

The First Division high-fliers will be jetting off to the Far East in July as part of the club's sponsorship deal with Proton and Lotus Cars.

Instead of windswept days in Milton Keynes, the Canaries will find themselves playing at the 86,000 capacity Bukit Jalil Stadium against the Malaysian national side and a match against a top state side.

Canaries manager Nigel Worthington, more used to taking his team into Scotland or popping across the channel to Holland for pre-season tours, was delighted at the announcement of City's first foray into south-east Asia.

"From my point of view it's an excellent tour for everybody connected with the football club," he said. "The links with Proton and Lotus have helped to make it happen and it will be a challenging tour for the players in terms of putting in some good hard work in very hot conditions."

It's the type of exotic tour more associated with the Premiership teams that Norwich City hope to be coming up against next season: Manchester United are regular visitors to the Far East, where English football is huge.

It won't be all play for the Canaries. They will tour Proton's two manufacturing facilities while they are in Malaysia - including Proton's new plant, in Tanjung Malim.

The players will also take part in coaching sessions at local schools.

At the height of the Malaysian summer, the average temperature will be between 21 and 32C. Humidity will be high and a short training stint will have the players dripping with sweat.

Post-match meals may include fish-head soup or chicken rice for feint of heart, satays with peanut sauce followed by a slice of durian, the world's vilest smelling fruit, for dessert. Do not try to bring it home: it's banned by just about every airline in the world.

If Darren Huckerby and Co fancy a bit of sightseeing there's always the Petronas Towers, at 88 storeys the world's tallest buildings, or the pasar malam - night markets - and a drink at any number of Irish theme pubs afterwards.

The exotic summer jaunt was first mooted last year when City announced its new sponsors.

With Lotus based just outside Norwich at Hethell, the announcement with the prestige marque and its Malaysian owners was the perfect marriage. Proton and Lotus have certainly done well out of it, with City receiving more and more exposure because of their success this season.

"From the start of our sponsorship negotiations a tour of Malaysia - Proton's home base - was always one of the key elements," said Brian Collier, managing director Proton Cars (UK).

"In all Asian countries football has a great following and Malaysia is no exception with tremendous support for British clubs.

"This tour will do so much for Norwich City, Proton and the Malaysian public who are sure to give their 100pc support. Football is a great way of bringing the world closer and building strong relationships and this tour will achieve much for all involved as well as being an important element of pre-season training."

Ansar Ali, general manager of Lotus Cars UK, added: "The Lotus name is already well known throughout Asia and the tour will foster even stronger relations with our customers and enthusiasts alike.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for Lotus, our parent company Proton and of course Norwich City to act as both sporting and commercial ambassadors not just for Norfolk but also for the UK."

While the football club attempt to harvest the opportunities the sponsorship deal has created, local businessmen get a piece of the action too - a combined Norfolk/Suffolk Chamber of Commerce Trade Mission, supported by UKTI, will fly to the capital Kuala Lumpur with the squad for the tour, which will take place from July 10-18.

Andrew Cullen, City's Director of Sales and Marketing, said: " We are extremely grateful to Proton for giving us the opportunity to promote Norwich City FC in south-east Asia.

"We are delighted that the Football in the Community team will be flying out a week ahead of the official party to coach children and also that we will be joined by local businesses through the combined Chamber of Commerce Trade Missions.

"Both are examples as to how our football club can serve both the beautiful game and our proud community.

"We hope that many will benefit in so many different ways from this exciting tour to Malaysia."

City fans have turned out in big numbers to watch their team on their travels this season, but July's tour will test even the most dedicated supporter.

[Adalon]

o0o look at you :-P so you going to see them play then? :-P

i think Crewe will stick to their tour of Ireland, where a key Player always comes back on crutches

[Huckerbys right foot]

nah i aint going 8bo: 8bo: 8bo: 8bo: 8bo:

we been on scotland tours for 2 years and this season we went on a dutch tour WE BEAT FC UTRECHT!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

we only going to Malaysia cos our sponsors ha:

[Adalon]

heh i bet our sponsers, LC Charles, give our players a tour round the factory

[Huckerbys right foot]

5 players of ours got a free Lotus Ellise's 8) 8)

[Adalon]

o0o very nice

[littlegb2002]

apparently we're going africa? ?

can't go out of europe alone under 18!

[mr.watford]

we went to finland an estonia in july

rock on

[Adalon]

where do these clubs get the money from eh?

think wolves are going to portugal in pre season, though if we go down they should be sent to blackpool for the week.