--- title: "A guide to Norwich City’s pre-season" canonical: "https://readnorwich.com/2015/07/07/a-guide-to-norwich-citys-pre-season/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Alex Murray" section: "Articles" published: "2015-07-07T06:20:55Z" modified: "2015-07-07T06:20:55Z" --- # A guide to Norwich City’s pre-season Norwich kick off the new 2015/16 season with 7 pre season friendlies, with the final games in Austria and Germany being confirmed today. The season begins with a short trip to **Gorleston FC** of the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division (Lower league division names are the best…). With such lower league opposition you can expect a mixed team to be put out by Alex Neil, with the possibility of a few fringe players showing what they can do this season. Expect Norwich to win by a few goals, but not necessarily anything like the match against the Astoa Valley XI… Norwich then move on to Hertfordshire and **Hitchin Town**. The two sides meet as it is the non-league side’s 150th Anniversary and that both clubs share the same nickname and colours. Hitchin play their football in the southern premier league, so just a bit higher in the pyramid than Gorleston. This again will probably mean a mixed side turn out but that is not necessarily a bad thing, as after all pre-season is mainly there for match fitness. **Cambridge United** are next on the list. The U’s play in League 2 and finished 19th last term. This represents the team’s first real test of pre-season, playing football league quality opposition for the first time. Although it possibly won’t be a first team squad, expect a lot more first team regulars to be starting. ![Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images](https://media.readnorwich.com/readnorwich/2015/07/GettyImages-457049194.jpg) City then begin their pre-season training camp in southern Germany on July 18th. During their camp the team will make two trips across the border to Austria to play German side **FC Augsburg** and Israeli outfit **Maccabi Haifa**. Maccabi Haifa are one of the biggest sides in Israel, fighting for the title in the Israeli Premier League most seasons. They finished a respectable 5th place last season, just missing out on a Europa League spot. FC Augsburg play in the Bundesliga and finished a highly respectable 5th place last season, giving them European football. Although many would not have heard of the side, they’re a force to be reckoned with. Returning to England, Norwich play two final friendlies at home against English opposition. The first game sees the visit of fellow Premier League side **West Ham United**. Although seen as an unusual move by the Club, it has been arranged to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Norwich moving into Carrow Road, where West Ham played the first ever game on August 31st 1938. This unfamiliar move will give us a good indication of how the season will play out just before we kick off against Palace. City’s final match is against **Brentford**. Norwich met the bees last season in the Championship. The home tie was of significant importance as it saw Alex Neil’s first defeat as Canaries boss, and also what I consider to be one of the only games managed by Neil which saw the team be completely played off the pitch. It’ll be another tough test, but the Canaries should (touch wood) run out the victors. Compare this schedule to last year and it looks a hell of a lot better. Last season saw the disastrous Italian tour which, after the Serie B teams cancelled, saw Norwich playing a collection of amateur players and winning 13-0. Although games followed against French and Spanish opposition, including the impressive 5-1 victory over Nice, there simply wasn’t enough preparation for the new season. **Full schedule:** July 11th – Gorleston FC (A) – 3pm July 14th – Hitching Town (A) – 7.45pm July 17 – Cambridge United (A) – 7.30pm July 20th – Maccabi Haifa (A) – 6.30pm July 25th – Augsburg (A) – 2pm July 28th – West Ham United (H) – 7.45pm August 1st – Brentford (H) – 3pm.