Anglian Combination League

Premier Division

Saturday 19th September 2026

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.04

Norton Athletic 2 Thetford Rovers 2, attendance 36

5’ 1-0 (pen)

43’ 2-0

53’ 2-1

64’ 2-2

@ The Highfield

Loddon Road

Norton Subcourse

NR14 6RY

£3 Admission

£1 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

A noon kick off here meant an ideal opportunity to get two games in today, albeit with a very limited afternoon choice, not helped by the majority of the lower leagues around Norfolk kicking off at either 14.00 or 14.15, but a nearby 14.30 kick off in the Norfolk F.A. Junior Cup meant a double was indeed on. A totally trouble free drive via M25, A12, A14, A140 and A143, which is more direct than it sounds, saw me arrive in the village of Norton Subcourse about an hour and a quarter before kick off. The ground is to the west of the village, out in the middle of nowhere. It’s a great set up for this level, with the club officials having the car park well marshalled (there was another game afterwards and I didn’t want to get blocked in), with late arrivals directed to a nearby overflow car park, rather than the normal non league capers where the ignorant late comers just block everyone in and are normally totally oblivious to this fact, often being the last ones to return to their vehicles after the match.

There’s a pay gate at the entrance, where programmes were readily available. The changing rooms are to the right, just beyond the clubhouse and there’s a tea bar beyond that. The pitch runs lengthways away from here, with a small section of cover on the left touchline and a pair of dugouts opposite. The pitch was in superb condition and is a real credit to the groundsman.

Both teams had lost their opening games in the league, Norton losing 3-4 at home to Norwich CEYMS, whilst Thetford had lost their opener 3-0 at Scole United and today’s match was a repeat of the Norfolk Senior Cup tie that was played here just two weeks ago, where Norton ran out 7-1 winners. That day Norton led 2-0 at halftime and it was the same again today. A penalty after five minutes set them on their way, before they doubled their lead two minutes before halftime, when a Thetford defender trying to cut out a cross could only divert the ball into his own net. The visitors pulled one back eight minutes into the second half, when a through ball was controlled and finished with a low shot into the far corner. Eleven minutes later it was 2-2, when a ball over the top was taken round the ‘keeper and slotted in from a tight angle, despite the best efforts of a defender on the line trying to keep it out. That was it as far as the goals went, but we did have a double sending off with a couple of minutes left and Norton also had a man sin binned during the same incident, all caused by an initial reaction by the home ‘keeper to a challenge between him and a visiting player, in which he considered he’d been fouled.

Despite the game not finishing until 13.57 I knew I’d easily reach my intended afternoon game, as I’d driven right past the ground on my way here.