Finals 2017: Norwich Knights
- Club name: Norwich Knights
- Club colours: Black, white and gold
- Location: Norwich, Norfolk
- Year founded: 2003
Norwich Knights are coming into their second ever England Korfball Grand Finals with a home-grown squad hungry to cause an upset.
Knights were the only team to beat reigning champions Trojans this season and finished in a strong 3rd place in the England Korfball League table – their highest ever finish.
The club will have been disappointed to just miss out on a Grand Finals place the past two seasons, finishing 5th on both occasions. Their only other appearance in the finals, in 2014, saw them lose 25-17 in both their matches – against Trojans in the semi and then Nomads in the bronze medal match.
We earnt this opportunity
This year they will face Bec in the semi-final on 6th May, and Knights coach Joe Stirling is definitely more positive about their chances. He said: “We have earnt this fantastic opportunity to compete at the Grand Finals and it has been thoroughly deserved. Our performances over the whole season have demonstrated the wealth of talent in the squad as well as the psychological toughness to bounce back from setbacks.
“We are all pushing towards the same goal and the belief within the squad is positive, mixed with our playing ability, we are fully confident that we will achieve what we set out to do. Our last Grand Finals appearance came too soon for our very young squad. It has since helped provide a great platform to build on as the majority of that squad are still together but with much more big game experience.”
Knights squad is 100% home grown
The Knights squad is 100% home grown – with the whole team having played in the top flight for the first time with Knights. They also boast the league’s top scorer in the shape of 98 goal Charlie Vogwill.
But it’s not just Charlie scoring the goals this season, the team as a whole has been a free scoring unit. “The team have the freedom in attack to create for each other and I don’t think it is a coincidence that we are the second highest scorers in the league,” said Joe.
“This season I have enjoyed the physical intensity that the players work at every week and the intelligence they possess on court to read certain situations and adapt their play accordingly,” Joe added.
Norwich Knights first reached the top flight in 2008, and after a few years flirting with relegation cemented their place and have pushed on to be in and around the Grand Finals in recent seasons. Find out on 6th-7th May if they can go one better this year. Click here to buy your tickets.
