History

The Club played in the Norwich & District League before joining the newly formed Anglian Combination in 1965. After winning the Norfolk Junior Cup in 1979 beating Bradenham Wanderers 5-2, in 1981 beating Wroxham Reserves both at Carrow Road and the Anglian Combination Junior League Cup in 1981 3-2 against Acle, senior status was achieved for the first time in our history in 1982. Also in 1983/84 season we won the Anglian Combination Senior Cup beating Bradenham Wanderers 2-1.

Continuing success forced the Club to move to the Gothic Social Club in Norwich for the 1985/86 season, a campaign that saw us lose 4-1 to Norwich City Reserves at Carrow Road in the Norfolk Senior Cup. A year later we reached the final again only to lose yet again 2-1 to Great Yarmouth.

In 1987 the Club changed its name to Norwich United and Paul Chick was appointed manager. In his first season we finished runners up in the Anglian Combination Premier Division, the following season we won the coveted Sterry Cup.

Norwich United joined the Jewson League Division One in 1989/90 season and finished runners up. Unable to be promoted due to ground facilities we won Division One the following season and moved to our current ground at Plantation Park for the 1991/92 season in the Premier Division. We finished 5th in the league and surpassed our ambitions by winning the Jewson League Cup beating Gorleston 5-2 after a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road.

Season 2001/02 was to prove very memorable, for after spending some time back in Division One, Paul Franklin in his first season as manager assisted by Donny Pye won the Division One title and lost to Clacton in the semi-final of the League Cup. So once again Premier Division football was back at Plantation Park.

Season 2005/06 saw The Planters reach the Final of The Norfolk Senior Cup at Carrow Road, only to lose 1-0 To Dereham Town.

In October 2012 Damian Hilton was appointed first team manager. In season 2013/14 Damian brought in John Edridge as his assistant and first team coach, in their first full season together The Planters reached the last 32 in the FA Vase and 6th place in the Thurlow Nunn Premier League.

Season 2014/15 saw the Planters reach the last 16 in the FA Vase and for the first time in their history win the Premier League Title and were winners of the League Cup completing a memorable double a massive achievement for Damian & John.

In the 2015/16 season The Planters won the Thurlow Nunn Premier League for the second consecutive season with a total of 98 points. Damo Hilton had resigned midway through the season and John Edridge and Steve Eastaugh led the planters to promotion to the Isthmian North for the first time in their history. Unfortunately, The Planters couldn’t make it a memorable treble winning campaign when losing to Mildenhall in the league cup 2-1 and 2-0 to Dereham in the north senior cup final.

The 2016-17 season was our first at Step 4 and we finished in 9th place, only 4 points outside the playoffs positions. Unfortunately, a penalty shoot out defeat to Lings Lynn in the semi-final of the Senior Cup meant it was a trophies season for The Planters.

The Planters had a very tough start to the 2017-18 campaign which saw the club losing 7 of their first 8 league fixtures and were rooted to the bottom of the Isthmian North. Improvements were made after Christmas and some big wins were gained but after hitting the 40 point mark we were relegated by 1 point with the bottom team Romford having a excellent end to their season and overtaken us in the last game of the season.

Two days after the disappointment Norwich United won the Norfolk senior cup for the first time beating Downham Market after extra time 4-2.

At the start of the 2018/19 season Steve Eastaugh resigned due to other personal commitments and Garth Good and Dan Goffin were appointed joint managers. After a good start to the season The Planters hit a bad run of form losing 11 consecutive games and the duo were replaced in January by ex Norwich city player Cedric Anselin with Tom Marsden as his assistant.

After of run of 10 unbeaten matches an 11th place finish was the final standing for the season.

The planters spent most of the 2019/20 season chasing runaway leaders Stowmarket Town, sitting in second place scoring an excellent 73 goals in the process until the Covid 19 pandemic hit the country and all football was brought to a abrupt end with no promotion or relegation.

Before the 2020/21 season, Cedric and Tom both decided to step down and Steve Eastaugh was appointed the new manager for the second time. Steve’s brother Andy, and club captain, was swiftly appointed player assistant manager with current defender Sam Watts taking the armband.

The Club owes much of it's success to the continuing support of Club Chairman Mr. John Hilditch, President Mr.Michael Miles and Vice Chairman Mr. Peter Bowyer.

Our thanks go to HILDITCH HOMES & DYNO-ROD the professional drain specialist for their continuing sponsorship of the football club also new sponsors for 2014/15 season MACRON STORE NORWICH, their showroom is based at Plantation Park.