City powerchair football team return to top flight

Norwich City are in the top domestic powerchair league for the first time since 2014

Norwich City's powerchair team will play National League Premiership football for the first time in 10 years following promotion.

The team, supported by the club's Community Sports Foundation, beat Premiership side Nomad Knights 2-1 in a tense play-off at the Lee Westwood Sports Centre in Nottingham.

Michael Coleman scored an extra-time winner for the side to earn promotion to the top league, and relegate the opposition.

The sport involves a four-a-side game where players with physical disabilities play in powered wheelchairs at speeds of 10mph (16km/h).

'Cagey' affair

Norwich scraped into a play-off place on the final day of the season, with four victories from four in their last round of fixtures, and they only had four players in the squad for the important match.

The Canaries went down 1-0, but winger Johann George equalised five minutes later. Norwich captain Coleman converted from the corner in extra time.

"Mike doesn't really do nervous because he's been playing such a long while," said Coleman's mum Tracey.

"It was a very cagey game. I don't think we started off playing overly well, but then… neither did Nomads, because obviously it meant a lot to them to try and stay in."

Tracey added: "Everybody knows it's not going to be easy - it's a faster game in the Premiership."

Challenging year ahead

The team are looking to bolster their squad for next season.

Tracey recruited goalkeeper Hannah Murgatroyd in a chance encounter, "chasing her down the road".

"I finished work and all of a sudden... there was this girl with her mate just zapping past me, and I thought, she looks good!"

Michael said the sport gave you the chance to be "on a level playing field".

"Speed is a good selling point - if you like to drive fast, you'd probably be good at the sport."