Norwich City: Tennis star Alfie Hewett on love for Canaries

Whether it's testing trips across the country, other commitments put on the back burner or eye-watering sums spent to get closer to the action, the commitment those supporters have to the Canaries is regularly astounding.

But it's rare to retain such commitment to the club as an elite professional elite, with all the carefully managed routines and hard work that entails. That's exacerbated in tennis, where players hop between countries on a near-weekly basis, adapting to different time zones and cultures at rapid pace.

That hasn't stopped 30-time wheelchair grand slam champion Alfie Hewett, however, with his mission to keep up with his beloved football club paramount.

Wimbledon champion Hewett goes to great lengths to support the Canaries (Image: PA) "I'm a big fan," he told the Pink Un Podcast. "I want the team to do well, I want them to succeed and win as many games as possible. I've been told off a few times by my team for maybe getting up in the early hours of the morning when I've got a match to prepare for!

"They go 'you look at bit tired today Alfie', and then they look and Norwich are playing at two in the morning on the other side of the world. I can't get away with that one, can I?

"So yeah, I'll always try to follow them. They're a big part of my upbringing, and there's a lot of meaning behind it. When I was going through what I was going through, just being able to watch football and go there was part of getting over it. That's why I fell in love with the sport and the club, and they've been nothing but supportive."

'Support' is the operative word in Hewett's relationship with City, which is one that goes both ways. While he's a fan of those in the dressing room, many of them are fans of his. Their backing means a great deal to the 26-year-old, from former first-team players to relatively new ones.

"There are a few players who have kept in touch and been following me, Kenny (McLean) and Grant (Hanley)," he continued. "Tim Krul is still someone who does watch out and messages, even though he's not with the club anymore. Some of the new lads as well, Callum Doyle.

"It's just nice to have people like that, who I look up to and watch weekly, actually seeing and recognising what I do. Even people like Ben Knapper, he had a conversation with me and was completely aware of everything I've done. He's obviously fresh into the club as well, so that was quite touching."

Former Norwich stopper Tim Krul still keeps up with the 26-year-old's results (Image: PA)

With a post-Paralympic break to celebrate his medals in both the doubles and singles disciplines, as well as a maiden Wimbledon singles title, Hewett has timed his return to Norfolk well.

He was presented to the home crowd during the 1-1 draw with Leeds United, and saw the dominant 4-0 defeat of Hull in person too. He, like most of his fellow fans, is excited by the direction the club is headed in under Johannes Hoff Thorup.

"The last few performances have made me very optimistic and excited," he admitted. "It's easy to think ahead and if they can carry on with that sort of trajectory. [Thorup] has really understood the Championship and the demands of the players.

"To see that level of performances showed that big improvements have been made, especially with three games in a week."

Hewett and his fellow fans are loving life under Johannes Hoff Thorup (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) That's just an added bonus for Hewett, however, with his support sustained, rain or shine, for decades now.

"It was always Norwich for me," he said. "I played football before I was in a chair, I was at Lakeford Rangers when I was younger, and then I had my condition. I still loved football, and to be honest it was my goal as a 6-year-old to be a professional footballer.

"I missed playing and being involved with football, so my family wanted me to carry on watching it. They got me a season ticket at Carrow Road when I was eight years old, and they took me to all of the games. I fell in love with the team, and I've always been a big fan ever since."