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Thursday, 17 October, 2002, 14:03 GMT 15:03 UK

Sick as a Canary

An aggrieved wife has said "knickers" to her husband because of his obsession with Norwich City.

Joanne Bradley was sick of playing second fiddle to the First Division club and is filing for divorce.


" He seemed to think the knickers were sexy! "
Joanne Bradley

The final straw came when husband Neil bought her some tasty Norwich underwear... as an anniversary present.

Joanne, 36, said during their nine-year marriage, Neil had:

  • Painted their house in the Canaries' colours - bright yellow and green.

  • Left her at home in Kent every other weekend, while he made the 350-mile round-trip to Carrow Road.

  • Taken her on holiday to Norwich, where "sight-seeing" included a trip to the Norfolk side's training ground to see the players put through their paces.

  • Had the club crest tattooed on his chest.

    Joanne, who lives in Manston, Kent, told the Sun: "There were three of us in our relationship - Neil, me and Norwich. And I came last.

    Embarrassment

    "When he came back with the knickers I went mad. He seemed to think they were sexy!

    "Even our car was covered in a huge Norwich banner. Living in Kent it was a bit of an embarrassment."

    But it was their 10-year-old son, Lee, who Joanne felt most sorry for.

    "Neil bought him every club hat, shirt, scarf, mug and duvet," she explained. "And Lee didn't even support them!"

    Neil's fixation with all things Norwich began as a child and he is now chairman of the East Kent Canaries' supporters' club.

    "It has become like a drug to me," he confessed.

    Or an overdose in Joanne's case.


    Related to this story:
    Norwich 0-0 Leicester (05 Oct 02 | Eng Div 1)


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