How Norfolk’s German links could make new Canaries head coach Daniel Farke feel at home

Waltraud Jarrold. Pic: Ben Hobbs. (Image: Archant)

That's according to someone very familiar with how it feels to swap Germany for Norfolk.

Waltraud Jarrold left her German home town of Winningen, near Koblenz, in 1953 to head to Norwich.

She fell in love with the city and with a man named Richard - which saw her marry into the family which ran, and still runs , the city's independent department store Jarrold.

The 89-year-old has never forgotten her roots and has helped forge links between where she was born and her beloved adopted city - which might make the new Canaries head coach feel very much at home.

Norwich has been twinned with Koblenz - south of Mr Farke's former home of Dortmund - since 1978.

And Mrs Jarrold is the president of the Norfolk and Norwich Koblenz Friendship Association, which has promoted links between the two cities and countries ever since its creation in 1980.

That has established links between Norwich and Koblenz's cultural, educational and business activities.

If the new man at Carrow Road starts pining for conservations in his mother tongue, he could head to one of the association's regular German conversation coffee mornings.

Mrs Jarrold, who was made an MBE for her services to the community of Norwich in 2009, said she was delighted at the appointment of a compatriot.

She said: 'One of my grandsons came with the news and we are delighted about it.

'I am hoping that, from recent experience, people will be very much outward looking and will welcome him to Norfolk.

'I can't bring myself to say the B word [Brexit], but from my point of view, despite all that, the experiences of living in Norfolk are very positive.

'The Norwich Philharmonic has just been over in Koblenz to perform Hayden's The Seasons and there's a real connection between our cities and countries.

'I wish him well and I really hope he will be welcomed.

'This couldn't have happened at a better time.

'It's really, really lovely and I hope he does well.

'To have an opportunity to meet him would be very good.'

He's got plenty on his plate to overhaul the Canaries' playing squad, but when he gets some spare time new Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke might find plenty in Norfolk to remind him of home...

1. For a taste of home, he could pop over to Sheringham and visit Crofters Restaurant, which specialises in German and Austrian food

2. He could sink a Bavarian beer at one of the many Oktoberfests in Norwich this year. OPEN Norwich, Carrow Road and The Whalebone pub are among those with events

3. Visit King's Lynn - which traded with German towns and cities as part of the Hanseatic League, with its heyday during the 14th and 15th centuries

4. He could check out the collection at the Sainsbury Centre for examples of the German Bauhaus art movement.

5. He could make friends with members of the UEA's German Society.

6. He could live in Wiggenhall St Germans. Although the name apparently comes from the dedication of the parish church rather than his home country.

7. He could head along to one of the German conversation mornings offered by the Norfolk and Norwich Koblenz Friendship Association

8. He could meet up with Waltraud Jarrold, MBE, who moved to Norfolk from Winningen in 1958 and is involved with twinning visits to Koblenz

9. He could have a chat with Jeremy Goss about his wonder goal on German soil against Bayern Munich in October 1993

10. He could head to the one of the numerous Aldi and Lidl stores which have opened in Norfolk. Both stores originated from Germany.