Take That fever hits Carrow Road

Take That concert at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

There has been a real festival feel around Norwich City Football Club throughout today, with the people in the queues having fun enjoying the sunshine together, making new friends and sharing their love of Take That.

Security was high with armed police and specialist dog units out on patrol, and while they had a serious job to do, the officers were also happy to get in the festival spirit and pose for pictures with some of the fans. Meanwhile inside the stadium all day today an army of people were busily working against the clock to build the set - which arrived from Swansea early this morning - ready for the Wonderland show to take to the stage tonight and tomorrow.

The first fans staked out their place in the queue outside the Barclay End entrance to the stadium at just before 4am today. Armed with chairs and provisions, the die-hard fans were determined to be first through the doors which opened at 6pm.

Jennie Sullivan and Mandy Goldthorpe, who dub themselves the Cheam Team, travelled up from Surrey to see their favourites and have tickets for both Norwich concerts. They started queuing at about 6am and had seen Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald 13 times on this Wonderland tour already. They admitted they had lost count of how many times they had seen Take That in total, since they first fell for the band back in the 1990s.

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Mum and daughter Karen and Gemma Daniels. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Jennie said: 'We're here for both nights, There's no point coming all this way and only going to one! It's just such an amazing show. I don't see it as that different to following a football team, only you know what the result will be - that it will be a great show.'

Angela Grant-Dean and Helen Skeggs, did not have to travel quite so far - heading down the A11 from Wymondham for today's gig - and they will also be watching tomorrow's show. On the enduring appeal of Take That, Angela, who was wearing a Take That top and matching handbag, said: 'They seem like such nice guys. There's no front to them, or the front that there is, is very pleasant. What you see with them is what you get. And I think, like a fine wine, they have matured with age.'

Mother and daughter Karen and Gemma Daniels, from Gorleston, said going to Take That's tours had become a real tradition for them. Gemma said: 'We have liked them since the beginning. It's a family tradition coming to the tours together.

'We go to every tour at least twice. We are back here tomorrow and we were at The O2 last week.

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

'I love the boys, I do, but it's also because it's always such a brilliant show.

'We are also off to see Robbie Williams soon too.'

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Programme seller David Gray from Norwich. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Fan Jennie Sullivan. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Natalie Jurascheck and Clare Harvey in the queue. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. VIP ticket winners Ian and Alison Huggins. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Beverley Stearn, Alicia Stearn and Colleen Yates in the queue. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Laura Kay and Katie Ling in the queue. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Fan Jennie Sullivan. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

First night of the Take That concerts at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Take That concert at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Take That concert at Carrow Road. Picture : ANTONY KELLY (Image: archant 2017)

Take That fans Nuala O'Connor, left, and Emma Lewis from Lowestoft at the front of the queue at the Norwich City Football Club stand. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

Take That fans start queuing at the Norwich City Football Club stand ready for the concert. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

Take That fans Mandy Goldthorpe, left, and Jennie Sullivan, who have been to six of the seven concerts at the O2, and are now second in the queue at the Norwich City Football Club stand. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)