Norwich City Football Club (NCFC) has launched a £3.5m Canaries mini-bond to fund a new high-performance Academy – giving supporters the chance to directly invest in the club’s future.

The money raised by the five-year bond, which has a maximum £5m threshold, will be ring-fenced to ensure it is invested in facilities at the club’s training ground in Colney.

NCFC’s managing director Steve Stone said the initiative is part of a long-term strategy to produce more home-grown players and to build a sustainable future for the club.

The bond – which is being made available through the crowdfunding platform Tifosy – will pay 5 per cent gross interest annually, with an additional 3 per cent gross in club credit.

Investors will also be paid a one-off 25 per cent bonus if the club is promoted during the lifetime of the bond. The minimum subscription is £500 with no upper limit.

Steve Stone said: “Developing the Academy is a vital part of our long-term strategy and will secure your youth set up the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) Category 1 status into the foreseeable future.

“We have a firm commitment to produce more young talent to play for our first team and this work is an essential part of this.”

Tifosy – co-founded by former Chelsea and Italy star Gianluca Vialli and CEO Fausto Zanetton – has completed a number of funding drives for English football clubs. To read an interview with Gianluca Vialli and his plans for Tifosy click here for Sports Management Issue 4, 2015.