Wow – that was fun wasn’t it!
Having watched a recording or two, or three, of the greatest 94 minutes in Canary history I’m ecstatic to confirm (again) that it wasn’t just a wonderful dream.
Just over thirty years on from a day that I thought couldn’t be bettered, Norwich City Football Club provided us another Wembley occasion that will be forever etched in the memory.
From that first sighting of a yellow and green scarf, en route to that small town in Suffolk early yesterday morning, through to the closing credits of last night’s The Football League Show – which reduced me to tears – it was one that was well-nigh perfect.
‘A day that dreams came true’ was how Mr Waghorn described it, and who can argue.
The whole occasion was of course underpinned by City’s best performance of the season – and those opening 25 minutes were just about as exhilarating as anything I’ve witnessed in 40+ years of being a City fan – but beyond that it was the little things that served to make it a day of days.
Small things like David McNally nudging Delia to tell her she was on the big screen.
Like Cameron Jerome giving those same Boro fans a straight-faced ‘ssshhh’ after scoring.
Like the primal roar that followed Nathan Redmond’s goal.
Like John Ruddy incurring the wrath of the Boro fans for dawdling over a goal kick.
Like that On the Ball City rendition on 87 minutes when we instinctively just knew…
And – on a personal level – like bumping into a friend I’ve not seen for 14 years on that joyous stroll back to Wembley Park tube station.
All conspired, along with the small matter of winning a game of football worth in excess of £120 million on the Wembley turf, to make it a day that even Carlsberg couldn’t dream of delivering.
As ever, Alex Neil’s decision-making was exemplary and, in his usual meticulous style, he offered the players a perfect platform on which they could deliver one of the biggest 90+ minutes in the club’s history.
The calmness exuded by him in the game’s build-up was borne out by his players, whose composure shone through against twitchy opponents, and the mindset of all involved – starting and ending with the manager – was a master-class in what it takes to manage the big occasion.
Tactically too Alex was bang on the money and it was obvious from minute one that Boro would not be permitted the electric start to the game they enjoyed at Carrow Road.
His demand for a high-octane opening was heeded to the letter and in just fifteen minutes the game was effectively over.
The seventeen passes that preceded Redmond’s classy finish were of an ilk rarely seen amidst such tension but such was the assured calmness displayed by those in yellow, Boro’s once impenetrable back-four were majestically given the hot knife through butter treatment.
And from there it was just a case of doing nothing silly or, put another way, doing ‘a Boro’. And with Olsson, Bassong, Martin and Whittaker in imperious form those from the north-east were handed a challenge they were ill-equipped to tackle.
They huffed, puffed, lit the odd red flare, but barely laid a glove on a City rearguard that, while resisting the cigars and carpet slippers, looked as composed as they have done at any stage this season.
It was as professional as it was clinical and few – even the good folk of talkSPORT – can dispute that City are deserving of their place in next season’s Premier League.
For Middlesbrough it was a case of coming up well short and, in fairness, most clad in red were as honourable in defeat as Aitor Karanka, who rightly earned the plaudits for his post-match handshakes for the City staff and players.
For those who painted Trafalgar Square red on Friday night and boasted of a thumping Boro win it must be crushing but if I can offer one crumb of consolation it’s that they probably shaded the pre-match decibel levels.
But. as alluded to by colleagues, those from Norfolk tend to look after their own and if Master Nelson was feeling a tad ‘invaded’ on the eve of the game, he would have wholly approved of yesterday afternoon’s revenge.
With regard to what lies ahead, those from south of the border have been quick to wheel out the ‘r’ word but, while it’s far too early to speculate, I have an inkling things are going to be different this time round.
In Alex, Frankie and Gary we have a trio who will be champing at the bit to get stuck into the big names, and it’s a given that inferiority will be in short supply in 2015/16.
But that’s for another day.
For now we should enjoy the moment. They don’t come along very often.
Yesterday was one we can all dine out on for a month or two but will remain in the mind for rather longer.
The sight and sound of Wembley being awash with vibrant yellow and green was spine-tingling and breath-taking in equal measures, and created the most amazing backdrop to the most perfect day.
Seldom have I felt prouder to wear the Canary on my chest and be part of the Yellow Army. We often talk of the force we can be when all in unison and yesterday, when it mattered most, we found harmony on the biggest stage.
As for Team Neil and the players – for the umpteenth time, we asked them to Never mind the danger.
They delivered.
I met two Boro fans at St Pancras, and when they saw I was alone, asked me to join them. They were in pain, but had the good grace to say they had been beaten by the far better side, and that I should stop apologising.
And we were, by far, the better side. I had no doubt we would win, such confidence has not been felt by me since a certain Mr Lambert headed to Villa.
I think there are least 5 Premier teams we are better than, coupled with the two teams who finished above us. And who knows what our manager can conjour up over the summer.
I think a bright future awaits us back in the big league.
But, can I say, as a supporter of Norwich of some 43 years, the fans yesterday were amazing, together, as one with one goal in mind: promotion.
Job done, and we have the new season to look forward to.
Thanks too to Delia and Michael, and to David, for their hard work, their appointments, and without any of them, we would not be here.
Onwards and upwards.
Mind the gap, indeed.
Great account of great day !
yes Gary,the Boro’ fans’ reaction to some minor time-wasting by John Ruddy was a real case of “hoist by your own petard” and real poetic justice, even though it was never on the scale of their time-wasting at Carrow Road.
You forgot a couple of honourable mentions – Alex Tettey, for a superb display of mid~field generalship, and the referee, for not falling for some of the antics that one of his colleagues failed to notice at Carrow Road, albeit on a lesser scale.
The Pink’un gave player ratings of 9 to the whole team, including the substitutes, but I’d have given them all 10. Jerome never stopped running and closing down, and was brilliant with his goal, Johnson worked hard to cover for Olsen when needed,and Howson’s tireless work for the team was superb, with the icing on the cake being the Barcalona-like move for Redmond’s superbly taken goal. (And did you notice the slight feint to shoot, just before he hit it, to commit the keeper?)
Spot on Jim (3) – Simply ran out of words to cover the whole gamut but – as you rightly say – Tettey was imperious in the centre of the park as indeed was Mike Dean. Both were indeed worthy of a mention.
OTBC
I agree with much of the picture if the day and match. I’m not sure Boro made more pre-match noise. I felt most Boro fans I met, pre match, were somehow not expecting a win, and strangely City fans were never more relaxed before such a big game. Special memories that will live we me for a long time, and a match too that players can look back on with pride.
In 3 words, “Who dared, won.”
Every player on the day was great – Jerome was magnificent. I see Roy Hodgson has just put Jamie Vardy in his squad after he bagged 5 goals in the PL – criminal that he hasn’t given a Jerome, Deeney or Wilson a run out over the summer.
It’s great to be battling with the big boys again but the Championship was a fantastic ride which I’ll miss. I’d settle for 40 points in the PL and a good crack in the cups but I suspect that isn’t enough for Alex Neil. What a star.
The team were all fantastic to a man. We saw some of the frailties of our players but that was more than compensated for by the fantastic work ethic and some individual pieces of skill. It is no surprise to me that our big players – Redmond, Jerome, Howson and Hoolahan – all played magnificently in the playoffs.
Watford have now got rid of their manager. Bournemouth are stuck with a tiny stadium. The team with stability and true backing is NCFC. I can see the next years being as good as the period !985 to 1995. OTBC
Can’t say any more about a wonderful City display, about the team the management and the board than has already, been said.
Just a word for the Boro fans: all the ones that I spoke to were delightful. Crest fallen and gutted obviously, but genuinely gracious in defeat whilst shaking hands.
And absolutely insistent that we have to beat Sunderland and Newcastle next year! !
Let’s hope they make it next year: with fans like that they’ll be an asset to the Premier League!
OTBC
I have to say that the standout highlight of the day for me was to have my 13 year old son at my side at Wembley to witness one of the greatest moments in our club’s history.
I told him before we headed off to London to soak up every minute of the day, regardless of the result as he would remember it for the rest of his life. From the sights of Wembley way to the sea of Yellow in the stadium and the euphoria of Redmond’s goal to stun the ‘boro faithful – he had a lot to take in!
I would like to thank Alex, the players, David McNally and the magical Yellow Army for surpassing our wildest dreams! We loved every minute of the day and this is what makes our club so special and sets us apart from the rest. It’s the least we deserve.
Also a special mention to the Attleborough Bridge gang who waved off every coach and car and greeted us back home as we passed by at 9:30pm!! Pure class and another memory to savour!!
Well done to everyone at the club. There is a clear sense of togetherness that was absent for much of the last couple of years of our recent Premiership experience. Next season is going to be tough, but Alex Neil’s composure impresses me. Whatever happens, all I want to see is passion and belief from the players.
The Championship title under Worthington, together with the double promotions under Lambert, were truly great moments in the Club’s history, but this surpassed all before by some considerable distance.
To see Wembley half bathed in yellow and green was fantastic, to have “put the game to bed” after just fifteen minutes, the stuff of dreams.
Usually, the play off winners are favourites to go down. Yes, Watford and Bournemouth have financial backing, but, as things stand at the moment, our squad looks by far the best equipped of the three to deal with the Premier League.
Roll on the 17th June!
OTBC
I still can’t believe how easy it was! It was almost a disappointment that the Boro players forgot to turn up. Who would’ve predicted the biggest prize in football could be won with a stroll in the park?!
Apart from Seb’s extravagant back-heel into the danger zone when he could easily have just squared it to Russ, no-one really put a foot wrong. We are a team built in our manager’s image – determined, tenacious, but also calm and assured under pressure.
Is there still anyone saying they wouldn’t mind another year in the Championship? We belong in the top flight. Monday proved that. And for as long as we can hold on to Sir Alex I think we will stay there.
From the dark days of Hughton, we now officially have our Norwich back. For all those who have help in that (and I include Mr Adams in that also), a MASSIVE thank you 🙂
Our first half display was the best I’ve witnessed. Somehow everything has changed under ‘Sir’ Alex. Gone is the self doubt, needless errors, desperate substitutions even the rash tackles, we just seem in control and have been so for sometime. Our run since January is remarkable and the teams adaptability to changing game situations almost flawless as Monday proved. Same players so has to be down to the manager and coaches. No dissenting voices anywhere, what a change!
Great day – great article. @Bucks you are so right about the Middlesbrough fans. I ended up with them on the tube too and they were very generous in defeat. No mention of Newcastle from these guys. We just HAD to beat the Mackems (their Ip5w1ch as I am sure you know! )