I’m worried. So worried in fact I’m going to change my job.
No, I’m not trying to escape some professional misdemeanour. It’s true that I’ve stretched the rules occasionally, and that my wife and I initially got together on a work trip – but given that it was in 1977, it’s a tad late for disciplinary action.
It’s not actually about my career at all. Whatever merits that had, they’re not going to change now.
No – it’s my role on this forum that has to change.
For the last few months, my task seems to have been that of happy clapper: trying to keep spirits up, defending those at the club I feel have been unfairly criticised (not you, Kyle), and generally promoting reasons to be optimistic.
Not any longer. After Newcastle, I see people relaxing and starting to feel that survival is almost job done.
Not just our fans, either. While Jeff Stelling announced our winner as “the goal that could keep one club up and send another down”, the Sunday Telegraph billed it as a goal that “set Norwich on course for Premier League safety”.
Rubbish. There are miles to go, and a pile of hard work to be put in, before we can even think about survival. So I’m now turning from the prophet of “a chunk of games to go, we’re not doomed” to the prophet of “a chunk of games to go, we’re not safe”.
Not that anyone’s ever called me a prophet of anything, but you get the drift.
Having said that, let’s give ourselves a luxury Alex Neil won’t give the players: to bask in that sensational finish and let it wash over us. It was one of the special days.
Perhaps the best part of all was the reaction of the players, including those on the bench.
If anyone doubted our togetherness, or the individual commitment of an Olsson, Bassong or Naismith, it was there for all to witness. We never doubted it in the case of Russell Martin or Alex Tettey, and it was great to see their part in the celebrations (though I’m not sure Tettey is supposed to be running round like that after his operation).
Speaking of Naismith, Saturday was a bit of a revelation. I confess I was disappointed to see Bamford dropped to the bench, but Naismith and Mbokani were excellent – not just as individual performance, but in partnership. We’re already reaping the benefit of partnerships elsewhere on the pitch – Howson and O’Neil, Klose and Bennett/Bassong – and it looks like we have another one.
Coming back to special days at Carrow Road, comparison immediately came to mind between Olsson’s strike on Saturday and Simeon Jackson’s extra-late winner against Derby. Neither actually decided our fate, but both felt crucial and sparked the kind of euphoria we don’t experience very often.
What other days have left us with that feeling at Carrow Road? It’s a slightly tricky one because our promotions and survivals have generally been confirmed away from home, at a variety of places including Portsmouth, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and – for those of us with long memories – Orient. I believe the last promotion we clinched at home was 1960.
That doesn’t mean there’s any shortage of candidates for euphoria-inducing finishes at Norwich. Here are a Top Six off the top of my head – I fully to expect to be crying “Why didn’t I think of that one?” when I see others you’ll all suggest.
1. 6 March 1985 – League Cup semi-final. Steve Bruce’s 88th minute bullet header at the Barclay End to send Ipswich home and put us in the final. Ipswich were quite good back then
2. 9 April 2004 – vs Wigan. My maverick choice – no late goal involved. It’s in my Top Six because it was a crucial Easter game against promotion rivals, and exemplified what that season was about: Hucks set up a first for Svensson, then waltzed past four Wigan defenders in front of the Barclay to give us a decisive 2-0 lead. Ecstasy
3. 27 March 2010 – vs Leeds. We’d have almost certainly got promoted out of League 1 without it, but Chris Martin’s late diving header to defeat Leeds was very sweet indeed
4. 25 April 2011 – Simeon’s 95th minute winner against Derby, Robbie Savage and all. Cue immortal Radio Norfolk commentary
5. 16 May 2015 – play-off vs Ipswich. So many candidates from last season (most of them against Ipswich), but can’t resist the moment Cameron Jerome slipped the ball past a despairing keeper for 3-1. “Jerome…and it’s Wembley!”
6. 2 April 2016 – thank you, Martin Olsson
I’m sorry to leave out a couple of crucial headed winners from Duncan Forbes in the 1972 promotion run-in, Bradley Johnson’s piledriver against Ipswich last season, and many more. But what else did I miss?
Adam Drury’s injury time equalizer to make it 4-4 vs Middlesbrough.
I can’t remember the significance of the result itself, but as part of a late fight back it was a very satisfying goal.
What about malky’s header against Stockport (at home)in 2001/2 to get us into the playoffs on goal difference pretty much with the last kick (header actually) of the game.
The roof came off CR that afternoon for sure.
22nd January 1975 – Colin Suggett’s 54th minute goal against Man Utd in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final, that took us through to Wembley 3-2 on aggregate.
Great shouts, everyone – keep ’em coming.
Malky’s late header at the back post vs Wolves in the play-offs! Shame it didn’t result in promotion #Sutch
It may be because I’m old, but don’t forget Palace at home in ’73. Last game of the season, had to win to stay up and send them down, last Minute Dave Stringer headed winner from a right side corner at the river end ( that’s Norwich and Peterborough for younger readers!). Cue mayhem, pitch invasions etc etc.
That one will live with me till I die.
Rich (5), David (6) – Excellent thoughts (and great memories). Couldn’t deny either of those a place in the all-time list.
Dean Ashton scored a wonderful header from pinpoint cross from Tomas Helveg. We beat Newcastle 2-1 that night. After the Safri 40 yard thunderbolt they equalised near the end through Patrick Klievert. That was hard to beat for pure drama. Although any City win always makes me smile!
oh and beating Clelsea 3-2 away after being two down. David Phillips power drive, that bobbled through Dave Beasant’s legs and just crossed the line.
Impossible to argue with any of the above. A magic moment every single one. Can I also just add Leon’s second to make it City 2 Man Utd 0 in the unsuccessful run-in of 2005.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD002-CVZB4
A special mention to Safri for not only starting the move but for irking a fresh-faced Rooney in the process. Result!
The one I always remember – John Polston V Aston Villa 1993. I think Norwich and Villa were 1st and 2nd or 1st and 3rd in the premier league. Norwich won 1 nil, were top of the premier league and we really started to believe we could win the league. However it was not to be.
Good one Frank (11) – Excellent shout!
Thanks, all. It’s clear that six isn’t enough for a list of Carrow Road specials.
And I reckon there’s still more out there…
On the basis of ‘revenge is a dish best served cold,’ one of my recent favourites was Holt’s late winner against Reading in 2011. Harte had contrived to have Holt sent off in the game at Reading, when we were 3-1 up, and we drew that game 3-3. Come the 90 something minute of the return game at the Carra, and Holty calmly dispatched both Harte and the ball into the Barclay End goal, and thundered past the away fans with hand cupping his left ear. Lovely stuff!
Anyone out there recall a belting 4-3 home win over Everton in March, 1992 under Mr. Norwich – Dave Stringer? 3-2 down with 8 minutes left, Darren Beckford netted twice to complete a hat trick (Rob Newman got the other). Of the remaining 8 games of that season, we lost 7 and drew 1 to just stay up.
I say does anyone remember not because it was 24 years back but because there were only 11,900 at the game! Those were the days.
Nice one, Sue!
Remi (15) – Great memory (and great name).
Never enjoyed a set of comments so much. Thanks one & all.
One which I haven’t seen so far was v Palace on 14th December 1996. Late equaliser (Adams’ free kick?) after a big punch-up and Ray Houghton’s exclusive red card! It was my younger brother’s Carrow Road debut that day and we had prime seats for the fisticuffs in the old South Stand! I’d take a repeat of that on Saturday! Even the stand at Selurst Park is reminiscent of the South Stand, although it smells much worse, 20 odd years later!
OTBC
An Adam Drury header, yes header, that turned 4-1 down into a 4-4 draw with Boro? 2005, probably late January as I seem to remember I was following it on the radio as light relief from completing my tax return.
As for last Saturday, I think Ruddy’s save from Cisse was actually the more important moment – had that gone in the strangely coloured Magpies would have been able to shut us out for the remaining few minutes. That save really did make 3 points difference, not the 2 earned by the goal.
Robert Fleck in a televised game vs Millwall at The (Old) Den in Jan 1989. 2-0 up very early, Millwall got back to 2-2 by half time then battered us after the break. Bryan Gunn kept us in the game before Flecky conjoured up a 20yard volley at the death. Made it scary leaving the ground too!!!
Great recollections. I’ll add Marshalls very late winner in 2001 v Watford to win from 1-0 down. Needergard got the equaliser what a player he was.
Simeon Jackson & Martin Olsson goals meant so much.
My Carrow Road debut; Nov 1994 v Leicester. Went 1 down, Newsome equalised with a header before Sutch popped up in the 84th minute with a winner. I sat in the Lower Barclay as it went berserk. I experienced that day what it was like to hug random strangers all sharing a common passion.
The game itself was meaningless, but a late winner at your first ever live football match with the team you love…priceless.
More fantastic stuff. Nedergaard didn’t score many – but they were worth waiting for.
Ian (20): Flecky’s winner in that (crucial) game remains one of my favourites. But my list was of moments at Carrow Road – that one didn’t make it because it was at The Den. Still nice to be reminded of, though.
I am really going to show my age here! In 1969 a couple of schoolfriend’s convinced me to join them in the Barclay Stand for a Saturday game at Carrow Road against Charlton early in the season. As it is now 47 years ago the memory is a little hazy,but I think Charlton took the lead in about the 87th minute through a penalty after “Kev the Cat” Keelan had punched someone! Cue wild celebrations from the adjacent Charlton fans (hard to believe that in those days they shared the stand with us and were only separated from us City fans by a thin blue line!), only for Neil O’Donnell to step up in the last minute to equalise and send the home fans into ectasy. As a 14 year old boy I was hooked and have witnessed all of the above late goals since that day – though if I had to pick a favourite it would be the Dave Stringer goal in 1973. The noise that 36,000 City fans made when that when in had to heard to be believed!!
Yep, I realised that just after I’d pressed send. Oops!!
My first season ticket match was after the excitement of Italia 90 when we played Sunderland on a brilliantly hot day for the first match of the season. After going 2-0 & being pulled back to 2-2, disappointment changed to euphoria with Fox’s winner! Not particularly important in terms of the league, but what a way to start a season ticket – I thought they’d all be like that! My memory tells me is was a late winner but after trawling the internet for longer than I care to admit, I don’t know which minute it was – if anyone knows, please let me know!
Promotion in 1982 was clinched either at Carrow Road with the 2-0 win over Orient, or really at Filbert Street where Leicester drew with Shrewsbury.