This’ll come round to Norwich City in the present, I promise, but today’s story starts back in 1972.
My guess is many of you weren’t around in 1972. You missed a few things.
It was the year I went to university, with all the physical and mental liberation that involves. There was an extra sense of freedom in the air too: it was a time of great music (the Beatles being succeeded by David Bowie and Pink Floyd); we had student grants that stretched to a fair amount of beer; the Pill was a much-appreciated innovation. Oh, and we studied a bit too.
Some of that liberation will be felt by everyone leaving home, of course, but for a Norwich fan 1972 held something unique. It was the year we first won promotion to the top division.
Our opponents that year in Division 2 (as we imagined it would always be called) were an interesting mix from today’s perspective. Sunderland, Burnley, Hull and Middlesbrough from today’s Premier League, together with the likes of Swindon, Portsmouth, Orient and Luton.
Ron Saunders’ team wasn’t pretty, but we were super-fit – and winners. On 29 April 1972 I was among the army of Norwich fans who figured out how to get to our final game at Watford (little knowing I’d eventually live there for 25 years). A 1-1 draw was enough to secure the title and send us home in delirium.
The words ‘great’ and ‘legend’ are horribly over-used in football, but our goalscorer that day fits the bill. Dave Stringer went to school at the Alderman Leach in Gorleston, almost opposite the house where I grew up. He wanted to play at the highest level, and to play for Norwich City; thanks to Ron Saunders, and of course to his own efforts, he achieved both together.
Stringer went on to make 499 appearances for City, then to become one of the most successful managers in our history.
All this (and more) is described in his chapter in the new Tales from the City Volume 2. The events make an absorbing read – but just as striking is the tone. No-one could have more reason to be proud and arrogant; no-one could actually be more modest. His summary of that amazing career and contribution to Norwich? “I think I didn’t do badly”
Dave Stringer was a right back converted to central defender. He played alongside Duncan Forbes, whose aggression and strength made him the eye-catching one. The combination worked, though, because of Stringer’s mobility and reading of the game. You barely noticed Stringer’s presence, because he did his job so effectively.
My kind of player: the Jonny Howson of his day (how we’re going to miss Jonny over the next few weeks.)
I’d draw two direct lessons from the 1971-72 City team for today’s – one positive, one negative.
I won’t put Russell Martin quite in the same bracket as Dave Stringer, but there are similarities. Stringer never enjoyed the same adoration as Big Dunc, and a section of fans always questioned his place in the team. His managers never questioned it, though: they could see (as Duncan did) the value of his unspectacular work.
Russ is not infallible, but he is emphatically not in the present team because of favouritism.
On the other hand, there’s a quality which shone in the 1972 team and where our present side pales in comparison. Mirroring its physical fitness, the Saunders team had a fierce mental resilience and determination. Call it character or whatever, an individual and collective leadership ran through that team.
Its tangible result was that we held onto leads and repeatedly won games with late goals, especially at the business end of that promotion season. For belief, the team resembled Paul Lambert’s Championship side of 2010-11.
If there’s one area I’d like to strengthen in January, therefore, it would a mental/motivational one rather than a physical one. An old hand, perhaps, who wouldn’t play every game but who’d bring encouragement and leadership to the pitch and the dressing room. Rather as Dion Dublin did for us a decade ago.
While my mind is drifting back to the late Sixties/early Seventies, two City games stick out – both at home to Derby under Brian Clough. In April 1969 they came and gave us a masterclass – the best opposition performance I’d ever seen at Carrow Road, an eye-opener equivalent to Hungary’s iconic demolition of England in 1953. They dispatched us 4-1 which could have been 8-1.
So there was a sense of apprehension at their next visit on 26 August 1972, when they came to newly-promoted Norwich as reigning champions. But our fears were unfounded; the belief and fitness instilled into us by Saunders carried City to a 1-0 win, our first ever home victory in the top division.
If we could inject some of that resilience and spirit into the present team, we’d be formidable. Unlike many callers to Canarycall, I don’t think it’ll require a change of manager. But it’s a higher priority than another central defender.
A painfully sentimental article inexplicably linking an excellent stringer with a league 1 right back. There are no similarities between Russell and stringer whatsoever. It’s surreal to even suggest there. He is the worst centre back and captain we have had in decades. Even Bassong had one good season. Anyone you speak to who is involved in football will tell you the same.
What this article is really telling us is that we need a strong manager like stringer who will make tough decisions and a new leader on the pitch. That’s the angle you should have taken instead of very, very unfairly linking those two players. I hope Dave doesn’t see this.
Spot on, Stewart. Good analysis (maybe comes with age haha). And strangely 1972-73 was my first season at Carrow Road having moved to the Fine City to take my A levels at Norwich City College. 44 years later …
Cheers, Jeff (1/2) for the prompt and utterly predictable response.
I think you’ll actually find a lot of people in football – beyond the five managers who’ve picked him in central defence – to explain why Russ is a decent player in that position.
I don’t know Dave Stringer’s view, but I’m more than happy for him to see everything I’ve said. I suspect his response might be rather more measured than yours.
PS Jeff – sorry to be “painfully sentimental”. I believe you have a standing invitation to show everyone that you can do better.
I’m normally on message with you Stewart but to compare Russ to Dave Stringer is a bit too much. I like Russell Martin and I’m always happier to see a NCFC team with him in it rather than not although preferably at right back. Stringer, however, is a Club Legend and I doubt Russ will ever achieve that status, notwithstanding his loyalty and contributions.
So, for once, I agree with Jeff (on that point only) and you do yourself no favours with having a pop back at him and issuing an invitation that you know he is not going to accept. He’s perfectly entitled to his opinion.
Jeff – if anyone is being overly sentimental, it’s you old chap. We all love Dave Stringer for his massive contribution at all levels with the Canaries but it’s almost impossible to rationally decide if he was a better defender than Martin.
Stringer was involved in relegation (presumably he made errors too) and promotion just like Martin but arguably faced lesser centre forwards, certainly in terms of technical ability. How he would have handled Aguero, Suarez and Sanchez I shudder to think.
Also back then it was a rigid 4-4-2 system with emphasis for defenders on defending. Now with LB & RB flying up and down the pitch, the CBs have to be far more flexible in their thinking and approach.
Was he better – impossible to say but to deny any comparisons is silly.
You do have a habit of stating things with certainty when they are just opinions. Try to back up with facts and context.
Derek (6): Thanks for the comment.
I suspect we’re not actually that far apart. I said “I won’t put Russell Martin in the same bracket as Dave Stringer” – and I don’t. But there are similarities: both converted from RB, both hugely respected by colleagues and perhaps under-valued by fans. And both thoroughly decent people in a business where many aren’t.
As far Jeff, I confess to irritation at his constant and (in my view) wildly disproportionate negativity. But as you say, he’s entitled to his view. One of the strengths of this forum is to give space to a range of opinion.
Top trolling Jeff. I’m guessing to must be stroking yourself over so many replies being about you?
MFW is a broad church – all sensible and reasoned replies considered, even if others don’t necessarily agree. Your views fail on both counts.
To suggest that Russell Martin is a League One right back – even though he hasn’t played a game at that level for over six seasons – shows incredible levels of stupidity, even by your standards.
Four seasons in the Premier League, plus two and a bit in the Championship proves how wrong you are on that count.
Russell Martin may never be classed within the all time list of Canary greats, but, you don’t get to play over 250 games without something about you from a footballing perspective – even the most dim witted supporter surely realises that.
On second thoughts – perhaps not.
My first season also, the atmosphere, those bright yellow shirts with the big bird badge, Graham Paddon, hordes of gruff old blokes, in caps, smoking profusely, the rain dripping down my dads neck, me carrying the little footstool he made for me, Swindon, Luton, Blackpool, Bristol city, charlton, 6d for a programme, (still have them somewhere) Gerry Harrison, no football club comes close. Stringer the next season, scoring a last minute winner against palace to keep us up and send them down.
Chris (10) – Great memories, nicely remembered!
Thank you Stewart, I nearly had a full on “jumpers for goalposts” moment there.
Nice bit of nostalgia from Stew and from Chris (10). I’d throw into that same mix the heady aroma of cigar smoke as I would stroll, with my dad, behind the Main Stand, alongside Boulton & Paul, post-match. Can still smell it to this day.
Great writing Stewart.
We’ve been lacking a ‘leader’ since Bradder’s went so your point is very valid and on reflection I have a feeling those types of players are becoming something of a rare species. Man U, West Ham, Sunderland, could certainly do with one.
City have been lucky down the years we’ve had our fair share, Big Dunc, Iwan, Holty, (both Gary & grant), Malky, etc, etc. We also require a talisman, Grant Holt was both, Hucks, Iwan again even “Bellers ” who hated getting beat.
Trouble is you can’t buy these guys they evolve and just because they are at one club doesnt guarantee they will at another.
Bloody love Russell Martin and get so angry with the so called fans who slate him. We owe him plenty and would suggest he has had a huge influence on our incredible journey since league 1 days.
Jeff 1,2 plenty of space at Portman Road suggest you take yourself off there dear boy!
Chris/Gary: One of us is going to turn into Proust any moment….
I love it how everyone gets all misty-eyed and forgets that there would have no doubt been equal times when Stribger himself would have had poor games etc. No player is infallible and we should appreciate Russ a little more than some perhaps do. After all he has achieved with Norwich, that is the least he deserves. I for one do think he’s playing poorly at the moment but he has been terrific over many years for Norwich so I’m not suddenly going to think he’s always been poor for us. He hasn’t. And a fair bet Stringer wasn’t perfect in every game either. If he was, he’d have been picked up by one of the big boys, despite his Norfolk roots. It’s amazing how history forgets the bad memories
Gav (16) : Well said.
We all have selective memories. You don’t have to go back very far for examples, either – the clamour to see people like Becchio or (even now) Lafferty in the team is based on fantasy rather than the reality of their performances for us.