Thousands lined the streets of Norwich city centre yesterday, waiting to catch a glimpse of that precious piece of silverware that was claimed at Villa Park on Sunday.
A promotion celebration fit for champions was ordered and the people of Norwich duly obliged. A reported 12,000 Canary loyalists painted the scene in front of City Hall as it was turned into a yellow and green sight to behold on Bank Holiday Monday.
The early start was no obstacle. These supporters have committed themselves to thousands of miles of travel to some obscure locations in order to support the club they adore so much, and all in the hope of seeing a competitive team who could restore the pride in this football club.
As Delia Smith stood on the balcony, she discussed the nature of the togetherness that has been so prevalent this season.
That togetherness was palpable as players shared their victory with their supporters, all of whom have immersed themselves in this remarkable season. Joyous football, possessing the likeability factor but also creating a connection to the football that was constant – the Class of 2018/19 have passed their way out of the division.
They have immersed themselves in the culture and, equally, have fully invested in the philosophy Daniel Farke has sought to construct over the last eighteen months.
Quite simply, this has been a remarkable surge.
Late goals, important cameos and a squad standing as brothers and having total self-belief are pivotal tools to any success. The Championship is a rigorous division both stylistically but also physically and mentally.
This group have evoked every emotion possible and squeezed out every per cent possible in order to help climb the table and have encapsuled every dream for everyone who has grown up a Norwich supporter.
Farke invited them into a project which has redefined Norwich City.
The shirt holds significance and the weight of it is isn’t now a hindrance but something to embrace. Expectation has been eliminated and football has become fun again. Tedium and frustration were the overriding feelings towards the bookend of last season but now positivity has been fully restored. Merely witnessing the depth of people occupying the streets to worship their heroes yesterday illustrated that.
Now it’s over and the mood turns to one of reflection, you appreciate the magic of this campaign and the way it has reunited supporters with the game itself.
When you confirm your allegiance to a football club, you do so not to enjoy constant success nor to follow the glory but to feel a sense of belonging. That connection cannot be manufactured. When your football team succeeds, it makes everything worthwhile. All the struggle, all the air miles and all the frustration are forgotten when a moment of euphoria is realised.
That Championship trophy was paraded with pride prior to the Wes vs Russ game but it merely represents the togetherness that has led to this moment. For those members of staff work tirelessly behind the scenes, for those players who have provided the dressing room with positivity despite not getting minutes and for the owners who rarely get the recognition they deserve.
This was for all of them.
In modern society, there is more that divides than brings together but football stands as a rarity for what it stands for and represents. Nothing else has the power to draw in 50,000 people in two colours as one. It creates a community all of its own.
As a sport, that facet must be cherished.
Within it, charitable causes can be supported – as was witnessed in the game that followed the civic celebrations through the city centre.
Russell Martin hadn’t received the opportunity to wave farewell to the Norwich faithful who enjoyed his heart-on-sleeve performances over a prolonged period. Regardless of talk surrounding his positional change or ability, he always gave everything. And by mentoring the young players and refusing to shirk responsibility, he was – and still is – the consumate professional.
He led this club to a Wembley win, was a major player in three promotions and wore the shirt with passion.
A true club man who never demanded the accolades and took intense vitriol on the chin; that in itself speaks volumes of the man.
To have a send-off party that was watched by nearly 20,000 people is what Martin and Wes Hoolahan warranted for their contributions to our club over the last decade. The backdrop of the promotion party made it a magical day.
Magic is a theme that seems to follow Wes around.
Anybody present inside Carrow Road (or watching the club’s YouTube stream) witnessed a vintage Hoolahan moment as he dropped his shoulder to beat numerous defenders before producing a chipped effort that Tiger Woods would have been proud of.
Yet, despite his showmanship on the pitch, he is a shy, reserved character off it. Notoriously, interviews are not his favourite things in the world.
There’s a sense of expression to his play, his feet provide the words his voice is reluctant to.
This was goodbye to the Irish wizard. No more dropped shoulders, no more clever turns. Wes Hoolahan will be a name associated with Norwich City for years to come, probably forever, because of the manner in which he plays the game.
So… another season completed but one that will be placed in the history books for generations to flick through and recall the everlasting memories created this campaign. Joy will be the overriding emotion but that taste of victory is moreish.
From a season that supporters were imploring to end to one that they never wanted to – this group has exceeded all expectations and have become Norwich City immortals.
Most of all, it’s rekindled everyone’s love of this football club. Supporters are at the forefront of this Norwich City project orchestrated by Stuart Webber and Daniel Farke.
This feels like it is merely the start.
Good one Connor.
My favourite celebratory moment was discovering after the Parade that while wearing the Mayor’s hat and ringing the handbell…………
Kenny McLean’s bottle of “orange juice” was actually MD 20/20, or Mad Dog as they call it in Glasgow and just about everywhere else – 13 per cent ABV!
A man very much after my own heart.
Great article Connor and what a day yesterday.
To see SOOOO many fans (and generations of families) covering every centimetre of available space from Theatre Street to Gaol Hill was incredible. The streets for the parade were absolutely thronged with well-wishers as well.
Great to see so many fans at the Charity Match in the afternoon as well.
I guess all that’s left is to await 13th June to see who will be the first opponents to walk out at Carrow Road.
Edit – for MP. Brewdog began life some 40 miles east of where I was born!!!!
Hi Ed
Wolf(e) brewery is pretty close to us as is the Coach and Horses and indeed Woodfordes.
As a youngster all we basically got in Greater London was Red Barrel and Charrington IPA – so unpalatable you had to have just a half of it in a pint glass with a bottle of Light Ale to make up an acceptable pint.
We called it Light and Bitter, while the Norfolk taste has always been for half of rubbish (aka Norwich Bitter) mixed with a half of Mild which anybody born and bred would call “Twos”.
As a struggling student and later trainee journalist I supplemented my meagre income by working for my mate Bobby in two of his pubs – the Prince of Wales in Chigwell and the Bald Faced Stag in Buckhurst Hill.
You wouldn’t believe what went back into the Mild keg in the cellar – slops, fag-ash and even the occasional bottle top from the drip trays.
No health and safety in the late 1970s and early 1980s!
Hi Connor.
Being up here in Blackpool I can only watch with envy at the celebrations in the fine city.
Everyone will have opinions of promotion teams – I was at Watford for the very first promotion to the old 1st Div and was at nearly all the games for John Bond’s team that finished second to Man U, and have witnessed from afar due to work commitments most of the others.
If SS reported 50k were at the City Hall yesterday, how many of these would buy ST’s if more were available. It’s about time that City really looked into expanding the ground if they really want it to be self-financing but that is a discussion for another day. So let’s all reflect on a wonderful and successful season, wish all the departing players a fruitful career wherever that may be, and hope the new recruits that arrive forge a successful career at City.
Lastly, every one of the present players have a well-earned break and to come back determined for a great season back in the Premiership
Onwards and Upwards
OTBC