Malcolm Robertson’s recent reminiscences here about his favourite City players over the years set many of us thinking.
Fortunately, there are plenty to go around, special players in one way or another who we’ve watched in the Canary colours (albeit in a variety of shirts).
Some are genuinely outstanding talents. Others have a special place in our hearts because of associations with the time we saw them representing City. That’s why some of mine are recent, but others are from back in the Seventies.
For sheer talent and grace – both sporting and personal – no-one comes close to Martin Peters. But others have their own particular spaces in my memory.
It’s a perennial debating point who’s been our best striker over the years. Teemu Pukki would have a decent claim on that. But for the unique combination of qualities – not all of them attractive – that make an outstanding goalscorer, I’d have to put Ted MacDougall near the top. Moody and arrogant no doubt, but with an ability to back it up.
Only Craig Bellamy comes close.
If I admired MacDougall, I loved the player who understood and brought out the best in him. Phil Boyer was far less spectacular – think Dave Stringer in relation to Duncan Forbes – but a joy to watch and a key part of every success we had at that time. Quality.
The most physically distinctive player of the era (and another one for the purists)? Graham Paddon. Has there been another player who had two distinguished periods with us (for him, 1969-73 and 1976-81), separated by a chunk of time elsewhere? In Paddon’s case, no surprise that it was with West Ham.
Speaking of West Ham, the most personal memory for me. On 20 August 1977, I saw City beat the Hammers 3-1 at Upton Park, with goals from David Jones and Kevin Reeves.
I wasn’t alone.
Some might have raised an eyebrow about that choice for my first date with a smart and sexy young American lady I’d met at work. Remarkably, though, she stuck with me – and Norwich – for the next 40 years.
Kevin Reeves was also a useful player, by the way!
A more mixed memory surrounds another City product of the time. Martin Peters said there was a young player at Norwich he expected to have a glittering career, including playing for England. The one I believe he was referring to (and I agreed) did play 250 games for us, but injury robbed him of the chance to fulfil his full potential.
Happily, he’s still around now. Good wishes to Peter Mendham.
As a complete contrast to Paddon, McDougall or Forbes, certain players tend to be overlooked because of their unassuming playing style or physical appearance. One of those, probably an unknown name to many younger City fans now, would be Mel Machin. But he could play.
The aesthetic pleasure of watching City teams under John Bond wasn’t matched until last season – and indeed this one – under Daniel Farke. Of course, there have been memorable individuals in the meantime.
If we ever needed a lesson not to judge a player too quickly, it has to be Iwan Roberts. Overweight and ineffective in his first season with us, he rightly became one of the closest to our hearts.
A similar scenario played out more recently with Tim Krul, of course. Howlers in his first games for us, reflecting his long enforced absence from the game, made us shudder. In fact, some mangers would certainly have dropped him. That never crossed the mind of Daniel Farke, and the rewards have been spectacular.
We’re always gratified when a City player is selected for his country. But have we ever been more pleased than at Tim’s recall to the Dutch squad?
(One of the most disappointing aspects of having to postpone the Canaries Trust AGM was missing the opportunity to meet and chat with Tim. Hopefully, we’ll get the same chance when it eventually takes place.)
Certain players are simply hard not to feel affection for. We do love you, Paul McVeigh. And Jerry Goss, Simon Lappin, Adam Drury. At risk of some pushback, I’ll add Russell Martin to the list.
As regular readers may be aware, prediction isn’t my strong suit. I really believed Moritz Leitner and Mario Vrancic would make big impacts this year. On the other hand, I didn’t foresee the emergence of Todd Cantwell as a true Premier League performer.
If our reminiscences tell us anything, it’s that there’s a constant conveyor belt of City players ready to create, or be an integral part of, special memories for us. It’ll happen again, once the football we love resumes.
Sooner rather than later, we pray.
“I really believed Moritz Leitner and Mario Vrancic would make big impacts this season. On the other hand, I didn’t foresee the emergence of Todd Cantwell as a true Premier League performer.”
You and me both Stew, you and me both.
A very entertaining read as always.
A great read Stewart – I was also at that West Ham game in 1977. Football hooliganism was rife and there were some nasty scenes, but I do remember enjoying the win.
I think Colin Suggett was a bit underrated – very reliable player for us.
Iwan was a disaster when he first arrived, but he shed the weight and persistence paid off, he became a star. He lived in the same village as me and would stop for a chat, a damn nice fella. A pity him and Malky .Mac never got to play for us in the Prem, they deserved better and we didn’t have decent replacements. We missed Iwan up front, and a 5’ nothing centre back, he did his best but it was never going to work.
I guess you mean Simon Charlton? What a whoops that one was.
I was at the West Ham game. Am I right in remembering it was the first win,
, on the first day of the season, since we went up to Division One?
Peter Sylvester hasn’t been mentioned I don’t think, His disallowed hand ball goal in the FA Cup against Chelsea was a disappointment I’ve never got over.
I believe you’re right. I did tell my date not to expect too much from City!
I thought that was Hughie Curran. Stood at the opposite end at Stamford Bridge we didn’t know the reason it was disallowed until reading the Sunday papers.
Stewart, how can you have a best striker paragraph with no mention of the guy who did so much to erase the memory of the Roedent/Gunny days ;- I give you Grant Holt.
Yes; Ted MacDougall was a goalscorer, but operated exclusively in the 18 yard box.
For me, Holty was so much more, although admittedly initially in lower divisions.
Have we ever had a player who managed to wind up the oppositions players and fans so much…..although most would have wanted him playing for them.
O T B C
All true! My only excuse is I wasn’t trying to summarise the debate of our best ever striker – just lead in to my comments about Ted MacDougall.
If I’d said more, I’d have mentioned Dean Ashton. I’m very sorry – as I suspect he is – that he didn’t have a longer time at Norwich.
Great comment.
No mention of Robert Fleck ? An irritant if ever there was one. I remember (sort of) his first game on his return from Chelsea to my beloved . Who we were playing God knows but Flecky was half a yard quicker in his movement and thinking after his time at Chelsea, this made him look out of touch, but not to my mind.
My first game at Carrow Road, 1967 age 11, in the City stand with my Dad (who wasn’t a fan but acquired tickets from a mate) awestruck , Smiths crisps and one Gerry Mannion, perhaps that was the one game in which he played well. I didn’t get to see the Canaries until seven years later, and have had a tear in my eye ever since at the very mention of the Canaries, so many memories, some amazing and some awful. I was living in London in 1985 and never ever imagined a trip to Wembley, I wasn’t a season ticket holder and how would l get a ticket ? Well, courtesy of a lovely chap at NC London Area Supporters Club and an exchange of £5 , there l was , walking down Wembley Way when our team coach trundled by, Ken Brown waved at me (and only me), fantastic, better than the Queen any day .
Gerry Mannion – another one I remember!
An interesting combination with Bill Punton on the other wing…
Re: my previous. How rubbish my memory is as it ought to have read John Manning and not Gerry Mannion. Hey ho, no harm done as l hope these names ring a bell with some.
By the way, scrolling through team squads from yonks back is great fun… “ I had forgotten about so and so, or… did he really play for us” ?
On another note l was fortunate enough to be a steward between 1991- 1995, great times. I managed to climb the greasy pole from steward to section (some say suction) head of the search squad for the away supporters when ensconced in the Barclay stand and South stand. What a giggle with away supporters and not all were idiots though l did have some scary moments, midweek games particularly cup games tended to be the hairiest , Southampton, Brentford, Birmingham, and of course, Millwall. I wouldn’t erase those memories for the world,, you soon found out where your spine was, and backside !