Is it silly season yet? Well, it is now… Some nostalgic fun with NCFC player names from over the years.
City players who share a famous name…
– George Martin (played for Norwich City FC, 1913-27) – Beatles’ producer: ‘We All Live In A Yellow (And Green) Submarine’.
– Will Smith (1931-34) – US movie star: ‘Men In Black IV – The VAR Story.’
– Jimmy Hill (1959-63) – Fondly regarded MOTD nincompoop. Memorable chin.
– Trevor Howard (1967-74) – Brief Encounter: Ah, the ‘romance’ of the cup, eh?
– David Jones (1975-80) – The Monkees: ‘I’m a Believer’. Aren’t we all?
– Chris Martin (2006-13) – Coldplay: ‘Yellow’, obviously.
– Tommy Docherty (1950-53) – Ex-football manager: Sadly ‘The Doc’ couldn’t cure a badly ailing Man Utd in the mid-70s.
– Danny Kelly (2009-10) – Radio phone-in stalwart: Dan, Dan, the Talksport Man.
– Paul Jones (2016-18) – Manfred Mann: Countdown to the new season: ‘5-4-3-2-1’.
– Jack Russell (1934-36) – Wicketkeeper and baked-bean enthusiast: Much-needed terrier-like presence in the middle of the park.
– Sam Smith (1935-36) – Singer: ‘(Transfer) Money On My Mind’
– Steve Wright (1922-23) – Radio 2 DJ: Always performed better ‘In The Afternoon’ rather than evening kick-offs.
– Sam Kelly (2014-15) – Porridge’s ‘Bunny Warren’: ‘You are an habitual footballer who accepts losing as an occupational hazard and presumably accepts relegation in the same casual manner. We therefore feel constrained to commit you to the maximum term allowed for these offences — you have been sentenced to another five-year-plan.’
City players who definitely had comedian nicknames*…
– Malcolm ‘Dave’ Allen (1988-90)
– Ryan ‘Lennie’ Bennett (2012-17)
– Steve ‘Lenny’ Bruce (1984-87)
– Andre ‘Norman’ Wisdom (2015-16)
– Patrick ‘Frankie’ Boyle (2006)
– Mark ‘Jim’ Bowen (1987-96)
– Jimmy ‘Dylan’ Moran (1957-61)
– Johnny ‘Max’ Miller (1974-76)
– Alec ‘Peter’ Kay (1905)
– Kevin ‘Vic’ Reeves (1977-80)
– Clarence ‘Frank’ Spencer (1932-33)
– Jimmy ‘Ricky’ Tomlinson (1908-09)
– David ‘Kenneth’ Williams (1985-92)
And my personal favourite…
– Rob ‘Rob’ Newman (1991-98)
Sorry, no, that’s not my personal favourite, this is…
– Mark ‘Joan’ Rivers (2001-04)
(* – No they didn’t.)
Footballers with Norfolk place names for surnames…
Ex-NCFC players:
– Garry Brooke (1985-87)
– Grant Holt (2009-13)
– Gary Holt (2001-05)
– Chris Sutton (1991-94)
– Mike Sutton (1962-67)
– Clint Easton (2001-04)
And those who chose to tread different grass:
– Theo Walcott
– Gareth Bale
– Derek Hales
– Ray Houghton (St Giles)
– Don Howe
– Teddy Sheringham
Plus an honourable mention for…
Commentator Mike Ingham
And of course…
Stephen Fry’s old hang-out, Booton. Geddit? Haha!
I couldn’t leave out the City manager anagrams…
Doubtless, decent Ron Saunders wouldn’t UNDRESS NORA, but with his famously tough pre-season training sessions on Mousehold it was likely the players RAN ON DURESS.
Martin O’Neill might fancy a NEAT MINI ROLL from Cadbury’s now and again, but with his roar and tousled mane you might meet him at the LION TERMINAL.
Was Bruce Rioch really CHERUBIC, OR…?
Bryan Hamilton may have been seen IN A BAR MONTHLY or collecting players on a BARMY LOAN HINT – but at least he did see the future with BRAINY MAN HOLT.
Neil Adams’ MAD ALIENS theory didn’t hold water, but he managed to AMEND SAIL and return to coaching.
Paul Lambert often had his BALLET ARM UP, but these days he seems more like ALBERTA PLUM (whoever that might be!) steadying the Blues’ leaky ship in Div 3.
Peter Grant might have appreciated a better-toned insect, a PERTER GNAT?
Nigel Worthington was INTO GROWLING THEN during half-time team talks.
Gary Megson’s EGGY RANSOM might best be left alone. You wouldn’t want it affecting MY GRAN’S EGO.
Daniel Farke’s mission is to DARE LIKE FAN, which is lucky because it turns out he’s the real FREAKIN’ DEAL!
And dear ol’ Delia is left with I HIT MEDALS or HI, I’M SALTED! depending on your view. Mind you, it’s always important to be appropriately seasoned.
But, before we go back to Des in the studio, my favourite footballing name fact is…
This is intended with all love and affection as I very much enjoyed watching this fella on Saturday lunchtimes on the Beeb, especially when he mentioned the Canaries. Me dad used to cook us sausages and mash while me mum was at work when his Football Focus show was on so I have very fond memories of that time and this fella.
So, no mocking or bullying here, just the recognition of a long-held Scottish tradition of maintaining a family name through the generations and one which should be appreciated and applauded.
So, for kind interest only, which famous ex-goalkeeper and BBC TV presenter from the 1980s has the middle name ‘Primrose’?
OTBC!
** While we’re in quiz mode, how many of the faces in the header pic can you name (all mentioned in the piece)? No prizes, but a warm fuzzy feeling for those getting a full house.
Hi Chris – nice one.
You could have had Peter Mendham, which is technically in Norfolk although very close to the border.
As for Primrose I met himself and his wife at the opening of his friend John Radford’s pub the Greyhound in Thaxted, Essex around 1980. A lovely couple indeed.
I think I’ve got all the pics although I’m not 100% sure about bottom row left so I’ll look forward to the answers later!
Forgot to say my favourite footy anagram is Neil Warnock as in Colin W*****.
Cheers Martin. Reckon you got Primrose right if Radford was a pal. They were at the same club together for a long time. Won a significant football double too, if I remember.
I’m going to guess Primrose is John Inverdale? Could be totally wrong.
I also agree with Martin P as to the best managerial anagram of all time….
Hi Martin. Good guess but not quite there with JI. We’re looking for an earlier incarnation.
Thanks and best wishes though.
Surely you could have included East Beckham… not far from Teddy Sheringham.
That’s a good one, AC! Just up the road from here too.
PS. ANSWERS WILL BE POSTED AROUND MIDDAY, IF OK WITH EVERYONE. AND AT 12:01 IF NOT. CS
I believe Primrose was a Scottish International but was born in England, I think he also went to Loughborough University. He shared a surname with Ryan Giggs when Giggs signed for Man Utd
Bob Wilson rx Gooner Keeper
Well done all. Thanks for playing.
In case you didn’t know, the answers to the two quizzes on the ‘What’s In A Name…?’ article are as follows:
– The BBC presenter with the middle name ‘Primrose’ is #BobWilson
– The six people on the B&W montage are #LennyBruce, #DerekHales, #MaxMiller, #DonHowe, #TrevorHoward, & #PaulJones
Hope you enjoyed!
Thanks again.
#NCFC #NorwichCity #OTBC
I wasn’t too sure about Don Howe but I was right after all.
Jeez Lenny Bruce looks like Dean Martin in that pic but I quickly noticed the phone in his right hand instead of a large glass of wine so got that one too.
Very entertaining for us middle-aged’uns.
Cheers Martin. A little bit of nostalgia – plus a mention of Sam Smith for the under-40s!
The top row one with the white trilby on I thought it was Charlie Chester lol