It’s hard to recall a time, or specifically a year, when the role of Norwich City Football Club in our lives has been quite so pronounced.
The three-month hiatus as Covid did its worst was a reminder to us all of its place in our hearts and minds and even the grimmest of relegations was, in the grand scheme of things, but a blip on each of our lifelong journies.
If that sounds a tad melodramatic and philosophical, then I have to plead guilty. Covid has forced us all to consider our own mortality but, more importantly, the mortality of those we love.
Reminiscing has become part of the daily staple and so, partly as a result, my Christmas offering to you is my ‘top ten Norwich City highlights’. (I opted for highlights – as clumsy and vague as it is – as what follows is merely a collection of games, goals and memories).
I’ll have missed some, some may appear trivial, but each one has, for different reasons, stayed with me forever.
So, in chronological order…
April 1973 – Dave Stringer header vs Crystal Palace
A long time ago and I was only little, but this was the first time I experienced a rocking Carrow Road. We were standing in the roofless River End, my mum was also there (a rare appearance), and City needed a win to survive their first-ever season in the top flight.
I can’t recall the details, but I can remember the noise, the buzz and the unbridled joy triggered by a Dave Stringer diving header that signalled another season in the top flight.
April 1982 – Hillsborough
What a day. The final day of the 1981-82 season and City needed to at least draw with Sheffield Wednesday to clinch another promotion back to Division One. 9000 of us were reported to have travelled north and it was the first time I’d experienced being part of a Yellow Army that had been mobilised en masse.
The day itself is worthy of a column all of its own (I’ll spare you though…), suffice to say it was a nerve-jangler of the type in which Norwich City specialise. Keith Bertschin equalised late on for City in front of the travelling masses and delirium ensued, only for Wednesday to score an injury-time winner.
Luckily, Leicester – our rivals for the promotion spot – were unable to win and City, despite losing, still gave the 9000 reason to celebrate. In addition to the noise and colour of the afternoon enduring, so too did the journey home with yellow and green in evidence for what felt like the entire stretch from South Yorkshire to Norfolk.
March 1985 – Wembley
One for the Ipswich fans. Yes, it is only the second major trophy we’ve won and it is neither the FA Cup or the UEFA Cup, but it’s the best we can muster in our roll of honour.
And it was a bloody brilliant day, even if the game itself was a shocker.
In an irritating twist, that’s annoyed me to this day, there were more Sunderland than Norwich supporters in Wembley that afternoon, with a whole block of them in the City end!
But, it mattered not. Thanks to Gordon Chisholm and Asa Hartford.
April 1987 – City 2, Liverpool 1
Any win over the sparkling witsters from the red half of Merseyside should be celebrated, especially when you’re Norwich City, and this one was particularly memorable. Those adorable Scousers were closing on yet another title, or so they thought, but had hit something of a blip as they rolled into the Fine City.
From the vantage point of the Barclay in the ‘pen’ behind the goal, where I was able to sample that famous Scouse wit in my left ear first-hand, I watched the Reds take a first-half lead only for them to be pegged back, with Kevin Drinkell eventually notching an 88th-minute for City.
Oh they were angry… and sad. Even more so when Everton went on to pip them for the title. Happy days.
March 1993 – City 1 Aston Villa 0
The evening when we believed anything was possible.
With Villa, Manchester United and ourselves locked in a three-way battle for the title, the second city’s finest rocked up with the hope of urinating on our title-winning dreams.
In the end, United did that a few weeks later, but on the night, after Villa’s Garry Parker had missed the sitter to end all sitters, John Polston’s close-range tap-in made the ol’ girl rock like never before and sent us all into dreamland.
We departed Carrow Road with hope in our hearts and our heads in the clouds.
If only…
October 1993 – Munich
Yep, I was there but, alas, an afternoon spent drinking strong German pilsner in a particularly hospitable bierkeller has rendered my memories of the club’s finest hour less crystal clear than I’d like.
I can however still recall that split-second of disbelief and the satellite delay between Gossy’s volley hitting the back of Raimond Aumann’s net and the realisation we had actually taken the lead against a bona fide European giant.
Both goals were scored at the opposite end of the Olympic Stadium from where we were housed and that mixture of disbelief and beer goggles, made for a heady is-this-really-happening couple of hours.
But it did. And was brilliant.
December 2004 – Hucks vs Cardiff
No City top ten would be complete without a mention of our greatest ever, even if this highlight, at the time, looked like being his Canary swansong.
The home game with Cardiff on 13 December 2003 was supposed to have been Darren Huckerby’s final game of a three-month loan from Manchester City, and his agent had made it quite clear that little Norwich City should forget any notions of signing his client on a permanent basis.
Luckily Hucks had others ideas (even if we didn’t know it that afternoon) as he single-handedly ripped Cardiff apart with with what remains the best individual performance I’ve ever seen in a City shirt.
What a man.
(1 hours 24 mins into this season review if you’re interested)
March 2010 – Chris Martin vs Leeds
While the Beccles bovver boy may not hold quite the same place in people’s hearts as Hucks, he didn’t half lift the roof off Carrow Road when he netted an 89th minute winner in City’s top-of-League-One clash with the Fallen Giants of the North.
It was arguably the first real WOW moment of Lambert era, the impact of which (whether we like it it or not) we still benefit from today. Stephen Hughes (remember him?) was the provider with a whipped-in cross that the BBB guided home with a deft glancing header.
As the kids put it… scenes. It also provided one of the best NCFC images of the 21st century.
May 2015 – ‘The raiders from East Anglia…’
The spring of 2015 provided City fans with one of the most glorious spells in the club’s history – in particular, the 16 days between the 9th and 25th of May.
Having qualified comfortably for the playoffs, we were paired with our nearest and dearest. Being the kind, thoughtful souls we are, we presented them with the third-best moment in their history when Paul Anderson equalised Jonny Howson’s opener in the first-leg in front of a very chirpy Portman Road.
The second-leg had a couple of wobbly moment but ended up going down in City folklore. In summary… Wes… Cam… pitch invasion… green flares… horse sh!t…
Nine days later, still abuzz, we reconvened at that Wembley. That went well too. The rest, as they say, is history!
April 2019 – City v Blackburn
You won’t need reminding, but anyway…
Stiepi, when he was really good, got us off to a flyer that night with one of those famous left-foot zingers and the promotion party was already underway when Super Mario made it 2-0 with one of his own howitzers.
The party continued, tempered only slightly by Blackburn pulling a goal back, and the sights and sounds at the final whistle were of an ilk never to be forgotten.
It was the first time most of us had seen City get promoted at Carrow Road and my only regret of that magical night was that my dad was too poorly to be there and celebrate alongside me and his second family.
But, it was wonderful and is precisely why we do it.
So… those are mine. How about yours?
If you fancy letting us know your City highlights, most notable moments or memories, then please feel free, either in the comments below or emailed to gary@myfootballwriter.com. A guest blog awaits anyone who fancies it.
But more importantly, stay safe, look after your loved ones and try your best to have a nice Christmas.
Thanks for reading MyFootballWriter. Without you we’re nothing.
Gary x
One of my best games was the derby play off semi final win at carrow road I couldn’t believe that we had just got to Wembley again I went and brought a ticket for the final this was my first time in side Wembley I couldn’t have wished for us to start off better in a major final when Cameron Jerome put it in the net you could feel the excitement then for Redmond too put a second in it went crazy what couple of days they where merry Christmas to all yellow fans
Good shout, Eddie! That feeling when Jerome rolled in number three was indescribable. And a Merry Christmas to you too, mate.
Great selection .
I would add both promotions at Fratton Park. April ’75 violent tense atmosphere during the first dawn of hooliganism but wonderful joy at promotion then May 2011 totally unexpected on the day with others losing and then Pompey letting us celebrate on the pitch.
Not sure what I would take out from your selection to fit these two in though !
Two very good shouts, Patrick! Both well worthy of inclusion, just as the “Jackson… chance…” moment at Carrow Road a few days early.
The Fratton Park 2011 really sticks in my mind. Cardiff had stuffed up against Boro earlier so we knew what we had to do – and did it.
No I wasn’t there but following Simeon’s header from THAT David Fox cross the Railway Tavern in Coltishall went double ape$hit for the rest of what proved to be a very, very late evening. Dancing – that was mainly the geezers! – singing and loads of complimentary shampoo on the bar which I would imagine guv’nor Dave C obtained from somewhere like Bookers. I miss that pub.
Number three on my personal list after Bayern in the Olympic and Wembley in 2015
Fratton Park 2011 was indeed special, mate. Unfortunately, like you, I was watching it from afar but still unforgettable. G
Gary;
I cannot think of anything to top that (other than personally getting thrown out at Watford for placing balloons on the centre circle) prior to witnessing our initial promotion to the top flight.
Happy days as my friend and I merely had to pay to get in again to see the match.
Regarding your last line, thank YOU and all the MFW team for keeping our spirits up during these rather dark times. I fear that we’re now heading (again) for BCD matches, but, hey, WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!
Merry Christmas and the best and Happiest New Year possible to all of a Yellow and Green persuasion.
O T B C
And the same to you, John. Thanks for reading. take care.
Gary
Thanks for the memories, let’s hope the forth coming 12 months provide some moments that will go down in folklore and give us a Splendid Rush.
Merry Christmas to you (and your dad) and all at MFW. Keep up the good work.
Cheers Don, and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thanks for reading and commenting – always appreciated, never taken for granted.
The 1985/86 promotion at the Odsall Stadium in Bradford. An early goal in each half from Drinkell and Biggins followed by someone with a radio gleefully informing us that “Portsmouth are losing” (to Middlesbrough iirc). Promotion won at a rugby league ground. A fine day out!
Great shout, Ian!
Alas, was back in my own playing days so never once made it to the Odsal, but sounds like a grand day.
For me, portaloo Road, boxing day 1982. I had just finished basic military training and was home on my 1st ever leave. This was a time when those lot had a team worth talking about. We went more in hope than expectation but when Martin O’Neil scored with that free kick in the last minute in front of the away end (not along the side of the pitch like these days) we all went potty!
I went back off leave to continue with my trade training to discover my training officer was “one of them”! To be fair, he was a good boss, but he never let me talk about it. (and he even accepted us beating them in the FA Cup 5th round later in the season!)
Yes! Great shout Gaz. Went to that game with a mate on the ‘Ipswich’ bus from Halesworth. As a result, we had to watch proceedings surrounded by Scummers in the Churchmans End. Oh, what joy!
How did you stay calm when the winner went in? 😳
With great difficulty!
I was also in the River End in 1973 for the evening game against Crystal Palace. A game had to win to realistically keep us up. With time running out the score was 1-1. City get a corner taken by Max Briggs right in front of me and Dave Stringer with a bullet of a header sends Carrow Road wild. There was only time for the kickoff before the final whistle. I think there must have been around 30-35k there that night and the noise and the joy were extraordinary.
Thanks Nick – you recall the finer details better than me. Can only recall the noise, the atmosphere and the unbridled joy that accompanied Dave’s header.
Fantastic memories Gary.
I was at that Palace game in April 1973, what a game. I think the attendance was nearly 37,000.
People were sitting around the pitch, that would be a big no-no today.
My god when Dave Stringer scored !!! The place went ballistic.
I can remember supporting City in the late sixties, turn up on the day and pay at the turnstiles and the crowds were nothing like 37,000. Until Ron Saunders came, the most important managerial decision in the clubs history. The idea among my family that Norwich City would one day get to the First Division was barking.
I can remember talking to the opposition goalies, the cushions coming on from the main stand if they got irate and the halftime scores done manually with numbers on a board below the Barclay Stand.
I missed the Hillsborough promotion match as I was in London but certainly celebrated as soon as I knew the scores. I think it was Leyton Orient that did us a favour holding Leicester.
I also missed the League Cup win against Sunderland as it was my niece’s christening and for the away game v Bayern Munich I was in Magic Kingdom in Florida. A lovely german fella at the hotel couldn’t believe a team he had never heard of had beaten the mighty Bayern Munich.
Many of the other games I was there, including the night Jon Polston scored to beat Villa and for a while i really believed we could win the Premier League. People heard the roar at the old Norfolk & Norwich Hospital.
Other great games were, Ipswich in the League cup semi-final, years earlier V Man Utd at the same stage of the League cup, great win courtesy of a Colin Suggett winner. Watford away in 1972 the day we won the Second division Title.
Thanks for the memories Gary, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone, lets hope for a much better 2021.
Thanks Tim … and to you and yours.
Some good ones there, particularly the Milk Cup semi win over that lot! What an evening…
My great games appear to be the same as everyone else’s but the highlight was being in the River End directly in line behind Steve Bruce’s header to beat Ipswich in the Milk Cup semi-final. “Scenes” as you say. Any victory over “them” is enjoyable although I have lost count!!
Mind you the Man City 3-2 is up there with the very best that I have seen. The noise at the end was incredible. One more memory is the sheer volume of the noise when Zimmerman put us 2-1 up against Reading just after we had equalised.
A really great article-thanks Gary
Mine also has to be that winner against Crystal Palace albeit I was in the Barclay. The tension was unbearable and being of a pessimistic nature from an early age I never expected us to score the winner. I had met purely by chance a girl in the stand whom I knew in the same year at school and we stood together. Unfortunately my celebrations were severely curbed when this girl threw her arms around me and gave me my first kiss on the lips ( well thats what I thought it must have been ). She stuck to me like a limpet mine seriously preventing me from breathing and joining in the celebrations. After the game, she told me not to tell her boyfriend ( whoever he was ) that she had kissed me. Bit of a double edged sword when I recall that game 🙂
Hi Gary
Share many of the great memories thank you. Although not actually at the game one of my earliest City moment was the Grandstand teleprinter giving out Manchester United 1 Norwich City 2. 1967 FA Cup.For 2 or 3 weeks we thought we could win it – sadly not to be.
The highs make it worthwhile – here’s to many more in the future.
I was at most of these games, except Munich which I watched on the telly. All fantastic. I’d have to find a place for the Derby game with Simeon Jackson’s last second winner; I was there with middle son and to say we both went mental would be an understatement. I think that is the single most uplifting, joyous moment I can remember.
It’s slightly crazy that supporting Norwich at the moment is probably, family aside, the highlight of my life; given that I can’t stand the Premier League, why do I want us to win the Championship so much? I try to explain it sometimes but I can’t. Some other football fans understand, but I don’t think that many who support the bigger teams really get what it’s like to have such a strong emotional bond with a bunch of young lads I’ve never met, nor am likely to, wearing the team colours of your home town club.
Hi Gary
Great memories and possible mine us a little earlier than most.
Being stationed at Stanmore Park/ Bentley Priory not far from Watford at that time I got to see the first really big promotion under Ron Saunders sitting with a few RAF PTI mates that were on the Watford training staff as they used our Gym facilities.
Great game and celebrations 🍾
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Safe and Stay Healthy 🙏
Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 and a Happy New Year to everyone and let’s all hope for a better 2021
My favourite game was Sept 79 Norwich City 4 – 1 Manchester United. League Cup.
United went ahead and then Martin Peters took over and produced the best display I have seen from a Norwich player. He tore United to shreds as they tried to play a high line.
I watched from the away supporters pen as my friends, one of whom bought the tickets, were United fans. In the end, the to their credit the United fans acknowledged what a wonderful player Martin Peters was.
Excellent article and some fantastic memories, Gary. Lovely to read all the added recollections in the comments too. Wonderful. Best wishes and seasonals everyone. Long live MFW and NCFC!
PS. Me an’ me pal JP were up the Sunderland end in 1985 (due to a ticket sourcing problem) so that might slightly help rebalance things!
Went to the Liverpool match in ’87 with London Canaries. The Pool players were on the same train back to London as us. Standing at the Liverpool (ironically) St platform gate resplendent in full colours the entire team walked past me very threateningly, luckily a very nice constable was standing just behind me else I am sure I would have been hurt by some of them. They were not a very happy bunch.