In early 2019, I was contacted by the club’s then media head-honcho, Joe Ferrari.
After months of me pestering, haranguing and, probably, annoying him, Joe – a really lovely guy – was calling to offer MyFootballWriter the chance to interview Stuart Webber.
In this particular instance, persistence did pay off.
We chatted for a bit about the logistics – where, when, for how long etc – and just as we were about to sign off, Joe chipped in with an “oh, you’re welcome to video it if you want”.
VIDEO?!
While the concept of videoing an interview was hardly radical in 2019, it was a radical concept for MFW.
I’d envisaged it would be me trotting across to Colney to meet Stuart in his office for a brief chat, with the limit of the technology needed being me hitting ‘record’ on an app on my iPhone and, perhaps, sheepishly asking for a photo. Once home, I’d look to convert Stuart’s thoughts into 1000 to 1200 words, plucking out a couple of key quotes, and Bob’s your uncle…
But no. Joe offered us the chance to video it – something that, despite the odd logistical issue or two (like not having the ability to video it), was too good an opportunity to turn down.
Despite my dad urging me to still do the interview, I knew that my strong Suffolk (I know) accent, propensity to stumble over my words and inability to think quickly on my feet, made me a car crash interviewer waiting to happen.
(I am to the spoken word what Josh Sargent is to tap-ins.)
But, already on the books of MFW was a young man who didn’t sound (and look) like the Singing Postman, who was sharp and erudite and who could also probably lay his hands on the equipment needed to video the interview.
As luck would have it, Connor Southwell, with the help of his mate Ben Ambrose, was quick to whip my hand off when offered the opportunity.
There was however still the small matter of not having a platform on which to post the video once it had been recorded and edited. For all of its qualities, MyFootballWriter is very much of the written word and so it was to Google I headed to discover what it would take to set up an MFW YouTube channel.
Fortunately, even Allan Smethurst (Google it) was able to suss it out and the channel today known as Ben’s NorwichTalk originated from this very keyboard – its crude initial set-up being my one and only major contribution.
So, on 31st January 2019, Connor and Ben made their way to Colney, were greeted by Joe, and then introduced to Stuart.
The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
What Stuart gave us that day exceeded all of our expectations in terms of both time and content. This was the Webber with fire in his belly; the one with a bloody brilliant plan that he was in the process of executing; the one who had us all fired up because we liked what said and how he said it.
Connor, bless him, managed to get four separate articles out of that interview for MFW, which I was able to spread over four days, during which times he and Ben edited away like a couple of good’uns until the video was whittled down to a still feature-length 1 hour 28 minutes.
Not bad considering that my initial chat with Joe was based around Stuart giving us 30 minutes of his valuable time.
As I recall, the lads had one or two technical issues along the way, particularly when it came to uploading the piece on YouTube, and then there were a couple of late edits requested by the club that they insisted hit the cutting room floor. (Don’t ask – what goes on the cutting room floor, stays on the cutting room floor).
But there it was… finally. One hour 28 minutes of classic Webber, who was not only generous with his time but also spirit. How many sporting directors would give up two hours to chat to two 18-year-old lads from a website he’d probably never heard of.
But he did… and it was a video that’s now been watched almost 14,000 times.
Other City fansites may scoff at us getting all giddy over such numbers, but for us it remains a matter of immense pride. Connor and Ben were magnificent, so too was Stuart.
For those who’d like to fondly remember the way we were in heady days of early-2019, the video is below, along with the links to Connor’s four articles.
But why resurrect it all now?
Well, aside from Rick W and Stuart B suggesting to me in yesterday’s meeting that it would make for an interesting watch/read right now, it’s also useful to remind ourselves that Webber wasn’t always this confrontational figure who comes across as half-@rsed and appears ambivalent about whether he goes or stays at this football club.
This may or may not be the end of his era at Norwich City, but no one can contest that the Stuart Webber of 2019 was an impressive individual – one who went on to transform this football club and deliver us two Championship titles.
Enjoy…
Hi Gary
I remember this it was and still is a good watch.
Familiarity breeds contempt so we are told maybe that Webber has got to that stage in his City career or that he feels that with his wife now on the board he is indispensable.
The cynic in me says he could be working his ticket so that he gets a handsome payoff come the end of his first year rolling contract.
Then theirs 9ur owns maybe placing to much trust in one person is never a good way to run a business.
Thanks for the nice mentions Gary, the fiver’s in the post. Seems like a long time ago. And you didn’t annoy me for the record! Great to hear about Connor’s new role too, well deserved.
Reading on the BBC that British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe made a £4.25bn offer to buy Chelsea. Why can’t he buy Norwich for a heck of a lot less. Turn them into a footballing power house.
I saw that as well and thought exactly the same thing. He ticks an awful lot of the non foreign ownership boxes supposedly held so dear by our present lot. The only sticking point I can see is with certain sections of our fan base is his business. Someone somewhere would have a problem with his companies oil interests, or that he votes the wrong colour.
These would be spun as ethical points to poo poo any approach and maintain the status quo unfortunately.
I think the only person who would tick the boxes would be a retired bishop who’d won the euro millions twice on a row and owns a number of wind farms…
Even then I wouldn’t bet on it. 🤣
33 seasons in top flight football since 1972
If you had told that to my dad or your dad Gary what would they have said post Ron Saunders?
Realisation is we are not on the radar of money people no one is going to invested millions of pounds into a rural club in deepest Norfolk, we are not a big club with a huge global brand, players with wags will not want to live in a country backdrop they want the bright lights of the big cities.
Supporters are so blinked in respect to Delia, yes we need investment but not at the cost of the club and its fan base, look at Ipswich at being careful what you wish for!
Many younger supports have been spoilt and don’t live in the real world just FIFA and unlimited credits. We are punching above our weight in my view just enjoy the good times as they soon dissolve ask Manchester Utd fans nothing a gimme
I do think after reading a lot of respected opinion Gary that without Stuart Webber and it must be said Daniel Farke, that any promotion to the EPL in recent seasons would not have happened.
Both Chris Sutton and Iwan Roberts have written excellent column’s in The Pinkun in recent days alluding to the fact that we do have a lot to thank Stuart Webber for.
I think Iwan’s frankness was spot on, as he said the Times interview was ill-timed and Stuart should consider his position. But again as Iwan said only if the fire for Norwich City has been extinguished.
I think we perhaps do feel his love affair with us is over, but I would still rather have a fully committed SW running the ship than our well meaning but potentially disastrous majority shareholders taking over.
Our record with SW or David McNally running things is chalk and cheese to the times Delia and Michael have made the decisions.
As I said on other Forums I’m no fan of Webber, but undoubtedly he has contributed positively. The board have to take credit for bringing him in. Football is a very ruthless business, and the people in it are moulded by its ultra competitive and capitalist ethos. As fans we are not part of that world and have to balence our love for the club with our discomfort with the modern game.
Michael Bailey’s piece in The Athletic buries Webber in my view, So many mistakes have been made this season it is had to know where to start, but all roads lead to him.
Smith needs his players for next season and not Webber’s magic beans.
Sadly Webber has reached his level of ability and must never been trusted again.,