The football gods have decreed that there will be extra time in MFW regular Alex Bain‘s silly season series on his favourite Norwich City players of the past and in this final instalment, he recalls some of his favourite midfielders.
We’ve had some crackers over the years, so let’s have a shufti at Alex’s choices – he is keen to point out that he might be influenced by the fact that a few of them came to us from his second team, Spurs.
So take it from the top, Alex…
***
Colin Suggett was signed from WBA for £70k in 1973. He played 203 games and scored 21 goals, He started his career with his home town club Sunderland and ended it playing for Newcastle.
Martin Peters was the first of the players that graced Carrow Road from Spurs and joined at the age of 31. He played 207 games and scored 44 goals. The Ghost was one nickname for him as he was adept at appearing in the area at the right time. He signed in 1975 for £40k and sadly died in 2019 aged 76 after a relatively long illness.
Jimmy Neighbour was the second of the Spurs players to be signed, just a year after Peters in 1976. He cost £75k, played 106 games and scored five goals. Neighbour died at the age of 58 following a heart attack. Having seen him play for Spurs from 1969 until 1972, I was pleased to see him arrive at Carrow Road. He was sold to West Ham in 1979 for £150k.
Ian Crook is the third of the Spurs players I will recall, signed for £80k in 1986. He played 418 games scoring 24 goals and, to me, he was the engine that made the European team tick. He will be remembered for signing for Ipswich but cancelling the contract and re-signing for City on the return of Mike Walker. He was briefly on the NCFC management team under Bryan Gunn.
Graham Paddon was signed from Coventry by Ron Saunders in 1969 for £25k, playing 162 games and scoring 19 goals. He was sold to West Ham in 1973 for £170k. Paddon returned in 1976 for £110k and played a further 128 games, scoring six goals. He was predominantly left-footed and possessed a powerful shot – another who departed this earth far too soon.
Alex Tettey was signed from Rennes by Chris Houghton and became a fans’ favourite over the nine years he was with us. He never gave less than 100% and scored a few fantastic long-range goals. “Tetts” played 244 games and scored seven goals.
At this point, Alex asked me [sub-editor Martin P] to step in and mention a few of my own choices – insisting that I had to mention the following four – so from this point on, consider the reins to have been passed.
Jonny Howson: Everybody’s favourite pigeon fancier. Slightly under-rated by certain sections of our support in my opinion.
Bradley Johnson: Memorable for his displays against 1p5wich. We sold the wrong player at the time and that’s for sure.
Jeremy Goss: Struggled to break through for ages but will always be remembered for that goal in the Olympic Stadium.
Wes Hoolahan: What service he gave us over the years – and what entertainment too. A true NCFC legend.
So just a few from me to end with:
Andy Townsend: A bargain basement buy from Southampton, he didn’t hang around NR1 for too long but thoroughly impressed me while he was here.
James Maddison: Again not effectively here for that long but you only have to watch Match of the Day to see why I like him. He showed his caring side in the community as well.
Ollie Skipp: Excluding Hucks, as the circumstances were different, the best loan player we have ever had. Young Mr Skipp was the glue that held us together in the Championship-winning side of only two seasons ago.
You good MFW readers will always have favourites of your own and as always don’t hesitate to let us know of anybody important that Alex and I have missed.
I’ll just throw Trevor Hockey into the mix, a man who took tackling so seriously he gave his name to the ref before kick off to save time when he got booked.
Hi Bernie
Recruited in a part exchange deal with Jim Bone going to Sheffield United neither had long careers at their new clubs.
Hockey put the steal in our midfield while Big Dunc did it in defence
Thanks for the comment and a good reminder of a forgotten player that helped city survive it’s first season in the old and original Division 1
His sliding tackles ploughed a furrow in the pitch. He’d be banned these days, but a character with his shaggy mane and piratical beard.
Couldn’t agree more about Bradley Johnson, Martin, and he had a real thunderblaster of a left foot that brought him a few goals. If Bernie hadn’t beaten me to it, I’d have had to bring up Hockey. Not here long, but just what we needed at the time. I don’t think Andy Townsend would thank you for bringing him up, seems to me that ever since he left, he’s tried to erase any recognition that he ever played for us.
Don’t know if he counts as a midfielder these days, but one of my favourites in the number 10 role was Jimmy Hill. A really clever player, he could see a pass that Pukki would love these days.
Martin Peters has to be the stand-out choice, though.
Hi Jim
A few friends got it wrong on the Jimmy Hill reference thinking I was confused with the CHIN of Fulham and Coventry.
A good call I just wonder how he and many others would have played on these carpet today instead of the poorly maintained and mud patches they had and of course we played on as kids.
Thanks a good choice and comment
Chippy Crook stands out partly because of the European adventure but more that he always seemed to have so much time on the ball and would then deliver a cultured pass of precision. One of the Spurs bench (along with Polsten, Culverhouse, Bowen) collectively probably the finest ever signings.
You would never describe Trevor Hockey as cultured but he was committed and effective. I remain convinced that on his home debut as the game kicked off he ran across the centre circle and fouled/ kicked his opposite number. This before he had even kicked the ball in anger.
Hi Gerry
A different world back then with Hockey and other hard men of the 60’s many wouldn’t survive 10mins in today’s game.
Thanks for the comment
Gary Holt.
Have we ever had a combative midfielder who so effective but without picking up a long list of injuries or bookings? He was absolutely key to Worthington’s promotion team; without him the likes of Hucks and Iwan would have seen far less of the ball. Only Tettey and Skipp have come close to replacing him, and the former barely averaged 30 games a season.
Hi Keith
I agree heart and soul in any team he played for and gave everything fir the team Ex Army Cook must have gone down well with our current owners.
A good choice thanks for the comment
Old three lungs, fittest player on the pitch.
Alex, a good article but you’re brave using the term midfielder, a position we all know in the modern game but some of the earlier players you mention were known as inside forwards and even wingers (Neighbour). I think Paddon is my earliest memory, long locks, wicked left foot shot. But even he was brought in as a forward. All the players mentioned were special and I would add one, Mulryne .
Yeah the terms of football positions has changed over the years, wing half, was always one that got me and Halfback was another.
Father Mulryne now I wonder if he does any coaching at the Catholic schools in Dublin should offer some scouting for potential city recruitment again injuries cut short a good career
Thanks for the comment
I always thought Peter Mendham would have had international caps if he had played for a club that England scouts could be bothered to watch. I had a famous ‘lock in’ with him in The Rose one night.
Hi Don
Yeah never hit the heights we all expected
Thanks for the comment
Lucky you ,all I managed was Keith O’Neill in a ( tease time) in a pub just outside Dereham . He was still there when I left at 3 am.
Colin Suggett my all time favourite but special mention goes to Tommy Bryceland, one for you golden oldies
I always had a fondness for Mulryne. Did exceptionally well for us over a relatively long time and chipped in with a good few goals, especially that free kick against Grimsby!