Chris Sadler

Twenty-six seasons have passed since Martin O’Neill’s stymied attempt in 1995/96 to get us promoted straight back into the top division (for details see file marked ‘Chase, R – The Windass Affair’). Eighteen Norwich City managers since have spent 19 seasons in the second tier attempting the same thing. Many have failed and only four […]

A bijou quizette, Canary folk. Can you name the Norwich City alumni who’ve captained these proximate international teams? England – 1. Initials ‘MP’ – A classy midfielder and graduate of West Ham’s famous academy in the 1960s, he scored for England in the 1966 World Cup final. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City, […]

The most prestigious club competition in Europe is undoubtedly the UEFA Champions League (formerly the European Cup); a mixed league/knockout format tournament. You may be familiar with it. And the most prestigious game within the tournament is, obviously, the final. Those interested will have watched Bayern Munich beat PSG 1-0 on Sunday night to win […]

Whether you take the high road (or, indeed, the low road) it’s difficult to deny there is a well-worn trail between the cities of Norwich and Glasgow. Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers, legendary rivals from Scottish football’s smokiest crucible, boast an impressive history and share a heated passion for the game sufficient to shame even […]

There’s a question. So, how do you get promoted? The best guide to the future is always the past; so, as Norwich City have been promoted to the Premier League four times, if we explore what went well on those occasions, we’ll have a better idea of what might work again. But first we need to explore […]

Which ex-City striker shares a footballing award with Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, and Pelé? First we need to consider England’s win in the 1966 World Cup. Importantly, it was a tournament enjoyed by a global audience on television – even in the famously soccer-shy United States. Sensing the American public may finally be ready to […]

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 […]

Six men have managed Norwich City Football Club in the Premier League since 2000:  – Nigel Worthington – Paul Lambert – Chris Hughton – Neil Adams – Alex Neil – Daniel Farke Taking into account all competitive league and cup matches while they were in charge, how do you think they compare on: – Percentage […]

Right, you lot, this has gone on too long. I’m calling a halt to it all now. All this negativity swirling round the place. It’s time for a mild diversion… – Are you an NCFC fan? – Do you know your stuff? – Are you prepared to prove it? If you answered ‘yes’ to all […]

I once had a goldfish. I called him Daniel. I never thought I’d have him for long. This is a tale of effort, hardship, achievement, reward, and disappointment. (Actually, I don’t need to tell you the tale, as I’ve just done so – like they did with the Hollywood trailer for Free Willy.) But, the […]

It’s a Catch-22 cliche that young footballers are not ready to play in the Premier League until they’ve played in the Premier League. The experience of playing at the top level is what exposes those so-far-accomplished young bucks to a whole new level of aspiration. It pushes their dreams into the realms of attainability, and […]

Following City’s brave exit from the FA Cup this week at the hands (or left boot) of Harry Maguire – it occurred to me with some bitterness that it was a player who’d cost £80million who made the difference. Failing miserably to avoid wallowing in self-pity after yet another glorious failure, I decided to check […]

I noticed when pootling about the internet the other day that several Norwich City players share the same birth month. Mmm. That set me wondering… Could the date of your birth define your chances of becoming a professional footballer? The answer is… No. Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. But, before we get carried away […]

Joy is a rare commodity these days, especially for fans of professional football clubs. But sometimes, even when things aren’t going so well, there’s an area of the game, a region of opportunity where a club can notch an accomplishment or two and the fans can enjoy the sweet taste of success. Such an area […]

Right, normally I try to write with kindness but today I’m gonna holster the compassion and just put the boot straight in… (reminds you of football in the 80s doesn’t it?)  Recent years have just not been good enough.  That’s Norwich’s recent FA Cup history I’m talking about. Just look at this chart I’ve made […]

The year is 1985. Elizabeth II is on the throne, Margaret Thatcher is prime minister, and Tears for Fears are storming the charts with Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Richard Briers is wittering his way through Ever Decreasing Circles on BBC1, Morons From Outer Space is showing at the ABC, and somewhere in Croxteth, proud mum Jeanette Rooney has […]

As the expiry date for this year’s FA Cup final slips by, maybe it’s of interest to mention those Canaries who have scored in major cup finals during their career.  Do you remember any of these? FA Cup – Peter Osgood 1970 – Alan Taylor 1975 – Kevin Reeves 1981 – Andy Linighan 1993 – […]

Some people say it’s a mistake to start a football article with a Shakespeare quote peppered with paltry puns such as ‘A (Danny) Rose by any other Nayim would smell as sweet’.  Those people are right (*cough*) So let’s get straight to the quiz.   QUIZ 1: The following virtual team of eleven players have surnames […]

So, how many of these managerial appointments do you remember? Cue music… 1. Martin O’Neill O’Neill’s highest league position was 6th with Aston Villa which remarkably he achieved for three consecutive seasons from 2007/08 to 2009/10. His highest position with Leicester was 9th. 2. Malky McKay Cardiff City (2013/14) Having achieved promotion as champions the previous […]

Fourteen managers have managed Norwich City Football Club in the top flight since Ron Saunders first achieved it in 1972/73. But how do their records compare? In the following table all fourteen managers are ranked by the percentage of games won under their leadership in the top division in English football. All competitive league and […]