Time To Say Goodbye

The following player has left Norwich City FC :




Michael Nelson
2009-2011     45 appearances 5 goals

He departs with our best wishes, and thanks for his service to the club
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Scaling The Heights And Depths Of History - Part One

If you have been a regular reader of Sing Up The River End! since it's inception over a year ago, you will by now have realised that Norwich City have had a wonderfully mixed history. Whilst many clubs can probably claim similar ups and downs, few have put their followers through quite such a white knuckle ride as the good old Canaries. And the Citizens too for that matter. In the few years that they existed, they also gave fans an almighty scare !

I was wondering if it is possible, in any way, to put these peaks and troughs into some kind of order. When was our proudest moment as a football club ?  Which achievement ranks the highest ? And when exactly was our very darkest day ?

It is of course a very personal exercise. Reality is easily clouded by ones own memory, by things that were of particular significance to the individual. But with a bit of thought, it can be done.

Here are my conclusions, for what they are worth, and it might provoke a little thought and debate. I have put what I consider to be the important events of the life of Norwich City Football Club into a scale of one to ten. Actually, I have refrained from giving out a score of ten - that will remain unallocated, until we win the big one, an FA Cup or Premier League title. Nor have I used the scale of one - that would go to a situation where we hit financial meltdown, and lose our League status. By doing this I have straight away set the standards. The highest and lowest. Remember that, as I grade everything else in between and try to put a bit of perspective into the exercise.

I am going to leave very recent events for now. In fact, you will need to wait until part three for me to share my thoughts on that.  I think it was whilst trying to decide just how good it has been supporting the Canaries in the past eighteen months that the idea of this article came about. So I will put what we should call the reign of King Paul Lambert to one side until another time.

I will start with things that have happened since I first watched Norwich City in 1969. Not everything of course, just some key moments and events :

9 -  winning the Division Two championship in 1971-72. If you are not old enough to remember it, believe me, this achievement was something very special. Ron Saunders crafted a winning team out of very little. It was based on hard graft and teamwork. I don't believe a Norwich team ever, in the history of the club, over achieved as much as this one did. And without that success - that unbelievable success - that took us to the top flight of English football for the first time, everything thereafter would never have happened. Make no mistake. In the five or six years leading up to 1971-72, there had not been even the merest inkling of what was about to happen. I have no problem making this the undisputed champion moment in the club's history.

8.5 - the European venture of 1993. And indeed the few years leading up to that dream, the Dave Stringer/ Mike Walker eras, when Norwich City were without any doubt, one of the very best teams in the land. It was I guess, the closest we came to a grade 10. So close and yet so far.........and all that. But an incredibly proud time to wear yellow and green, and the benchmark against which any future greatness will be measured.

8 - League Cup win 1985. Such a special day. Sunday afternoon match. Wembley stadium. A half decent performance and well deserved win over Sunderland. No niggle between fans - in fact the opposite, respect and camaraderie. Just a great day when for once, things turned out well.

7.75 - winning the last ever Division One title in 2003-04. It was good, very good. But not quite as great as the three other events above. The reason I think that, is all to do with modern football. The state of the game today. Yes it was a wonderful achievement to be back in the Premier League. And we did it with a good team, nicely assembled and able to win when they had to. But I think everyone knew just how much of a struggle it would be against the big boys. The divide is just too big nowadays, and for me, it felt just a little bit like lambs to the slaughter.

7.25 - winning the Second Division in 1985-86. This was a great example of just how the Canaries put fans through the wringer. Any joy from winning the League Cup was quickly squeezed out of us. Relegation came just months later. So this promotion, at the first attempt, was both delightful, and a relief. I don't think many of us were surprised. We had a good team. And we saw some good matches that season.

5.25 - League Cup Final defeats in 1973 and 1975. I guess the first was a bigger disappointment than the second. I was younger, it was our first appearance at Wembley. And we played poorly. It was a huge shame, as some of performances in the earlier rounds were outstanding. But to lose was disappointing. No more than that. We had a massive relegation battle to fight (which we ultimately won). 1975 again saw us fail to turn up for a big match. No tears. Just a bit of inevitability I suppose.

5 - relegation from the Premier League 2004-05. More inevitability. The final day surrender made it unpalatable, but the whole event had a feel of the expected about it. A dark period after the great sunshine of the year before. But not as dark as it was going to get.............

4 - relegation from Division One 1973-74. Well, we are down to scale four, so it's getting a bit desperate now. We survived that initial year in the top flight, had our trip to Wembley, lost Ron Saunders, replaced him with John Bond (from chalk to cheese). And then got relegated. If you were not around, just imagine it. Norwich, who had magnificently won their way to the big time, were back to square one. Back to their own level. It was a horrible time. And there was real reason to believe we would never get back up again. Though nobody took into account the magic of Mr Bond. In yet another hell to heaven episode, he dismantled the Saunders culture and replaced it with the most entertaining brand of football ever seen at Carrow Road. And took us to promotion. So a grade 4 season was followed by, because of the wonderful style of play, a grade 8 year. I am not sure human bodies were built for this !

3.5 - relegation from Division One in 1980-81. It had been a season of struggle from start to finish, but I have to say that the final day home defeat to Leicester City was without doubt the worst memory I ever had of standing in the River End. I didn't cry. But I almost did.

3.25 - relegation from the Premier League 1994-95. It is hard to comprehend how something so good, turned so bad, so quickly. But it did. From European adventure, to Mike Walker leaving, star players being sold, fan protests and inevitably (that word again), relegation. If football clubs possess self destruct buttons, we pressed it. The good times before it were very good, but all supporters knew that this relegation was going to be different. No bouncing straight back this time. We were too deflated.

3 - relegation from Division One 1984-85. Even now I find it hard to write about this. Not just the year of the League Cup win. But also the great Coventry/Everton stitch up. No, not sour grapes. Just a travesty of justice, that wouldn't (I don't think) happen in this modern age. In a nutshell, Norwich had finished their fixtures, but Coventry had three games still to play. We looked safe, as they would not only need three victories to send us down but also had to face Everton, the League champions. But then who would have expected a club worthy of calling themselves champions to field a second team in that decisive final game of the campaign, losing 4-1 on a disgraceful day for English soccer. Truly the worst day in the history of the club.

Or was it..........

In part two of this series, which will be posted in seven days time, I will attempt to grade the main events in history before my supporting life began. With a bit of imagination, which I shall need, I should be able to dovetail them into the above and allow them to find their natural place in the overall history of the club.

And then the following week I will post part three, and try to put current events into perspective.
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The Winning Years

1971-1972

CHAMPIONS

DIVISION 2

Players 

Kevin Keelan  (42 appearances) 

Clive Payne  (42 appearances)

Dave Stringer  (42 appearances)

Doug Livermore  (41 appearances)

Graham Paddon  (40 appearances)

Ken Foggo  (40 appearances)

Terry Anderson  (34 appearances)

David Cross  (32 appearances)

Duncan Forbes  (27 appearances)

Max Briggs  (27 appearances)

Peter Silvester  (26 appearances)

Geoff Butler  (23 appearances)

Alan Black  (20 appearances)

Trevor Howard  (20 appearances)

Jimmy Bone  (13 appearances)

Phil Hubbard  (8 appearances)

Malcolm Darling  (4 appearances)

Bobby Bell  (3 appearances)

Steve Govier  (3 appearances)

Neil O'Donnell  (2 appearances)

Steve Grapes  (1 appearance)

Gary Sargent  (1 appearance)

Record

P42  W21  D15  L6  F60  A36  PTS57

Goals

Foggo 13, Silvester 12, Cross 8, Paddon 8, Howard 5, Bone 4, Stringer 4, Forbes 2, Govier 1, Darling 1, Hubbard 1, own goal 1

Manager :  Ron Saunders

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Norwich City History Against......Crystal Palace

All Competitions
Norwich City 43 wins    Crystal Palace 46 wins     19 draws
Norwich goals 142      Palace goals 159

Football League
Norwich City 42 wins  Crystal Palace 43 wins  17 draws
Norwich goals 139     Palace goals 151 goals

All league games at Norwich
Norwich City 31 wins  Crystal Palace 12 wins   8 draws
Norwich goals 91   Palace goals 56

All league games at Palace
Norwich City 11 wins   Crystal Palace 31 wins  9 draws
Norwich goals 48  Palace goals 95

Cup Football 
Norwich City 1 win  Crystal Palace 3 wins  2 draws
Norwich goals 3   Palace goals 8


Out of all opponents, City have only played more games against QPR than the 108 so far with Palace. They were formed in 1905 (just weeks after Norwich had started their professional existence) by workers employed in the construction of The Crystal Palace in London. Another club called Crystal Palace had been around since 1861, taking part in some of the FA Cup competitions, but were they not connected to this new venture, who became adversaries of City in the Southern League up to World War One (matches not included in the above figures) and joined the Football League Division Three with us in 1920-21.

Before that, a FA Cup match had taken place on the 10th of January 1914, a 1st Round game which Crystal Palace won 2-1. But the first league match was on the 11th of September 1920 with the return the following week. Palace won both games 1-0 and won the division at the first attempt, becoming the first ever Third Division champions. A quirky fact here is that both games were played at grounds called The Nest - the first in Rosary Road, Norwich, and the second in Croydon, where Palace played their matches for a few seasons. That the ground was so named had nothing to do with the Crystal Palace nickname of the Eagles, which only came about in more recent times. It was the only time in history that the sides met there because by 1924, Palace had relocated to Selhurst Park.

Palace stayed in Division Two for four seasons before slipping back to the same level as Norwich once more. The first match in this run took place at Norwich on Christmas Day 1925, the Canaries winning 4-3 with a hat-trick from Ernest North and a goal from John Rodgers in front of 9,000 people. The Londoners, by now playing at Selhurst Park, gained revenge on Boxing Day 2-0. As an indication of the comparative sizes of the two clubs at the time, 23,000 people watched the second match. Fixtures continued at this level until 1933 when Norwich won promotion.

Crystal Palace were destined to be stuck at the third level until 1957-58 when they finished 14th and therefore had to take their place in the newly formed Division Four. They were promoted back up in 1960-61, and in 1963-64 secured a place in Division Two for the first time since the mid twenties. The club made it to the top flight of English football for the first time in history when they finished runners up in 1969-70. Since then they have enjoyed 13 seasons in the highest echelons of the game.

Norwich joined them in 1972-73 and the first ever top level game between the clubs was on the 30th of September 1972 with City winning 2-0 at home thanks to Jimmy Bone and Graham Paddon. Ultimately Norwich played a large part in getting Palace relegated. In the penultimate game of the season, 36,688 (the biggest gate of the campaign) packed into Carrow Road to witness City win 2-1. Goals from Colin Suggett and David Stringer were enough to guarantee the Canaries survival and put Palace down. It was a rare victory in a 'must win game' for City - something they have not been particularly good at throughout their history.

During the eighties and the first half of the nineties both clubs had time at top level but relegation as well, together in both 1980-81 and 1994-95. The latter was from the Premier League and the year when four sides went down (the other two being Leicester City and Ipswich, who finished bottom). Both had been founder members of the new competition in 1992-93 but Palace were relegated the first year, before returning at the first attempt, only to go straight back down again. They appeared again in the Premier League in 1997-98, once more for a single season. When Norwich won the last ever Division One in 2003-04, Palace also went up, via the play-offs having finished sixth. Alas their stays were short and yet again the clubs were relegated together after just one season.

Since then Palace have been in the second tier, as have Norwich apart from a single season in League One. The Eagles won both of the meetings in the 2008-09 Championship, 2-1 at Carrow Road and 3-1 at Selhurst Park. In the 2010-11 season at Carrow Road, Grant Holt gave the Canaries the lead just before half time but Palace secured the win with two second half goals. In the return fixture in London, the game finished goalless.  In fact, Norwich have won only once in the last thirteen league matches played and have not been victorious at Selhurst Park since 1996. In 2010 Crystal Palace entered administration for the second time in their history, the other being 1998.

The biggest wins in the series are 7-1 (1926), 6-0 (1968) and 5-1 (1998) to Palace, 5-0 to Norwich away from home in 1951 (a Roy Hollis hat-trick and a brace from Les Eyre) and 5-1 at Carrow Road in 1953. Other than the 1914 FA Cup game, the clubs have also met in that competition in 1926, City winning a 1st Round replay 1-0 thanks to Jimmy Banks, and 1933 which Crystal Palace won 3-0. The clubs have never met in the League Cup, but did do so in the 1991 Zenith Data Systems Cup, Palace winning 3-1 on aggregate.

Players with connections to both clubs include Jimmy Bauchop, Andy Linighan and Phil Hoadley.


To see what part Crystal Palace have played in the history of Norwich City Football Club, just pop their name into the search facility in the sidebar.

Most recent games
29 Jan 2011  (Championship) Crystal Palace 0 Norwich City 0
19 Oct 2010  (Championship) Norwich City 1 Crystal Palace 2
26 Dec 2008  (Championship) Crystal Palace 3 Norwich City 1
25 Nov 2008 (Championship) Norwich City 1 Crystal Palace 2
1 Jan 2008  (Championship) Crystal Palace 1 Norwich City 1
15 Sep 2007 (Championship) Norwich City 1 Crystal Palace 0
1 Jan 2007 (Championship) Crystal Palace 3 Norwich City 1

pictured : Andy Linighan, City defender 106 times between 1988-90 and Crystal Palace player ten years later. 

Strain The Brain No4

See if you can identify these three players with Norwich City connections. Once you have done that, use the initial letter of their first name and surname to solve the main question. Answers can be found by clicking on the Strain The Brain answer section in the sidebar of the blog. 

Player one :  A Scottish born midfielder, I had to retire from the game in 1976 after breaking a bone in my back. Who am I ?

Player two : A Canary from this century, I almost have the same name as a Hollywood legend. Who am I ?

Player three : I played for Norwich City in the '80's and despite my Mediterranean sounding name, I was actually born in Hammersmith. Who am I ?

Using the letters from their initials, find a six letter word that satisfies the following :

An area of a football pitch.

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League Cup - Norwich City Record 1960-1969

1960-61

26 Oct 60   2nd Round (h)  Oldham Athletic  won 6-2  

14 Nov 60  3rd Round (a)  Derby County  won 4-1

14 Dec 60   4th Round (a)  Shrewsbury Town  lost 1-0 

1961-62

13 Sep 61  1st Round (a)  Chesterfield  won 3-2

4 Oct 61    2nd Round (h) Lincoln City  won 3-2

15 Nov 61  3rd Round (h) Middlesbrough won 3-2

7 Feb 62    4th Round (a) Sunderland won 4-1

11 Apr 62   Semi Final 1st Leg (h) Blackpool won 4-1

16 Apr 62   Semi Final 2nd Leg (a) Blackpool lost 2-0

26 Apr 62   Final 1st Leg (a) Rochdale won 3-0

1 May 62    Final 2nd Leg (h) Rochdale won 1-0

1962-63

26 Sep 62   2nd Rnd  (h)  Bolton Wanderers won 4-0

16 Oct 62   3rd Rnd  (a)  Carlisle United  drew 1-1

24 Oct 62   Replay (h)  Carlisle United won 5-0

14 Nov 62  4th Rnd (h)  Fulham  won 1-0

3 Dec 62    5th Rnd (a) Aston Villa  lost 4-1 

1963-64

25 Sep 63   2nd Rnd (h)  Birmingham City  won 2-0

30 Oct 63   3rd Rnd (h)  Blackpool  won 1-0

27 Nov 63  4th Rnd (a)  Halifax Town  won 7-1

18 Dec 63   5th Rnd (h)  Leicester City  drew 1-1

15 Jan 64    Replay  (a)  Leicester City  lost 2-1 aet

1964-65

23 Sep 64   2nd Rnd  (a)  Millwall  won 2-1

21 Oct 64   3rd Rnd (h)  Chester  won 5-3

4 Nov 64    4th Rnd  (a)  Workington Town lost 3-0

1965-66

22 Sep 65  2nd Rnd (a)  Stoke City lost 2-1 

1966-67

14 Sep 66  2nd Rnd (h) Brighton & Hove Albion  lost 1-0 

1967-68

13 Sep 67  2nd Rnd (h)  Rotherham Utd  drew  1-1

19 Sep 67  2nd Rnd (a)  Rotherham Utd  won 2-0

11 Oct 67  3rd Rnd (h)  Huddersfield Town lost 1-0

1968-69

3 Sep 68    2nd Rnd (a)  Ipswich Town won 4-2

24 Sep 68  3rd Rnd (a)  Brentford  won 2-0

16 Oct 68  4th Rnd (h)  Southampton  lost 4-0

1969-70

3 Sep 69  2nd Rnd (a)  Hull City  lost 1-0

Norwich City History Against......Sheffield United

   

All Competitions

Norwich City 28 wins   Sheffield United 22 wins   17 draws

Norwich goals 93    Sheffield United goals 85

Football League

Norwich City 24 wins   Sheffield United 21 wins  15 draws

Norwich goals 80   Sheffield United goals 74

All league games at Norwich

Norwich City 16 wins    Sheffield United 5 wins   9 draws

Norwich goals 50   Sheffield United goals 31

All league games at Sheffield United

Norwich City 8 wins   Sheffield United 16 wins   6 draws

Norwich goals 30   Sheffield United goals 43

Cup Football

Norwich City 4 wins   Sheffield United 1 win   2 draws

Norwich goals 13    Sheffield United goals 11

Sheffield United were formed in 1889, when members of the local cricket club decided they would like something to do during the winter months. The location of this event was the Adelphi Hotel in Sheffield, which is now the site of the Crucible Theatre, home of the World Snooker Championships. Nicknamed the Blades, in recognition of the local steel industry, they were also the first team in England to adopt the word 'United' into their title. They were founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892, and finished second behind Birmingham City. The promotion that followed was the start of top level football at Bramall Lane, which carried on through to 1933-34 when they were relegated. It was the golden era of Sheffield United - they won the English title in 1898, and the FA Cup in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925.

With Norwich City finishing top of Division Three South in the same year as Sheffield United were relegated, it meant the first ever league clash between the sides came in the 1934-35 season. On the 3rd of November 1934, the Canaries won 3-1 at the Nest, with goals from Theo Pike, Jack Vinall and Billy Warnes, playing his first match after a nine game absence. It was a great win for the Canaries considering the sides had been two divisions apart twelve months earlier. This run of meetings carried on until just before World War Two, but that initial victory was the only one Norwich would enjoy in the series. The return fixture that year at Bramall Lane ended 1-1, but United won six of the remaining eight matches, including a 4-0 win in 1938. City were relegated at the end of the season.

After the war, Sheffield United ducked and dived between the First and Second Division, and it was not until 1960-61 when City reached the latter, that the next league meeting took place. Both games ended 1-1, and it was an isolated season as the Blades finished runners up in the table and gained promotion. In 1968-69 they were once more relegated and Norwich were still there. On the 7th of September 1968, the sides met at Carrow Road, City winning 2-0 with Hugh Curran netting a brace. Just a couple of years later, the Yorkshire side were promoted again, and Norwich joined them in the top flight in 1972-73. The first ever clash between the clubs at this level finished 1-1 at Carrow Road. City's first ever win at Bramall Lane came on the 27th of September 1975 with Ted MacDougall netting the only goal of the game - his 12th in eight games. United won 3-1 in East Anglia later in the season but were relegated at the end of the campaign.

It was the start of a dark period for the Blades. Within three years they were down to the third level, and two years later spent a single season in the Fourth Division. This was at the time Norwich City were experiencing the best spell in their history. The sides next met in 1985-86. In the September, Norwich won 4-0 at home (Kevin Drinkell (2), Steve Bruce and Paul Haylock) and 5-2 away (Wayne Biggins, Mark Barham, Peter Mendham, Kevin Drinkell and an own goal), on their way to the Division Two title.

The next coming of the ways was in 1990-91 in the top flight when Sheffield United made it back there for the first time since 1976. Norwich won the first match in this series 3-0. Both clubs were founding members of the Premier League. The Blades were relegated though at the end of the second season and have spent sixteen of the last seventeen years in the second tier, much of it of course with Norwich City. Honours during this period have been largely even. The last seven matches have been in the Championship. with Norwich winning four times and Sheffield United two. The two clashes in 2008-09, both finished as 1-0 home wins. On the 20th of September 2008, the game was settled with a super curling shot from Lee Croft in the second minute of injury time and just moments after David Marshall had pulled off a great save to keep United out. The Championship match played on the 28th of December 2010 was a fiery contest in which Norwich came from behind twice to win 4-2. Goals came from Grant Holt and a second half hat-trick from Wes Hoolahan. The game also included two penalties (both converted by Hoolahan) and a late sending off for the Blades. Norwich won again in January 2011, two goals from Andrew Crofts seeing the Canaries to victory 2-1. The last time the sides were involved in a drawn match was back in 2001. Sheffield United's last victory at Norwich was in 2002 by a 3-2 scoreline.

Cup matches have been few and far between. Famously the clubs met of course in City's great cup run of 1959. Third Division Norwich held United 1-1 in Yorkshire with an Errol Crossan goal, in a match during which goalkeeper Ken Nethercott played for half an hour with a dislocated shoulder - an injury that finished his career. In the replay at Carrow Road, the Canaries were again excellent, winning 3-2 with a goal from Bobby Brennan and a brace from Terry Bly, and booking their place in the semi final against Luton Town. The sides met again in 1962, with Sheffield United winning 3-1, and 1989 and 1997 which saw wins for Norwich. The only time the sides have ever been drawn together in the League Cup was in 1974. After a 2-2 draw at Bramall Lane, Norwich won the replay 2-1. The goals were both scored by Steve Goodwin - the only ones in his seven match Canary career. City went on to reach the Final of the competition.

Players with connections to both clubs include Robert Ullathorne, Jimmy Bone, Trevor Hockey and Martin Peters.



To see what part Sheffield United have played in the history of Norwich City Football Club, just pop their name into the search facility in the side bar.


Most recent games
22 Jan 2011  (Championship) Sheffield United 1 Norwich City 2
28 Dec 2010 (Championship) Norwich City 4 Sheffield United 2
10 Jan 2009 (Championship)  Sheffield United 1  Norwich City 0
20 Sep 2008 (Championship)  Norwich City 1  Sheffield United 0
15 Mar 2008 (Championship)  Sheffield United 2  Norwich City 0
8 Dec 2007 (Championship)  Norwich City 1 Sheffield United 0
18 Mar 2006 (Championship)  Norwich City 2  Sheffield United 1
26 Dec 2005 (Championship)  Sheffield United 1  Norwich City 3

pictured : Jimmy Bone, Canary striker who signed for Sheffield United in March 1973 with Trevor Hockey moving in the other direction

And After January.........Comes February

..............history isn't just about yesteryear, it's also happening right now, and is brought to you on a regular basis in The Canary Chronicles 

Here on Sing Up The River End! we spend most of our time looking backwards. So today I have decided to do the opposite and take a look at a few things on the horizon. Whilst City still have two away fixtures left in January, against Championship strugglers Sheffield United and Crystal Palace respectively, a quick fast forward to February shows four very interesting games coming up. The month is in part a repeat of November 2010 games. We all remember November - or more accurately, our views on November fixtures before they happened. It was during that period when Norwich City had made a good, better than expected start to life back in the second level of English football - when opposition fans were telling us we still hadn't played most of the decent teams. Well, away trips to Millwall and Reading, and home games to Burnley and Leeds all produced draws (an unfortunately cruel one with the Lions, and fighting ones with the others). And with those draws came the common belief that the Canaries could mix it with anyone, and were certainly a match for other sides likely to be in with a shout of a play-off place come the end of the season.

Those fixtures will be reversed in February of course, and whilst SUTRE! will make no predictions on results, it is fairly safe to say that at the end of that month, a very much clearer picture will have emerged as to our final destiny in 2010-2011. Not overlooking a home game with Doncaster Rovers and a tricky trip to Barnsley as well in what is after all ,the shortest month of the year, it is going to be a busy roller coaster ride for all fans, with a few scores to settle to boot.............paybacks are due to Millwall (for their injury time equaliser), Burnley (for their approach for Paul Lambert), Reading (for the Grant Holt sending off affair) and Leeds United (simply because they are Leeds United). Cool heads are going to be needed both on and off the field I reckon. But as we target a second half of the season points haul that is at least equal to the first, two wins and two losses from those four games would actually give us a 50% gain. I am not suggesting we cannot win them all, but we now enter that part of the campaign where competition in the Championship goes up another notch. A bit of realism will need to prevail. I know one thing, this division is the very best in Britain, possibly even in Europe and the entire world. Not for skill levels of course, but for unrelenting, week to week, knock your socks off soccer. I doubt Norwich City in the Premier League would be half as enticing.

So enjoy the rest of January. And hold on tight for what is to follow.

Whilst I have had fun looking ahead instead of behind, something tells me I should have waited until nearer the time ! Let the nerves begin...........

Prior to the Cardiff City clash, there were stories on the internet saying a victory for the Canaries would be Paul Lambert's 100th win of his managerial career. In the event it didn't happen of course. However, the statistic is not entirely accurate anyway. For some reason, his triumphs in cup football were being overlooked (why, I am not sure). For the record, Paul has secured 45 wins with Norwich, 44 for Wycombe Wanderers, 19 at Colchester, and 5 during his time at Livingston. Giving a grand total of 113 not 100.

Sing Up The River End! would rather reflect that victory over QPR on New Year's Day meant Paul Lambert had secured more wins for Norwich City than he did for any of his other clubs.

Much more accurate was the news that Aaron Wilbraham is two goals shy of the one hundred mark in English football. His ninety eight strikes have come for Milton Keynes Dons (57), Bradford City (1), Oldham Athletic (2), Hull City (2) and Stockport County (36).

There is talk that Crystal Palace FC may be moving out of Selhurst Park and re-locating to the nearby National Sports Centre. It is possible therefore that Saturday January 29th will be the last chance Canary supporters will have to go and visit historic Selhurst Park. For anyone who has never been, it really is a must............something that should be on every football lovers 'things I must do before I die' list. Should the move happen, and City continue to play against Crystal Palace, it would not be the first time the Canaries have played at the National Sports Centre. It was the home of Crystal Palace FC pre World War One, and Norwich visited the stadium a number of times whilst both sides were in the Southern League.
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One Year On

Nothing much new being posted today I am afraid. The big news does not surround Norwich City Football Club but Sing Up The River End! itself. Because we are celebrating our first birthday.

When I sat down on the 17th of January 2010 and opened a blog account (which takes less than a minute), I did not have any notion that this hobby would fill up so much of my time in the next twelve months. If you click on the blog history tab you will see more information on why I started SUTRE! and what my original intentions were. And on this first anniversary, I have to say that the project has succeeded anything I may have had in mind. Blogs do have a reputation of running out of ideas, and with it steam, but I am confident that the opposite has happened with SUTRE! Things are nicely balanced and I have plenty of things in mind to sustain it going forward.

Somebody recently paid me a compliment by saying they were stunned how much I knew about Norwich City Football Club. I quickly put them right. Yes, having been a fan of the Canaries in one form or another for over forty years, I guess I do know more than some people, but much of what appears on Sing Up The River End! starts out as no more than a distant memory, or maybe an inkling. Something stuck in my mind from years ago. I don't know enough about any particular subject without research. It is no good talking about 'the early seventies' or saying 'he was born up north' ! I need to look these things up and add dates, places and names to the story. I don't know much, for certain, off the top of my head. I am also at the age when even obvious things slip my mind. So what I know is often what I have had to find out. A great example is the story about Bill Shankly. When I came across information about him having played for Norwich City during World War Two, I was not sure if it was correct. With research I found it to be true. Then I realised that I had heard and read all about this when I was a teenager...........but for one reason or another the information had not stuck. From a personal point of view, this is the great thing about SUTRE! It is fast becoming my own point of reference for all things NCFC. So for those little facts I have forgotten (or when I can't quite decide if something happened in 1973 or 1976), I use my own website to look them up!

The thing I have found most rewarding is writing about the club and it's players prior to my days as a supporter. SUTRE! was meant to be about the twenty five year period from 1970 to 1995. I am so glad I extended it to the entire history of Norwich City. Of course with anything pre seventies, I am very much in the hands of those who came before me. But the more I study events surrounding the Canaries and the Citizens, the easier it becomes to get a feel for the period. The ups and downs on the field. The atmosphere on the terraces at all of our grounds. Manager appointments and the selling of star players. The NCFC story is just one giant jigsaw - I am merely working my way through the pieces and slotting them together. The only scary part of that analogy is that in twelve months I may only have completed the outer edge of the picture. I have a long way to go.........................this is going to take years.

Going forward, nothing much will change...........just more of the same. I am finding it incredible just how much club history there is, often hidden away or only lightly revealed. With over 350 items posted in this first year, I am confident of a repeat performance between now and January 2012, provided of course I am not held back by any unforeseen circumstances. The one thing that will continue is that SUTRE! will remain a tribute site. That flies in the face of most independent football websites. I read an interesting article the other day by Mick Dennis in which he commented on the vile words to be found on many forums, left by so called lovers of our great game. He also quotes Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail who describes it as ' a world of unsmiling nastiness and ill-humour'. I know many modern day supporters defend it as banter, as if that label makes it okay to gloat, brag and wish ill fortune on anyone not associated with their club. Sing Up The River End! will always take the path of respect. Whilst that robs it of cutting edge, and ensures that it never appears in the bookmarks of many a football fan, hopefully for those who visit often, it can continue to be a place to spend a few minutes reflecting on the nicer side of the sport and in particular, our club.

I hope there are people out there still enjoying the articles. Here's hoping for a successful year for both SUTRE! and Norwich City Football Club.

OTBC
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Norwich City History Against......Cardiff City

All Competitions

Norwich City 26 wins  Cardiff City 13 wins  8 draws

Norwich goals 78  Cardiff goals 58

Football League

Norwich City 24 wins  Cardiff City 13 wins  7 draws

Norwich goals 72  Cardiff goals 56

All league games at Norwich

Norwich City 16 wins  Cardiff City 2 wins  4 draws

Norwich goals 43  Cardiff goals 19

All league games at Cardiff

Norwich City 8 wins  Cardiff City 11 wins  3 draws

Norwich goals 29  Cardiff goals 37

Cup Football

Norwich City 2 wins  Cardiff City 0 wins  1 draw

Norwich goals 6  Cardiff goals 2

Regular readers of the head to heads on Sing Up The River End! will know that many of the series are close, but not in this case, with Norwich holding a substantial historical advantage. The first Football League encounter took place on the 19th of December 1931 in Division Three South. Norwich won the game at The Nest 2-0, as they did the return at Ninian Park later in the season. On both occasions, the Canary goals were scored by Cecil Blakemore and Ken Burditt. The clubs finished next to one another in the middle of the table at the end of the season.

Two more seasons were spent at the same level, Cardiff gained their first ever win over Norwich with a home 4-2 win in 1932, but the Canaries won the next three games. When Norwich won promotion to Division Two in 1933-34 it brought an end to clashes for a while. Cardiff were to stay in the third tier of English football until they won the division in the first season after World War Two. Norwich of course were back at that level themselves by then and won the 1946-47 opening day fixture at Carrow Road 2-1 with goals from Billy Furness and Cyril Walker. However, Cardiff won 6-1 on the 28th of December (the biggest win in the series), sending them nicely on their way to winning the championship, whilst Norwich finished one from bottom.

Cardiff reached the top flight by the early fifties so clashes with Norwich were non existent during this period. They flirted between Divisions One and Two in the second half of the decade but their relegation in 1961-62 saw the start of 21 years out of 23 back in the second level (the other two seasons were in Division Three). With Norwich reaching Division Two in 1960-61, it meant fixtures resumed between the Canaries and the Bluebirds for the next ten seasons broken only when the former reached Division One. However, as the East Anglians prospered at the top end of the domestic game, the Welshmen went the other way, living a yo-yo existence between the third and fourth divisions from 1984-85 onwards.

No matches took place therefore between 1982 and 2003, when Cardiff got back to Division One via the play-offs. The last ten games however have seen Norwich again coming out on top in the series. However the Championship match between the clubs on the 30th of October 2010 saw Cardiff win 3-1 (Wes Hoolahan netting our goal) in City's first and only visit to the new Cardiff City Stadium. The return fixture the following January finished 1-1, with Russell Martin equalising with a very late goal. Cardiff City have only ever won two matches at Norwich, in 1971 and 2007, both times with a 2-1 scoreline.

Only three cup games have ever taken place. In the FA Cup, Norwich beat Cardiff 3-2 during the cup run of 1958-59 (Cardiff were Second Division at the time and Norwich were in the third). Terry Bly scored twice and Errol Crossan got the other in one of the most famous matches in our history. In 1983, a two legged League Cup fixture took place, following a 0-0 draw at Ninian Park, Norwich won 3-0 at Carrow Road courtesy of a Mick Channon hat-trick. Cardiff therefore have never beaten Norwich in a cup match. The best Norwich win against Cardiff came in 1963 in a Division Two match, 5-1 with Ron Davies getting a hat-trick and Bill Punton and Tommy Bryceland also scoring.

Cardiff City were formed in 1899 as Riverside AFC, a spin off from the local cricket club. They changed to their present name in 1908 and joined the Southern League Second Division in 1910. They won promotion to Division One of that competition and so played the Canaries either side of World War One in non league football. When, in 1920-21, the Southern League members were asked en-bloc to form a Third Division of the Football League, Cardiff City were invited into the well established Second Division on the basis that they were 'the best team in Wales'. They finished second in the table and so in 1921-22 embarked on an eight year stay at the top level of English football. It is regarded as the peak period of their history, they finished as runners up in 1923-24 and won the FA cup in 1927.

A few of the Canaries with Cardiff City connections include Peter Thorne, Cyril Spiers, Robert Earnshaw and Keith Robson.


To see what part Cardiff City have played in the history of Norwich City Football Club, just pop their name into the search facility in the side bar.


Most recent games
15 Jan 2011  (Championship)  Norwich City 1 Cardiff City 1
30 Oct 2010  (Championship)  Cardiff City 3 Norwich City 1
10 Mar 2009  (Championship)  Norwich City 2 Cardiff City 0
23 Aug 2008  (Championship)  Cardiff City 2 Norwich City 2
9 Feb 2008  (Championship)  Cardiff City 1  Norwich City 2
1 Sep 2007  (Championship)  Norwich City 1 Cardiff City 2

pictured : Robert Earnshaw, a great favourite with supporters at both Norwich and Cardiff

Family Connections

Canaries who have family connections elsewhere in the world of football

John Bond - former West Ham United and Torquay right back, who later managed Norwich City between 1973 and 1980, in a total of 340 games 

was the father of

Kevin Bond - who, after 161 appearances for the Canaries, has gone on be manager of Bournemouth (2006-2008), as well as assistant manager of Portsmouth, Southampton, Newcastle Utd and Tottenham Hotspur

Final League Placings 1922-1923

Football League 1922-1923
Division Three South 






Bristol City  59
Plymouth Argyle  53
Swansea Town  53
Brighton  51
Luton Town  49
Portsmouth  46
Millwall  46
Swindon Town  45
Northampton  45
Watford  44
QPR  42
Charlton Athletic  42
Bristol Rovers  42
Brentford  38
Southend United  37
Gillingham  37
Merthyr Town  36
Norwich City  36
Reading  34
Exeter City  33
Aberdare Athletic  29
Newport County  27

Full City Record :  P42  W13  D10  L19  F51  A71  PTS 36   Manager : Bert Gosnell


Liverpool were English champions
Bolton Wanderers won the FA Cup


In This Year : The British Broadcasting Corporation is formed

The Empire Stadium, Wembley is used for the first time

Comedian Eric Sykes is born

Final league placings will be posted on a regular basis until every table is listed - click on the label below for years posted so far.
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FA Cup - Norwich City Record 1902-1909

1902-03  

20 Sep 02  Prelim Rnd (a)   Lowestoft Town   lost 5-0  

1903-04

19 Sep 03  Prelim Rnd (h)   Lowestoft Town   won 4-1

3  Oct  03  1st Qual Rnd  (a)  Yarmouth Town  won 2-1

17 Oct 03  2nd Qual Rnd (a)  Harwich & Parkeston  won 4-2

31 Oct 03  3rd Qual Rnd (h)  West Norwood  drew 1-1   *

1904-05

29 Oct 04  3rd Qual Rnd  (h)  Grays United  drew 0-0

3 Nov 04    Replay  (a)  Grays United  lost 3-2 

1905-06

9 Dec 05   4th Qual Rnd  (a)  Sheppey United  won 2-0

13 Jan 06   1st Rnd   (h)  Tunbridge Wells Rangers  drew 1-1

17 Jan 06   Replay  (a)  Tunbridge Wells Rangers  won 5-0

3 Feb 06    2nd Rnd  (a)  Manchester United  lost 3-0

1906-07

12 Jan 07  1st Rnd  (h)  Hastings & St Leonards  won 3-1

2 Feb 07   2nd Rnd  (a)  West Bromwich Albion  lost 1-0

1907-08

11 Jan 08  1st Rnd  (h)  The Wednesday  won 2-0   **

1 Feb 08   2nd Rnd (a)  Fulham  lost 2-1

1908-09

16 Jan 09  1st Rnd  (n)  Reading  drew 0-0  ***

20 Jan 09  Replay (a)  Reading  drew 1-1

25 Jan 09  2nd Replay (n) Reading won 3-2  aet ****

6 Feb 09   2nd Rnd (a) Liverpool  won 3-2

20 Feb 09  3rd Rnd (a)  Bristol City lost 2-0

*  Norwich City withdrew from this year's FA Cup competition, due to a FA Amateur Cup clash just two days before the next scheduled Round. 1903-04 therefore remains the only season in the history of the club  when they were undefeated in the FA Cup.

**  The Wednesday (or Sheffield Wednesday as we know them today) were the FA Cup winners the previous season.

***  Played at Stamford Bridge after Reading had objected to the game being played at The Nest, saying the pitch was not of the standard size.

**** Played at Villa Park

Life After City

...........keeping a beady eye on ex Canaries  

At the very end of last year it was announced that Jon Sheffield had been appointed as goalkeeper coach at League One Yeovil Town, on a temporary contract. Canary supporters who were around in the latter part of the 1980's will remember our young goalkeeping prospect. As so often happens with players wearing the number one shirt, the path to a regular team spot can often be blocked by the presence of a long term servant who just cannot be budged from the side. In Jon's case it was Bryan Gunn who stood in his way. Though he was unable to make the breakthrough at Norwich City after emerging from the youth academy, he went on to make 341 Football League appearances for nine clubs, one game of which was for the Canaries first team in 1989. He played 23 times for the Glovers between 2001 and 2004, and both player and club are hoping the deal becomes permanent.

Another product of the Norwich City youth system, and this time the first half of the nineties, was Craig Bellamy. Few City fans will be unaware of the successful career that has followed, but with an important return appearance at Carrow Road looming for his present club Cardiff City, they may not want to know that Craig is on the brink of a goalscoring milestone. His strike for the Welsh side in Tuesday's Championship win over Leeds United was his 149th club goal in all competitions. The breakdown is as follows : Norwich (34), Coventry (8), Newcastle United (43), Celtic (9), Blackburn (17), Liverpool (9), West Ham (9), Manchester City (15) and five, so far, at Cardiff. He is bound to get a good reception should he play at Norwich, but all Canary supporters will be hoping that if he is in the mood to reach any landmarks, he will do so this weekend at Stoke City in the FA Cup and not on his trip to East Anglia, on the 15th of January. 

Lee Croft may have been voted Norwich City Player Of The Year in 2009, but since then his fortunes have gone downhill somewhat. The Canaries were of course relegated at the same time as those votes were being counted, and Croft moved to Derby County on a free transfer. However, after failing to secure a regular start in the first team through injury and loss of form, he was loaned out to League One Huddersfield in August 2010, joining up with Lee Clark, his former assistant manager at Carrow Road and now in charge of the Terriers. However he has again failed to make the starting eleven very often - just one start, in the 5-1 League Cup defeat to Everton, plus 5 substitute appearances, two of which were in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. In the last few days, Huddersfield have sent Lee back to Derby, with the East Midlands club already intimating they are looking to place him out on loan elsewhere.

According to The Scotsman newspaper, former Canary Julien Brellier has retired from professional football at the age of 28. Whilst early departures from the world of soccer are normally associated with injuries, in Julien's case it seems he has become disillusioned waiting for a career opportunity to surface. Of late he has been turning out for AC Seyssinet, an amateur outfit in the seventh tier of French football. This came after his release in March 2010 from Swiss side FC Sion, the club he joined from Norwich. The report goes on to say that he has come to terms with the fact that it is increasingly difficult to make a living as a footballer in these austere times, and he is thinking about studying for a coaching badge. Brellier was a very hot prospect as a youngster, and was with FC Internazionale Milano in his late teens.

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Norwich City History Against......Leyton Orient

All Competitions
Norwich City 28 wins   Leyton Orient 14 wins   16 draws
Norwich goals 98   Leyton Orient goals 58

Football League
Norwich City 26 wins   Leyton Orient 12 wins   12 draws
Norwich goals 90   Leyton Orient goals 53

All league games at Norwich
Norwich City 19 wins   Leyton Orient 1 win   5 draws
Norwich goals 58   Leyton Orient goals 15

All league games at Leyton Orient
Norwich City 7 wins   Leyton Orient 11 wins   7 draws
Norwich goals 32   Leyton Orient goals 38

Cup Football
Norwich City 2 wins   Leyton Orient 2 win   4 draws
Norwich goals 8   Leyton Orient goals 5

Leyton Orient Football Club was formed in 1881 by members of a cricket club, making them the second oldest club in London behind Fulham. Throughout history they have made a habit of changing their name. In 1886 they became the Eagle Cricket Club, in 1888 the Orient Football Club, then Clapton Orient in 1898. After World War Two they became Leyton Orient, but dropped 'Leyton' to simply become 'Orient' in 1966. Since 1987 they have always been known as Leyton Orient.

They joined the Southern League in 1904 (the season during which Norwich City lost their amateur status) but the next year were elected to Division Two of the Football League. It was the vacancy they left that allowed Norwich to join the Southern League.

Clapton Orient established themselves in Division Two both sides of World War One and it was not until they were relegated after the 1928-29 season that they first came into Football League contact with the Canaries. They visited the Nest on the 2nd of November 1929, with City winning 1-0 through a second half Tommy Hunt goal. The return fixture at Brisbane Road later in the season ended goalless. This series of games continued until 1933-34 when Norwich won the Division Three South title, and it was City who had the best return winning six of the ten matches, to Clapton's two victories, with two draws.

It was not until the first season after World War Two that the clubs clashed again, in Division Three South once again. The meeting proved to be historic for the Canaries. In what was to be a dire season for the club, the match on the 19th of October 1946 at Carrow Road witnessed the fastest ever goal scored by Norwich City - by Ralph Johnson after just 10 seconds. The final score was 5-0, which remains City's biggest win over Leyton Orient, with Johnson getting a second, plus goals from Sid Plunkett (2) and Syd Jones. The Londoners won the return match 3-0.

A long run of matches followed until Leyton Orient were promoted after winning the division in 1955-56, though the Canaries did manage two 2-2 draws with them that season. Norwich joined them at the second level in 1960-61, winning 3-2 at Carrow Road through Brian Whitehouse, Derrick Lythgoe and an own goal, but by 1962-63, Leyton Orient had hit the big time for the first, and only time in their history. As Division Two runners up they had earned their way to Division One, but the heady success soon ended as they finished bottom of the table. And so, a few more seasons were shared together back in Division Two and it was during this period that Leyton Orient secured their one and only league victory at Norwich, 2-1 on the 31st of August 1963. However they were relegated to the Third Division for the second half of the sixties.

They returned to the Second Division after finishing 1969-70 as champions. This was just as things were bubbling up at Carrow Road under Ron Saunders. On the 24th of April 1972, a fondly remembered match took place between Norwich and Orient at Brisbane Road. It was the penultimate game of the season and the Canaries won 2-1 with a Graham Paddon penalty and a goal from Kenny Foggo. The significance of the occasion was that it secured Norwich City's promotion to the top flight of English football for the first time.

Since then, clashes have been sparse as far as league football is concerned - firstly when Norwich suffered two single season relegations from Division One in 1974-75 and 1981-82 (the Canaries winning three times with one game drawn), and then nothing more until last year when Norwich fell to the third level. A good 4-0 victory was secured by City at Carrow Road, though all four goals came in the last fifteen minutes of the game (Chris Martin, Grant Holt, Michael Spillane and Jamie Cureton). A Korey Smith goal at Leyton Orient (in Norwich's only visit to their re-named Matchroom Stadium) could not prevent a 2-1 defeat in the return fixture in April.

In cup football, there have been nine clashes in history. In the FA Cup there have been four games. Norwich won 3-1 at Brisbane Road in 1966 through Don Heath, Terry Anderson and an own goal. In 1978 on the same ground it finished 1-1, but Orient triumphed 1-0 in the replay. In January 2011 the Londoners visited Carrow Road and won 1-0, one of the shocks of the round given Norwich were one level higher than Leyton Orient in league status. Three Anglo Scottish Cup matches took place in 1976,1977 and 1978 - all ending in draws. In 1934 the clubs met in the Division Three South Cup, with Norwich winning 3-0 at home.

Amongst former Canaries with Leyton Orient connections are Errol Crossan, Ryan Jarvis, Jimmy Smith and Phil Hoadley.

To see what part Leyton Orient have played in the history of Norwich City Football Club, just pop their name into the search facility in the side bar.

Most recent games
8 Jan 2011   (FA Cup)  Norwich City 0 Leyton Orient 1

13 Apr 2010  (League One)  Leyton Orient 2  Norwich City 1

29 Sep 2009  (League One)  Norwich City 4  Leyton Orient 0

8 May 1982  (Div Two)  Norwich City 2  Leyton Orient 0

16 Mar 1982  (Div Two)  Leyton Orient 1  Norwich City 1

12 Aug 1978 (Anglo Scottish Cup) Norwich City 0 Leyton Orient 0

16 Jan 1978 (FA Cup 3rd Rnd Rep)  Norwich City 0 Leyton Orient 1

6 Jan 1978  (FA Cup 3rd Rnd) Leyton Orient 1  Norwich City 1

pictured : Ryan Jarvis - ex Canary striker who has appeared nearly 100 times for Leyton Orient and is currently on loan to Northampton

City Top Of The League As Visitors See Red

..............history isn't just about yesteryear, it's also happening right now, and is brought to you on a regular basis in The Canary Chronicles 

One of the good things about the end of a year and the beginning of a new one is that it is a time of review, a period when statisticians look back on the previous twelve months and produce all kinds of interesting facts. Doing the rounds a day or so ago was a table of Football League performances for the calendar year of 2010. It consisted of 67 clubs who had spent that entire time in the league. Top of the pile were Norwich City, who amassed 89 points from the 46 games they played in. The Canaries also had the record number of away wins with 13. Our nearest rivals to Football League supremacy were Millwall (81), Notts County (79), Cardiff City (79), Southampton (76), and Port Vale (75).

The first game of 2011 was a cracker for Norwich City, with a superb 1-0 win over Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers. I must admit I did not fancy our prospects going into the clash - injuries and suspensions gave manager Paul Lambert few options and a minimum of choice as far as team selection was concerned. But once again this group of players proved that they are currently a match for any side in the division. Significantly we kept a clean sheet for the first time since the 23rd of October, ironically against Middlesbrough, our opponents later today. And perhaps even more importantly, that means City achieved a return of four points out of six against QPR this season, without conceding a goal. Which may prove vital as the finishing line gets closer.

That City win meant the Canaries have now won five games out of the last six and lost only once in the last ten (at home to Portsmouth). Prior to the East Anglian Derby we had acquired a rare habit for drawing matches, but our recent knack of turning games into three pointers, leaves the club placed third in the table. Manager Paul Lambert is right to continue to talk merely of Championship survival. Another ten points (from 22 matches !) should just about do it. And who else realises that in our last season in this competition, we won only 46 points all campaign ? Just four more needed to overtake that figure with barely more than half the matches gone !!

Russell Martin's tenth minute winning effort against QPR was his third career goal for Norwich, coming in his 53rd club appearance in all competitions. All three have come this season, and this one was his first at Carrow Road - the others were scored in the 3-1 loss at Doncaster Rovers and the 3-3 draw at Reading.

Aaron Wilbraham made his Norwich City debut against QPR, thus becoming the newest Canary in history. He signed from Milton Keynes Dons in a loan deal that will be made permanent, and has previously also played for Stockport County, Moss FK, Hull City, and Oldham Athletic and Bradford City on loan. He has been allocated shirt number 21.

Scout Stuart McCall has left Norwich City to take up the post of manager with Scottish Premier League side Motherwell.

It would appear that Carrow Road is turning into something of a cauldron at the moment. With the number of spectators attending matches on the rise, so are temperatures on the pitch. In the last four games, a red card has been shown - QPR, Sheffield United and Ipswich Town were all reduced to ten men before the final whistle and Leon Barnett was dismissed against Portsmouth. The Canaries have been caught out at home a few times this season, losing games they should really have won. But with the onset of winter, Carrow Road has been a dark and intimidating place for visiting teams to travel to. All sides are welcome of course - but don't expect the hospitality of old. On New Years Day the yellow card limit before suspension increased from five to ten. A little much needed breathing space and with some teams now having a worrying glance at the three relegation spots, expect a few more fireworks over the coming months.

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First & Last - Marc Edworthy

First game :  9th August 2003 versus Bradford City away Division One 2-2 draw

Last game :  2nd April 2005 versus Arsenal away Premier League 4-1 defeat



Signed from :  Wolverhampton Wanderers
Next club :  Derby County
Played professionally : until 2009    

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Norwich City History Against......Middlesbrough

All Competitions
Norwich City 16 wins    Middlesbrough 19 wins    13 draws
Norwich goals 57    Middlesbrough goals 74

Football League
Norwich City 15 wins    Middlesbrough 18 wins   13 draws
Norwich goals 54    Middlesbrough goals 70

All league games at Norwich
Norwich City 11 wins    Middlesbrough 5 wins  7 draws
Norwich goals 37    Middlesbrough goals 26

All league games at Middlesbrough
Norwich City 4 wins   Middlesbrough 13 wins  6 draws
Norwich goals 17   Middlesbrough goals 44

Cup Football
Norwich City 1 win   Middlesbrough 1 win   0 draws
Norwich goals 3   Middlesbrough goals  4  

Despite the long history of both clubs, those 48 games have all taken place in the last fifty years. And given that only thirteen have occurred since 1985, you can see that the Canaries and Boro have largely played their football in different places !

Middlesbrough FC were formed in 1875 by the local cricket team. They remained amateur until 1889, at which point some members left to form a rival club, Middlesbrough Ironopolis. A failed attempt was made to merge the two together in 1892 and join the Football League, at which point Middlesbrough FC went back to being amateur, and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1895 and 1898. However, in 1899 they returned to professional status and joined the Football League. This was still three years before the birth of Norwich City Football Club.

Middlesbrough won the Division Two title in 1901-02, and they went on to enjoy top flight football until the mid 1920's. They then had a yo-yo existence until the end of the twenties before hitting the big time again in 1929-30, where they stayed until 1953-54. A return to Division Two in 1954-55 was to last until the mid seventies, with the exception of a season in the third tier in 1966-67. It was during this period that they first clashed with City. The clubs met at Ayresome Park on the 15th of October 1960, and the north easterners won 2-0. In the return game on the 4th of March 1961, the Canaries triumphed 4-1, thanks to goals from Terry Allcock (2), Jimmy Hill and Bill Punton.

The following season, the first of only two cup games between Norwich and Middlesbrough in history took place, with City winning 3-2 at Carrow Road in the third Round of the FA Cup (the other cup game was in 1990 which Boro took 2-0 at home). Just three weeks later the sides met again, this time in the league and Norwich won an extraordinary match 5-4, and that after being 2-0 down at half time. On this day, the goals came courtesy of Derrick Lythgoe (2), Gerry Mannion, Jimmy Hill and Terry Allcock.

Games took place regularly until Norwich won promotion to Division One after the 1971-72 season. Middlesbrough did likewise in 1974-75, so more matches took place from then through to the early eighties. Boro however, bobbled about between the top two flights between then and the late nineties, and even had one term in Division Three in 1986-87. In 1998-99 they reached the Premier League once more and were to stay there for eleven consecutive seasons, before suffering relegation back to the Championship in 2008-09.

The fixture on the 22nd of January 2005 has become one of the most celebrated matches in Norwich City's modern history. The Canaries, who had taken an 18th minute lead through Damien Francis, found themselves 4-1 down with just eight minutes left to play. Debutant and record signing Dean Ashton pulled one back on 80 minutes as the Carrow Road crowd, who had seen only two victories all season, rallied their team. Leon McKenzie got the third in the 90th minute, before Adam Drury scored from a Darren Huckerby corner in the third minute of stoppage time to grab an unlikely point. His wheeling arm celebration remains a treasured memory for all of us there.

The Championship match between the two sides back in October 2010, saw City win 1-0 at Carrow Road through a 44th minute goal from Simeon Jackson. When the sides met again the following January, the game ended 1-1, with Grant Holt netting for the Canaries. The last time Norwich won at Middlesbrough was in a Division One game in 1988 (3-2), and before that you have to go back to 1976. Both of those matches were played at Ayresome Park.

Biggest wins in the series all belong to Middlesbrough, 6-2 in 1963, 5-0 in 1971 and 6-1 in 1980, the season City were relegated from Division One. Former Canaries with Middlesbrough connections include David Hodgson, Keith O'Neill and Charlie O'Hagan.


To see what part Middlesbrough have played in the history of Norwich City Football Club, just pop their name into the search facility in the side bar.

Most recent games
3 Jan 2011   (Championship)  Middlesbrough 1 Norwich City 1
23 Oct 2010   (Championship)  Norwich City 1 Middlesbrough 0
22 Jan 2005   (Premier League)  Norwich City 4 Middlesbrough 4
28 Dec 2004  (Premier League)  Middlesbrough 2 Norwich City 0
22 Mar 1998  (Division One)  Middlesbrough 3 Norwich City 0
15 Nov 1997  (Division One)  Norwich City 1 Middlesbrough 3

pictured : Keith O'Neill, the former Norwich midfielder who signed for Middlesbrough in 1999 for £700,000 (picture source :BBC)
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