SING UP THE RIVER END !

Quote, Unquote

2012-02-13T06:30:00.000Z

''I have not come here for a rest, but to help Norwich City get back into the First Division''

Peter Morris following his £60,000 move from Ipswich Town in June 1974
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Born This Week

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000Z

. February 13th (Today)

James Mackrell ~ in 1906 in Airdrie

. February 14th

Bryn Jones ~ in 1912 in Merthyr Tydfil

Walter Crome ~ in 1881 in Norwich

. February 15th

Jack Taylor ~ in 1914 in Barnsley

. February 16th

Keith O'Neill ~ in 1976 in Dublin

Ken Brown ~ in 1934 in Forest Gate

. February 18th

Paul Dalglish ~ in 1977 in Glasgow

Bob Young ~ in 1894 in Brandon, Co Durham

. February 19th

Malky Mackay ~ in 1972 in Bellshill

Justin Fashanu ~ in 1961 in Hackney

Ian Mellor ~ in 1950 in Sale, Manchester

Peter Silvester ~ in 1948 in Wokingham

Herbert Skermer ~ in 1896 in Selston, Notts

[This feature is produced weekly and posted on Sing Up The River End! every Monday]
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The Nearly Canaries - Joe Lewis

2012-02-12T06:30:00.000Z

a record of men who trialled for Norwich City, were on the books but didn't play in the first team, or so nearly signed to became a Canary

Joe Lewis may seem a strange inclusion into the Nearly Canaries section of Sing Up The River End! but the truth is he never actually played a first team match for Norwich City. Unlike outfield players, goalkeepers are often the subjects of long periods warming the substitute's bench without getting onto the pitch, and this is exactly what happened to Joe Lewis. He was first selected whilst still nine days short of his 16th birthday for the Division One game at Carrow Road against Crystal Palace on the 27th of September 2003. Robert Green was the Norwich custodian that afternoon but Joe's elevation in rank came after an injury to Paul Crichton, the recognised number two goalkeeper. Crichton was out of action for the next half a dozen games too, but Lewis remained in waiting on the sidelines. 2004-05 saw Norwich in the Premier League of course and Paul Gallacher was signed on a free transfer from Dundee United as back up to Green. Lewis continued his education at Carrow Road and made one further bench appearance in the top flight, and four more the following season. With the departure of Robert Green to West Ham in the summer of 2006, Lewis officially became second in command but missed out on the chance of a first team début through injury, prompting the short term loan of Lee Camp and, later in the season, David Marshall and Tony Warner. The frustration was growing for young Joe and he eventually went out on loan himself to get some game time - firstly to Stockport County and then Morecambe. With Marshall eventually joining City on a permanent transfer, his opportunities were again limited and in January 2008, an offer of £400k was accepted from Peterborough United.

Rarely do managers substitute a goalkeeper late in the game just to give a player some experience. Had Joe Lewis been an outfield player, it is likely he would have got a few minutes on the pitch somewhere along the line. But as it is, he remains, a nearly Canary.
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List Of Leading Goalscorers

2012-02-11T17:05:00.001Z

The following players all scored 50 or more goals in all competitions for Norwich City :

1   Johnny Gavin 132
2   Terry Allcock 127
3   Iwan Roberts 96
4   Robert Fleck 84
5   Jack Vinall 80
6   Ralph Hunt 72
7   John Deehan 70
8   Les Eyre 69
9= Ron Davies 66
9= Jimmy Hill 66
9= Ted MacDougall 66
12   Noel Kinsey 65
13 Grant Holt 64
14 Ken Burditt 61
15 Roy Hollis 59
16= Kevin Drinkell 57
16= Ken Foggo 57
16= James Jackson 57
19 Ron Ashman 56
20 Tommy Bryceland 55
21 Hugh Curran 53
22 Bobby Brennan 52
23 Martin Peters 50
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Ask Aitch !

2012-02-11T07:00:00.001Z

I recently received the following question from a reader of Sing Up The River End!

Hello Aitch, I am confused as to which Norwich City player holds the record for most appearances for the club. I always thought it was Ron Ashman, but somebody has now told me Kevin Keelan played more times. Can you clear up the confusion for me ?

The answer is that Kevin Keelan played eleven games more than Ron Ashman, beating him by 673 appearances to 662. But I can understand the confusion. Obviously Ashman was the original holder of the record - and he also played the most Football League matches by any City player in history, with 590 games.

Do you have a question regarding Norwich City Football Club history or trivia ? Maybe a memory that you can't quite piece together due to missing information ? The solution of course may already be on Sing Up The River End! but if you want to contact me either by the comment facility or e mail (address at bottom of the blog) I will try to publish you an answer.

Many questions are likely to be beyond me. So, if I don't know the answer, I will put out a request to see if any other readers can help. It's amazing what people know and remember and it may just give you what you are looking for.

Stars Of The Past - Allan Jones

2012-02-11T07:00:00.000Z

John 'Allan' Jones was born in Cefn Mawr, Ruabon, nr Wrexham on 12th September 1939, and was one of many Canary stars of the past whose career path was blocked by a player considered a club legend. Or in this case, two legends. Jones was a goalkeeper, who signed for City in July 1962. At just 22 years of age, and having already played 90 league games for Fourth Division Exeter City, he was given his chance at Second Division Norwich City.

However, the great Sandy Kennon was the regular number one and though approaching 30 years of age, he had no intentions of giving up the shirt. Allan Jones, who had started his career with non league Druids and had also made a single appearance for Cardiff City before his time at Exeter, had to wait until the 15th December 1962 before taking to the field as a Canary, in a 1-1 draw at Preston North End. He played in the next four league matches through to the February before Kennon returned to duty.

With Norwich securing mid table security, Jones was given a second run for the last four games of the season. But things did not turn out well for the Welshman. Although he kept a clean sheet in the home draw against Grimsby Town, he conceded three goals at both Derby County and Walsall and then in the final game of the season, six at Middlesbrough. It was the last time Allan Jones appeared for Norwich City. Just a couple of months later, the club signed another 22 year old keeper - who ironically had been playing for Jones' hometown club, Wrexham. His name was Kevin Keelan !

Shortly afterwards Jones was sold to Wrexham (who of course had a goalkeeping vacancy), in a deal that saw winger Ron Barnes move in the opposite direction for £6,500. He was to double his tally of nine City games for the North Wales club in the next season before dropping down to non league football.

Young goalkeepers often have few chances to impress and can quickly find themselves out of favour, though in the case of Allan Jones he was also somewhat unfortunate to find his time at the club sandwiched between two players, Kennon and then Keelan, who made 928 appearances between them !

After retirement from the game he emigrated to Australia, where he joined the police force.

[This article has been updated and was first published on the 11th of June 2010]
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Norwich City & Swansea City - Players

2012-02-10T06:00:00.000Z

The following players have all had connections with Norwich City and Swansea City :

. Edward Bennett (D)
. Joe Brain (F)
. Neil Davids (D) **
. Glyn Davies (W)
. Ian Davies (D)
. John Denoon (GK) **
. Adrian Forbes (M/F)
. Roger Gibbins (F)
. Jim Guy (M) *
. Joe Herbert (W) **
. David Hodgson (F)
. Albert Jones (D)
. Leroy Lita (F)
. John Middleton (F)
. Jan Molby (M)
. Matthew Rush (W)
. Colin Sullivan (D)
. Owain Tudor-Jones (M) *

* associated with Swansea City immediately before Norwich City
** associated with Swansea City immediately after Norwich City

All players listed made at least one competitive appearance for Norwich City. Their associations with Swansea City (or Swansea Town as the club was once known) may have come through first team, reserve or youth football. Wartime guest appearances are not included, or trials in friendly matches.
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Norwich City & Swansea City Managers

2012-02-10T05:30:00.000Z

The only man to manage both Norwich City and Swansea City is John Bond. The extrovert Londoner was hugely popular at Carrow Road during a seven year spell in the seventies, winning the Canaries a promotion and a Wembley Final appearance in the League Cup. His tenure at Swansea came between December 1984 and December 1985. He took over at a time when the Swans were in freefall from the top flight where they had appeared in 1982-83. Bond was able to fight off a third successive relegation from Division Three to Division Four by the narrowest of margins (just one point) but a poor start to the next campaign saw him replaced by Tommy Hutchison. Swansea went down to the basement division at the end of the season.

Former Canaries midfielder Doug Livermore was assistant manager to John Toshack at Vetch Field in the eighties and had an eight game spell as caretaker manager when Toshack left the club for a couple of months before returning to the hot seat. Livermore managed just one victory in that period. Jan Molby, who had a quick loan period at Norwich in 1995, was made player-manager of Swansea City in February 1996 at the age of just 32. Despite taking the club to the Division Three play-offs in his only full season in charge, he was sacked the following year, after his side struggled in the opening months.
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Norwich City History Against......Swansea City

2012-02-09T06:34:00.000Z

All Competitions

Norwich City 19 wins Swansea 20 wins 8 draws

Norwich goals 69 Swansea goals 67

Football League

Norwich City 16 wins Swansea 19 wins 7 draws

Norwich goals 62 Swansea goals 64

All league games at Norwich

Norwich City 13 wins Swansea 4 wins 4 draws

Norwich goals 40 Swansea goals 19

All league games at Swansea

Norwich City 3 wins Swansea 15 wins 3 draws

Norwich goals 22 Swansea goals 45

Cup Football

Norwich City 3 wins Swansea 1 win 1 draw

Norwich goals 7 Swansea goals 3

The clubs first clashed when playing non-league football in 1919-20, in the Southern League. Swansea were then known as Swansea Town and after their formation in 1912 they played in the second division of that league until the start of the First World War, before joining Norwich in Division One in 1919-20 (results not included in above figures). The first Football League fixture between the clubs took place the next season after both were admitted to Division Three. On the 16th September 1920, a second half cave in by the Canaries saw the Welsh side run out 5-2 winners, after a brace from Wally Bell in the first 45 minutes had left things level. The return match at The Nest on New Years Day 1921 finished 1-1, with a crowd of 7,000 watching Robert Dennison score for Norwich.

The sides were placed in Division Three South the following year and fixtures continued until 1925 when Swansea finished top and were promoted. The next run of games came in the second part of the 1930's after Norwich joined them in Division Two.

Norwich were relegated in the last season before World War Two, and Swansea suffered the same fate after just one more year once football resumed. Their stay at the third level however was short as they won the division at just the second attempt. It took until 1960 for Norwich to catch them up. A run of ten matches then took place and although honours were generally shared, Norwich had a fine time in 1962 - winning 3-0 at the Vetch Field (Brian Whitehouse 2 and Ray Savino) which was their last victory at Swansea, and 5-0 at Carrow Road (Terry Allcock, Jimmy Hill, Tommy Bryceland, Ollie Burton and Phil Kelly), their biggest win in the series. Sandy Kennon was the Norwich goalie keeping the clean sheets. The Swans however suffered relegation in the mid sixties and spent most of the next decade and a half in the third and fourth levels, therefore not meeting the Canaries. They changed their name to Swansea City in 1969.

The 80's were a remarkable period for the club. They reached the top flight in 1981-82 - moving from the bottom level in just 4 years, a record they share with Wimbledon - and finished 6th in Division One. However, they were relegated the next season and four years later were back where they started - in the basement division. It was 2008-09 before we clashed again in the league with Swansea achieving a Championship double over us. In the 2010-11 Championship, Norwich won 2-0 at Carrow Road where an amazing final ten minutes saw John Ruddy save a penalty just before the Swans scored an own goal. Simeon Jackson made the victory safe in injury time. In the return fixture Swansea gained revenge, beating Norwich 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium in front of the Sky TV cameras.

Swansea's best result in the series was a 4-0 victory at home in 1982, in one of the only two matches the clubs played in the old First Division. Norwich won the other 1-0 through a Mick Channon strike.

With both clubs having gained promotion from the Championship in 2010-11, the following season saw the first ever shared Premier League status. Norwich ran out 3-1 winners of the first contest in this competition on the 15th of October 2011 with Anthony Pilkington scoring twice (the first after just 49 seconds) and Russell Martin getting the other. In the return fixture in South Wales on the 11th of February 2012, the Canaries completed the double, winning 3-2 with a brace from Grant Holt and another from Anthony Pilkington. It was Norwich's first ever win at the Liberty Stadium, and their first away win at Swansea since 1962.

There has been only one FA Cup match - two Keith Bertschin goals on the 8th January 1983 securing a 2-1 3rd Round win. The clubs have met twice in the League Cup, in 1994 and 1998 - both two leg ties with Norwich winning both on aggregate.

. For a list of players associated with both clubs, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/02/norwich-city-swansea-city-players.html
. For information on managerial associations, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/02/norwich-city-swansea-city-managers.html

Did You Know ?

Swansea's Vetch Field pitch originally consisted of a coal cinder surface, and players were required to wear knee pads as protection.

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

Most recent games
11 Feb 2012 (Premier League) Swansea City 2 Norwich City 3
15 Oct 2011 (Premier League) Norwich City 3 Swansea City 1
9 Apr 2011 (Championship) Swansea City 3 Norwich City 0

21 Aug 2010 (Championship) Norwich City 2 Swansea City 0

11 Apr 2009 (Championship) Swansea City 2 Norwich City 1

15 Nov 2008 (Championship) Norwich City 2 Swansea City 3

18 Aug 1998 (League Cup 1st Round 2nd Leg) Norwich City 1 Swansea City 0

11 Aug 1998 (League Cup 1st Round 1st Leg) Swansea City 1 Norwich City 1

pictured : Adrian Forbes who played 112 league games for Norwich and 69 for Swansea

Recent Landmarks - And Hopefully More On The Way

2012-02-08T06:30:00.001Z

..............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

Two current players have recently secured appearance landmarks with the Canaries. When Russell Martin came on as a substitute during Saturday's 2-0 win over Bolton, it was his 100th outing in a Norwich City shirt. It will be a wait until the next player hits this figure - closest to it is Korey Smith (who is currently out on loan at Barnsley) on 73, and then John Ruddy on 69.

The recall of Adam Drury to the left back berth to cover the injury to Marc Tierney, has pushed him over the 350 mark. His special day came in the visit to the Hawthorns in the cup on the 28th of January. He has since added another game to his tally (against Bolton) so there are two players in his sights - Daryl Sutch on 352 and Duncan Forbes on 357. Drury currently lies 16th in the Norwich City all time appearance list.

Wes Hoolahan is closing in on a personal landmark too - he is now just four appearances short of his 150th in all competitions.

The début of Jed Steer in that recent 4th Round FA Cup victory at West Bromwich Albion, makes him by our reckoning, the 1002nd man to play a first team competitive game for the club.

Grant Holt now sits on 62 goals for Norwich, leaving him as the 13th highest scorer in the history of the club. Another five goals will lift him to 9th - overtaking Ron Davies, Jimmy Hill, Ted MacDougall and Noel Kinsey in the process.

Thirteen men made their débuts in 2011, exactly the same number as in 2010. An amazing twenty nine newcomers were introduced in 2009 !

The 32 points won so far by City in this current season is just one less than the total number achieved in 2004-05, their last term in the Premier League. After twenty four matches of that campaign, only 19 points had been secured.
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First & Last - Ken Burditt

2012-02-08T06:30:00.000Z

First game : 17th January 1931 versus Walsall home Division Three South 3-1 win

Last game : 2nd May 1936 versus Doncaster Rovers home Division Two 2-1 win

Signed from : Gresley Rovers
Next club : Millwall
Played professionally : until 1939
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Debutants 1924

2012-02-08T06:00:00.000Z

Here is a list of all players who made their first team débuts for Norwich City Football Club in 1924 :

Sid Earl   9 February 1924 v Exeter City (Division 3 S) (a) won 2-1
John Murphy   9 February 1924
Alf Ford   3 May 1924 v Reading (Division 3 S) (h) drew 2-2
Archie Campbell   30 August 1924 v Plymouth Argyle (Division 3 S) (h) drew 1-1
Tom Coulthard   30 August 1924
Jack Duffus   30 August 1924
Frank McCudden   30 August 1924
Joseph Wilson   3 September 1924 v Bournemouth (Division 3 S) (a) drew 0-0
Ernest North   6 September 1924 v Bristol City (Division 3 S) (a) lost 2-0
Len Featherby   13 September 1924 v Swindon Town (Division 3 S) (h) won 4-0
Harold Osborne   27 September 1924 v Merthyr Town (Division 3 S) (h) won 1-0
Daniel McKinney   1 November 1924 v Swansea Town (Division 3 S) (h) won 2-0
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Canary Lists

2012-02-07T07:00:00.000Z

a list for everything NCFC...........

Here is a list of things and people from recent history that I believe will still be talked about in 30 years time. It is not an exclusive list and readers will have other things to add no doubt. But every item here is likely to remain in the memory of Norwich City supporters for a very long time. I know because as I write about days gone by, there are some anecdotes and stories that everyone remembers and always crop up, whoever you talk with - like Ron Saunders and Mousehold Heath, Jamie Cureton and his green hair, and 'that' Justin Fashanu goal . And with the internet allowing more and more information to be recorded, it will inevitably lead to more being remembered. But here is a list of twelve (in no particular order) to get you started..........

The Chris Goreham commentary against Derby County

Paul Lambert

Russell Martin in his underpants

Winning at Fratton Park

Losing 7-1 to Colchester United

David McNally

Grant Holt

The double hat-tricks against Scunthorpe

Back to back promotions

Norwich 9 Ipswich 2

Michael Theoklitos

Norwich Time

Norwich City Appearances

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000Z

Norwich City first team appearances in all competitions, including those from the substitutes bench. Friendlies and trial matches not included. Players still at the club omitted.

B

Mark Bowen 399
Barry Butler 349
Ian Butterworth 293
Tommy Bryceland 284
Bobby Brennan 250
Mark Barham 223
Alan Black 203
Geoff Butler 196
Steve Bruce 180
Ken Burditt 173
Max Briggs 170
Kevin Bond 161
Bill Bushell 154
Phil Boyer 140
Sam Bowen 139
Keith Bertschin 138
Jimmy Banks 136
Peter Burke 119
Gordon Bolland 118
Robert Beale 111
Charles Bradbrook 106
Wayne Biggins 97
Craig Bellamy 91
Laurie Brown 91
Fred Bemment 85
Dave Bennett 85
Sam Bell 79
Carl Bradshaw 74
Ollie Burton 73
Cecil Blakemore 70
Terry Bly 67
Tommy Booth 65
Paul Blades 62
Albert Bennett 60
Ryan Bertrand 60
Jackie Bell 58
William Brown 53
Oliver Brown 51
Darren Beckford 49
Jim Brennan 48
Jimmy Bone 47
Ralph Bibby 45
Ron Bacon 42
George Bell 39
John Benson 37
Ben Burley 37
William Bauchop 36
Percy Barnfather 34
Horace Brindley 32
Dick Birchall 31
James Broadhead 31
William Bertram 30
David Bentley 28
Kenny Brown 28
Langford Baker 25
Ron Barnes 25
Jimmy Bauchop 24
Chris Brown 24
Viv Busby 23
Charlie Billington 22
Roger Brown 21
Sam Bacon 20
David Bell 20
Gary Brooke 20
Graham Benstead 19
George Brown 19
George Bardwell 18
Robert Baker 17
Clive Baker 16
Tom Batey 13
Joe Brain 13
Alexander Birnie 12
Ged Brannan 12
Edward Bennett 11
Jim Blair 11
Julien Brellier 11
Garry Brady 10
Drewe Broughton 9
Geoff Barnsley 8
John Bowman 8
Keith Bannister 7
Geoff Barnard 6
James Bellamy 6
Trevor Benjamin 6
Jack Bradley 6
Larry Baxter 5
Cliff Birch 5
Keith Briggs 5
Leigh Bromby 5
Walter Bugg 5
Stephen Ball 4
Bill Barclay 4
Cecil Bradley 4
Ron Bradley 4
John Byrne 4
Matthew Bates 3
Bobby Bell 3
Wally Bell 3
Patrick Boyle 3
Cameron Buchanan 3
Lewis Botto 2
Thomas Brown 2
Arthur Bacon 1
Ned Barkas 1
Thomas Beevers 1
Arthur Brooks 1
A Brown 1
Frank Buckley 1
Alan Bullimore 1
Herbert Butcher 1

Stars Of The Past - Percy Barnfather

2012-02-06T06:30:00.000Z

Percy Barnfather was born in the Byker district of Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 17th of December 1879. The son of an umbrella maker he was not a prolific Canary in terms of long service, but he did represent one of the very earliest attempts by Norwich City Football Club to introduce flair and entertainment to the ranks. His stay was just one season in length, but he proved to be a crowd pleaser for The Nest faithful.

Of slight build, he was reputed to have fast legs and fast feet. Playing as a right winger he was as tricky and creative as they came in that era, and had huge bravery, as he would later prove, away from the football field. He joined City for the 1909-10 campaign. The Canaries were embarking on their second season at their new ground, and Arthur Turner had returned to the role of manager. Barnfather moved to Norwich from Croydon Common FC, where he had helped the Robins secure a place in Division One of the Southern League the previous term - meaning they were in the same competition as City. He made his Norwich début on Wednesday the 1st of September 1909 in a 1-1 draw away to Luton Town. Amongst the others also playing for Norwich for the first time that day were Sam Wolstenholme (who also joined from Croydon Common) and Billy Hampson (from Bury). Those two went on to make significant contributions to our history, and the injection of such talented footballers such as these and Percy Barnfather gave an indication of just how serious the club were to progress.

Just three days later, the winger netted his first of four goals for City, in a home match against West Ham United. Disappointingly though, the match was lost 3-1, and was a sign of the sort of season the club would endure. Despite Barnfather's wizardry out wide, the team largely struggled, managing only a 17th place finish. He played in every match until the end of March 1910, hitting goals home and away against Watford and another in the 5-1 victory over Brentford at The Nest. But he played only four times in the last fourteen Southern League matches of the season, with his final Norwich appearance coming on the 30th of April 1910, another defeat, this time to Northampton Town. However his final tally of 34 games in the campaign was topped only by Wolstenholme and Tommy Allsopp.

Disappointingly for Canary followers he went back to Croydon Common, who had suffered swift relegation down to the Southern League Second Division. Barnfather had played against them in the away league fixture, which City lost 2-0 on the 27th of November 1909. The game was played at The Nest - their Nest not ours - for both clubs had grounds with exactly the same name !

It is impossible to write anything about Percy Barnfather without constant reference to Croydon Common FC, a club he clearly had huge allegiance to. In all, he had three spells with them with the one immediately before his brief break in Norfolk producing 43 goals in 108 matches - some record for a winger ! His first known club had been Wallsend Park Villa of the Northern Alliance, but he was 24 years old before he made it to the Football League. He joined Second Division Barnsley in 1903-04, a decent team in their day, and scored on his debut. Between 1904 and 1906 he appeared 40 times for New Brompton (the club we now know as Gillingham) in the Southern League. He also found time for a couple of spells back in the north east with West Stanley, and, it is believed, an association with Southampton.

His final hook up with Croydon Common came between 1912 and 1916. The Robins by this time were managed by a certain John Bowman, who half a dozen years earlier had held the reigns at Norwich City. Barnfather made over one hundred further appearances for the Surrey club, including time back in the top division of the Southern League in 1914-15, where the Canaries were still plying their trade.

World War One started in 1915, and competitive football closed down. Croydon Common, alas, did not survive the conflict, and were dissolved in 1917. Thankfully however, Percy Barnfather did survive, and emerged from those dark days as a war hero. Rising through the ranks from Private to Captain in the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, he won the Military Cross.

When football resumed in 1919-20, Percy played four times for Merthyr Town, again in the Southern League. By this time he was forty years old, and it proved to be his swan song.

He goes down in history as a player we borrowed, for a short time. But his reputation as a player of skill has been recorded and lovingly preserved by many writers throughout the intervening years. There is no doubt, his talents would have been well enjoyed in the Rosary Road area of the city of Norwich, by all those blessed to have seen him.

Percy Barnfather sadly passed away on the 18th of December 1951 at the London Westminster Hospital, the day after his 72nd birthday.
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Born This Week

2012-02-06T05:00:00.000Z

. February 6th (Today)

Tim Sherwood ~ in 1969 in St Albans

Sam Bell ~ in 1909 in Burnhope, Co Durham

. February 7th

Billy Kellock ~ in 1954 in Glasgow

Don Pickwick ~ in 1925 in Pen-y-graig, Rhondda

Archie Hubbard ~ in 1883 in Leicester

. February 8th

Trevor Benjamin ~ in 1979 in Kettering

Kevin Cooper ~ in 1975 in Derby

Simon Ratcliffe ~ in 1967 in Manchester

Alan Woan ~ in 1931 in Liverpool

Tom Williamson ~ in 1901 in Dalmuir, Glasgow

. February 10th

Harry Keeling ~ in 1906 in Huthwaite, Notts

Bert Gosnell ~ in 1880 in Colchester

. February 11th

Michael Theoklitos ~ in 1981 in Melbourne

David Jones ~ in 1952 in Gosport

Charlie Crickmore ~ in 1942 in Hull

Sid Scott ~ in 1892 in Macclesfield

. February 12th

Henrik Mortensen ~ in 1968 in Odder, Denmark

Thomas McMillan ~ in 1931 in Glasgow

Thomas Coulthard ~ in 1900 in Darlington

[This feature is produced weekly and posted on Sing Up The River End! every Monday]
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Who Knows..........

2012-02-05T06:30:00.000Z

I sometimes receive communication from readers, regarding a Norwich City fact, or memory. If I can't help, maybe you can .....

????

Dear Aitch,
As a life long supporter and season ticket holder I am very interested in the history of our great club and of my late grandfather who apparently played for Norwich City in the early days. I'm not sure if he ever made the first team but he is mentioned in an old hand book from 1920-21 that used to be owned by Mr Watling. This was sold to a private collector Benny Gray who told me that my grandfather's name was mentioned. His name was Herbert Haney, he was a blacksmith by trade, and I know he played football for the county. I have several of his medals from 1902 onwards. He played centre half and he lived in Norwich all his life, he would have lived on Peterson Road when he was playing.
Can you help ?

I was able to advise Mick Haney that his grandfather is not recorded as having appeared in a first team game. However, is there anyone out there in possession of the 1920-21 handbook who can throw any more light on Herbert Haney and his footballing life ?

Please leave your reply as a comment, or email me (address at bottom of blog) and I will add. We all have things we remember that others have forgotten......here is your chance to help a fellow fan. Do you have any questions that are nagging away somewhere in your mind ? Something you can only half remember. Drop me an e mail (anonymously if you prefer) and I will try to sort you out, or add to the 'Who Knows' section
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Must Do Better !

2012-02-05T05:30:00.000Z

Cigarette cards make a wonderful contribution to the history of football.

Pictured above is the back of a card produced by Gallaher Ltd which reads :

'Norwich City - joined the First Division of the Southern League in 1905-6 and have not yet ascended within reach of the championship. Nor have they established themselves as successful cup fighters'.

Which struck me as a bit like a report from a sports master at a school. I remember a woodwork teacher once wrote of me 'has no natural talent for the subject, has fallen behind in his work and shows no intention of trying to catch up'. Which was roughly the equivalent to the message on that Norwich City card of just over 100 years ago (I believe this series was first released in 1910).

Unfortunately I do not have any of the other cards of that series to see if the writer made any attempt to be a bit more creative about the other ninety nine teams. He certainly had us down as an outfit there to merely make up the numbers! Perhaps he genuinely didn't know what else to say about us, but given the fact we had in the couple of years prior moved from Newmarket Road to The Nest and changed our name from The Citizens to The Canaries, there are two things that instantly spring to mind that could have been used. And the little matter that we had been FA Cup giantkillers in both 1908 and 1909, over The Wednesday (who were cup holders at the time) and Liverpool respectively!

Perhaps the cards had been issued in 1910 but written some years earlier. The Norwich player featured on the front was Billy Bushell, who actually joined City in 1905, so that remains a possibility.

Or maybe there were Lawrensonesque forces behind the scenes as early as 1910 ! We may never know.

[This item has been updated, and was first published on the 28th of March 2010]
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Football History Links No6

2012-02-04T06:00:00.000Z

Sing Up The River End! is well established with NCFC facts, figures, and trivia, and now we also bring you more general football history information from all eras. Each month we will also select the best links, news stories, sites and videos available on the net for those readers whose interest in the past times of football goes, occasionally, beyond the yellow and green

The Football League first came into being in 1888-89, but had only twelve participating clubs. A rival competition was also formed that very same year for clubs that had missed out and was called The Combination. It was a poorly organised event. Twenty clubs took part but soon it was realised that this was not viable. So teams were allowed to pick eight rivals to play on a home and away basis. However arguments ensued (often from defeated clubs) as to whether or not fixtures were friendlies or should count towards the league. Nobody had the faintest idea how to compile a table amongst the confusion, and in the end the league was abandoned. Some of the clubs involved went on to have glorious histories in association football - Newton Heath (later Manchester United), Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Crewe Alexandra, Small Heath (later Birmingham City) and Burslem Port Vale.

In 1890, organisers had a second attempt at operating a worthwhile (albeit more minor) competition - this time with a realistic number of sides. The membership was made up of Burton Swifts, Chester, Denton (Manchester), Derby St. Luke's, Gorton Villa, Hyde, Leek, Macclesfield Town, Northwich Victoria, Stafford County, Witton and Wrexham. The first champions were Gorton Villa from Manchester. The Combination remained in existence until 1911, and later included Everton Reserves who won the title seven times in the first ten years.

The competition had no connection with The Football Combination, a competition for the reserve teams of Football League clubs that has run since 1915.

Is there anyone on a football pitch that is more important to the team than the goalkeeper ? Probably not. So specialised is the position, very few outfield players could ever hope to adapt to the role. In modern day football, these masters of agility and reflex have become vital to the success of all top teams. One thing that younger fans are unlikely to know however, is that for many years, goalkeepers did not wear gloves. In the fullness of football history, they are a recent addition to the kit room. Before the 1970's, keepers had only their bare hands to rely on - to beat away a stinging shot or clutch the ball from the head of a lunging centre forward. And in the early days of course, footballs were also heavier. The pain inflicted to frozen digits on a cold afternoon can only be left to the imagination.

The exact date of goalkeeping gloves first appearing in professional football has never been established. Certainly a keeper or two would have had the foresight to add gloves to his armoury from the very early days of the game. And a patent for leather goalie gloves was taken out as early as 1885 would you believe. But the concept of them being useful to aiding a clean sheet never caught on. Instead, brave custodians weathered the storm. In the 1960's, keepers started to wear gloves in poor conditions, but it took until the next decade for the idea to really gather pace. West Germany's World Cup goalkeeper Sepp Maier was one of the first stars to have gloves made specially for him. And soon, everyone wanted a pair. Since then, it has become big business, and been the subject of much technological research.

But have a thought for the legends of yesteryear. They were bruised and hardy souls for sure.

When World War Two started in September 1939, the Football League season was abandoned after only three games. Britain entered a period known as the Phoney War - Hitler was expected to bomb the country but he held back. And so a Football League War Cup competition was organised - an equivalent in some ways to the FA Cup. A total of 137 games were crammed into a nine week period, with matches played on a home and away basis. The final took place on the 8th of June 1940 by which time the blitz had actually started. But despite the obvious dangers, a crowd of over 42,000 descended on Wembley Stadium to see West Ham United defeat Blackburn Rovers 1-0.

This short but nice piece of nostalgia was kindly uploaded by MrDangerFourpence onto YouTube together with the following description : The 1940 Football League War Cup Final was contested by West Ham United and Blackburn Rovers. It was played on 8 June 1940 and kicked-off at 6.30pm despite fears that London would be bombed by the Luftwaffe. The wartime crowd included wounded members of the BEF recently evacuated from Dunkirk. As the match was played during wartime, no reception was held for the winning team. Some players went to the Boleyn public house on Green Street for a few pints whilst others returned immediately to their service units.

Celebrating West Ham players, from left to right, Corporal Norman Corbett, Ted Fenton, Charlie Bicknell, trophy holding Archie Macaulay (who would of course go on to manage Norwich City and take them to a FA Cup semi final in 1959) and George Foreman.
(source : Spartacus Educational)

Norwich City & Bolton Wanderers - Players

2012-02-03T06:30:00.000Z

The following players have all had connections with Norwich City and Bolton Wanderers :

. Terry Allcock (F) *
. Jack Bradley (F) *
. Simon Charlton (D) *
. David Cross (F)
. Hugh Curran (F)
. Malcolm Darling (F)
. Robert Fleck (F)
. Gaetano Giallanza (F)
. Asa Hartford (M) **
. Sid Jones (W) *
. Joe Lansdale (GK) **
. Alexander Liddell (M) **
. John Manning (F) **
. James Mills (F) *
. Lionel Murphy (W)
. Jon Newsome (D)
. Jon Otsemobor (D)
. Mark Seagraves (D)
. Nicky Southall (GK) *
. Fred Thompson (GK)
. James Tomlinson (M)
. Mick Walsh (D)
. Mark Walton (GK) **
. Stephen Wright (M)

* associated with Bolton immediately before Norwich City
** associated with Bolton immediately after Norwich City

All players listed made at least one competitive appearance for Norwich City. Their associations with Bolton Wanderers may have come through first team, reserve or youth football. Wartime guest appearances are not included, or trials in friendly matches.
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Norwich City & Bolton Wanderers - Managers

2012-02-03T05:30:00.000Z

Two men in history have managed both Norwich City and Bolton Wanderers. Bruce Rioch became manager of the third tier Trotters in May 1992 and led them to a runners up spot in Division Two the following season. A thrilling FA Cup run followed, then promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs and a place in the 1995 League Cup Final. Rioch's stock rose to such a level that he never managed the club in the top flight and took over the reigns at Arsenal instead. His winning ratio of over 48% from 172 games leaves him as arguably the most successful manager in Bolton Wanderers history. He lasted at Arsenal just one season, leaving after a dispute regarding transfer funds - a subject that raised it's head once more during Rioch's short career at Carrow Road between July 1998 and March 2000. In contrast, Gary Megson's ninety eight matches in charge at Bolton between 2007 and 2009 were largely taken up with battles against relegation from the Premier League, with just 27 wins being achieved during that period. Megson had begun his managerial career with the Canaries in December 1995, but only recorded five wins from his twenty seven matches at the helm.

Norwich City History Against......Bolton Wanderers

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000Z

All Competitions

Norwich City 17 wins Bolton 16 wins 13 draws

Norwich goals 52 Bolton goals 51

Football League

Norwich City 15 wins Bolton 13 wins 8 draws

Norwich goals 42 Bolton goals 43

All league games at Norwich

Norwich City 12 wins Bolton 3 wins 3 draws

Norwich goals 30 Bolton goals 16

All league games at Bolton

Norwich City 3 wins Bolton 10 wins 5 draws

Norwich goals 12 Bolton goals 27

Cup Football

Norwich City 2 wins Bolton 3 wins 5 draws

Norwich goals 10 Bolton goals 8

Bolton Wanderers were one of the original twelve clubs that made up the initial Football League competition in 1888-89, when they finished in fifth position. Though mainly a top flight club for most of the first half of the last century, they did suffer from relegations - no less than four prior to World War One. They were back in Division One however for the twenties and early thirties but went down again after the 1932-33 season for a two year spell in Division Two and it was then that they crossed paths with Norwich City Football Club for the very first time in the Football League.

But it was not the first meeting the clubs had encountered. The FA Cup of 1922-23 paired them together in the First Round at the Nest. A crowd of 15,286 (the biggest of the season) filled City's small ground to see the famous Wanderers win 2-0. It was the start of a great cup run for the Lancashire side. They went all the way to Wembley where they defeated West Ham United in what is now known as the White Horse Final.

The Canaries fared no better in the two league fixtures of that 1934-35 season. Bolton came to the Nest for the final time (Norwich moved to Carrow Road the following year) on the 1st of December 1934 and won 3-2, the City goals coming from their top strikers Jack Vinall and Ken Burditt. Norwich suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in the return game at Burnden Park in the April of 1935. They did however complete their mission of staying safe of relegation. Bolton went back up to Division One though - finishing second in the table behind Brentford - and they remained a top flight club thereafter until the mid sixties. In 1937 however, the clubs did meet twice, again in the FA Cup. A Jack O'Reilly goal gave City a tremendous 1-1 draw at Bolton, and only an extra time winner at Carrow Road in the replay put Wanderers through to the 5th Round.

The next meeting was in the League Cup competition of 1962-63. Bolton were still a division higher than Norwich at the time but the yellows had a taste for this relatively new trophy (having won it the previous year) and were victorious in the match 4-0. Jim Oliver netted twice, with Jim Conway and Terry Allcock getting one apiece. At the end of the following season Bolton lost their Division One status, and it marked the start of a long period in which they would largely be absent from the top flight. The 1964-65 season saw the clubs score twelve goals between them in the two league fixtures - Norwich winning 3-2 at Carrow Road and Bolton triumphing 5-2 at Burnden Park.

Division Two clashes continued throughout the sixties but the series was broken after 1970-71 when Wanderers finished bottom of the table and were relegated to Division Three for the first time in their history. The following season, Norwich were Second Division champions, and so, in a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, City now found themselves two divisions higher than Bolton. The demise of the Trotters did not last long though - they won Division Three in 1972-73, and with Norwich being relegated after two seasons in the top flight, 1974-75 brought two more fixtures, Norwich winning 2-0 at Carrow Road followed by a 0-0 draw in Lancashire.

The next twenty years however were turbulent for the Trotters and saw them playing in all four tiers of the Football League (they spent a single season in Division Four in 1987-88) and strangely this coincided with the best era in Norwich City's history as for most of this period they were a top flight team. Between 1978 and 1980 the clubs shared Division One status - Bolton won two games, Norwich one and another was drawn - and in 1981-82 they were together in Division Two for a single season. But that apart, the clubs went in different directions.

League encounters did not resume until the second half of the nineties. Norwich lost their place in the Premier League in 1994-95 with Bolton going in the other direction. However, twice in this period Bolton went up and then straight back down. The clubs met in the 1996-97 Division One competition, Bolton doing the double over City on their way to the title. A mini series of six second level matches followed between 1999 and 2001 which Bolton had much the better of - winning four times. Bolton have been a Premier League club since 2001. When Norwich made their way back to that division in 2004-05 they beat Bolton 3-2 at Carrow Road, storming to victory with a Matt Svensson brace and a Darren Huckerby penalty, but lost 1-0 in the return at the Reebok Stadium.

The next contest between the two clubs was on the 17th September 2011, when City won 2-1 away, goals coming in the first half from Anthony Pilkington and Bradley Johnson, the first either men had scored in Canary colours. Pilkington scored again in the return fixture, adding to a volley from Andrew Surman as Norwich ran out 2-0 winners, thereby completing their first double over Bolton Wanderers since the 1970-71 season.

Including the games mentioned, ten cup matches have occurred between the clubs in history - seven in the League Cup and three in the FA Cup.

Bolton Wanderers were founded long before Norwich City. In 1874 the Rev Thomas Ogden formed Christ Church FC. Three years later they became Bolton Wanderers - the suffice coming from the fact that they struggled to find a permanent home in the early years. They have spent longer in the top flight of English football without winning the league (72 years up to 2011-12 season) than any other club. They have however won the FA Cup on four occasions (1923, 1926, 1929 and 1958).

. For a list of players associated with both clubs, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/02/norwich-city-bolton-wanderers-players.html
. For information on managerial associations, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/02/norwich-city-bolton-wanderers-managers.html

Did You Know ?

The highest transfer fee ever received by Bolton Wanderers is £15 million in 2008, for the sale of Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea.

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

Most recent games
4 Feb 2012 (Premier League) Norwich City 2 Bolton Wanderers 0
17 Sep 2011 (Premier League) Bolton Wanderers 1 Norwich City 2

19 Mar 2005 (Premier League) Bolton Wanderers 1 Norwich City 0

11 Dec 2004 (Premier League) Norwich City 3 Bolton Wanderers 2
21 Apr 2001 (Division One) Bolton Wanderers 1 Norwich City 0
18 Nov 2000 (Division One) Norwich City 0 Bolton Wanderers 2
7 May 2000 (Division One) Bolton Wanderers 1 Norwich City 0
24 Oct 1999 (Division One) Norwich City 2 Bolton Wanderers 1

pictured : Nicky Southall, who played nine games on loan at Norwich City in 2002 whilst on loan from Bolton Wanderers

New Arrival

2012-02-01T11:49:00.001Z

It's time to welcome our newest arrival - not just to Norwich City but also to Sing Up The River End! Hopefully he will play a fruitful part in our history. Here is his career record so far :

Ryan Bennett

age : 21
position : defender
signed from : Peterborough United

playing record
Peterborough United 2010-2012   85 appearances 7 goals
Peterborough United (loan) 2009-2010   11 appearances 0 goals
Grimsby 2007-2010   117 appearances 6 goals

international honours
England U21   1 appearance 0 goals
England U18   1 appearance 0 goals
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Features Completed

2012-02-01T06:30:00.000Z

Some of the series I cover here on Sing Up The River End! are almost open ended, without start or finish. Others though will eventually run their course. And two have recently done just that.

The Born This Week feature is now a year old. I will continue to publish the dates every Monday by dragging the original item to the front page. I am still finding a few missing birth dates and will add these as I go. Occasionally information in the public domain changes, either the date or place of birth. If any readers spot inaccuracies, please do let me know.

All Norwich City League Cup results in history are also now recorded on the blog, and can be sourced via the index in the sidebar.

A few other series are well on the way to completion (such as Winning Years and Famous Fans) and I will keep these going through to the end.

Writing about people is probably the most fulfilling thing for me. Eventually I want every Canary to be featured in one of the relevant series (Biographies, Stars Of The Past, Short And Sweet, or They Wore The Shirt). A recent (and quick) calculation reveals that out of around one thousand former players and managers, less than ninety have been covered so far. I have a long way to go !
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This Month In History - February

2012-02-01T06:24:00.000Z

3rd February 2007 - Simon Lappin makes his Norwich City debut in the 2-1 win against Leeds United

15th February 1931 - death of Joseph Cowper Nutchey, the founding pioneer of Norwich City Football Club

17th February 1921 - Phil Hope makes the first of his 109 appearances for Norwich City

18th February 1959 - 38,000 people turn up at Carrow Road to watch the Canaries dump Tottenham Hotspur out of the FA Cup

23rd February 1976 - Norwich lose 2-1 at home to Fourth Division Bradford City in the 5th Round of the FA Cup

26th February 1981 - Norwich City announce the signing of Martin O'Neill from Nottingham Forest for a fee of £250,000
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Norwich City & Sunderland Players

2012-01-31T06:00:00.001Z

The following players have all had connections with Norwich City and Sunderland :

. Ben Alnwick (GK)
. Keith Bertschin (F)
. Alan Black (D) *
. Joe Brain (F) *
. Chris Brown (F) *
. Geoff Butler (D) *
. James Chalmers (W)
. Archie Chappell (F) *
. Bill Cleary (M) *
. Kevin Cooper (M)
. Calum Davenport (D)
. Shaun Elliott (D) *
. Stephen Elliott (F)
. Dickson Etuhu (M) **
. Tom Halliday (D)
. Arthur Hawes (F)
. David Healy (F)
. Paul Heckingbottom (D)
. David Hodgson (F) *
. Frank Pegg (F)
. Lee Power (F)
. Stan Ramsay (M)
. Carl Robinson (M) *
. Robert Robinson (GK)
. John Rogers (F) *
. Gary Rowell (F) *
. James Russell (F) *
. Mark Seagraves (D)
. Colin Suggett (M)
. Fred Thompson (GK)
. Jimmy Thompson (F) **
. Jack Vinall (F) *
. Darren Ward (GK) **
. Reg Wilkinson (M) **
. Chris Woods (GK)

* associated with Sunderland immediately before Norwich City
** associated with Sunderland immediately after Norwich City

All players listed made at least one competitive appearance for Norwich City. Their associations with Sunderland may have come through first team, reserve or youth football. Wartime guest appearances are not included, or trials in friendly matches.
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Norwich City & Sunderland Managers

2012-01-31T05:30:00.000Z

When, on the 3rd of December 2011, Martin O'Neill was installed as manager of Sunderland, he became the first man in history to have held that position for both clubs. He was in charge of the Canaries for little over six months between June and December 1995.

His predecessor at the Stadium of Light was Steve Bruce, former Norwich City centre half and captain, who was in the hot seat for 98 games. Bob Young, who had two spells managing City in the Football League before and after World War Two, played for Sunderland. He made one appearance for them just before the outbreak of World War One and a further fifty five between 1919 and 1925.
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Norwich City History Against......Sunderland

2012-01-30T07:00:00.000Z

All Competitions

Norwich City 24 wins Sunderland 17 wins 13 draws

Norwich goals 71 Sunderland goals 65

Football League

Norwich City 18 wins Sunderland 12 wins 10 draws

Norwich goals 52 Sunderland goals 47

All league games at Norwich

Norwich City 12 wins Sunderland 2 wins 6 draws

Norwich goals 36 Sunderland goals 18

All league games at Sunderland

Norwich City 6 wins Sunderland 10 wins 4 draws

Norwich goals 16 Sunderland goals 29

Cup Football

Norwich City 6 wins Sunderland 5 wins 3 draws

Norwich goals 19 Sunderland goals 18

Sunderland AFC were not founder members of the Football League in 1888, but did join the competition in 1890-91 season as replacements for Stoke who failed to get re-election. The Wearsiders finished in seventh place in their first term, and then went on to be English champions in three of the next four seasons. The year they missed out, they finished second. It was the start of an unbroken spell in the top flight that would not end until they were relegated after the 1957-58 campaign. Therefore, Norwich City did not match Sunderland for divisional status until 1960-61, when the Canaries played in Second Division for the first time post World War Two.

However, despite this disparity in the league, cup football brought the two clubs together on a number of occasions before the sixties. The earliest occasion was way back in 1911 in the 1st Round of the FA Cup. Sunderland were one of the greatest forces in the land at the time (they finished 3rd in the league that year behind Manchester United and Aston Villa) and arrived at the Nest as hot favourites against the Southern League Canaries. City stunned their rich rivals 3-1, goals coming through a Billy Hampson brace (he played centre forward that day instead of his usual full back) and Eddie Whiteside. It was a proud day for Norwich and a truly great act of giant killing.

It was forty years before the next fixture, again in the FA Cup, this time the 5th Round in 1951, and Sunderland won 3-1 at Roker Park. The Mackems had further triumphs in 1956 (4-2) and 1961 (1-0). However, Norwich took revenge in the League Cup in 1962, winning 4-1 in the North East on their way to winning the trophy. Ollie Burton, Derrick Lythgoe, Jimmy Hill and Roy McCrohan netted the vital goals on the night.

The first league encounters took place in the four days of Easter 1961, and City won both matches by three goals to nil. The scorers at Carrow Road were Terry Allcock, Bunny Larkin and George Waites, and at Roker Park, Brian Whitehouse (2) and Terry Allcock again. Sunderland got their first league win over the Canaries the next season with a 2-0 home win though City also won on their own ground, 3-1. The 1962-63 season witnessed two contrasting results - Norwich triumphed 4-2 at home but were thumped 7-1 on their travels. Sunderland finished second in Division Two in 1963-64 and returned to the top flight for the remainder of the sixties.

Status was even once again at the start of the seventies but Norwich won the title in 1971-72, a season in which Sunderland finished 5th. Both games that term ended in 1-1 draws. During that decade Sunderland spent only one campaign in Division One, in 1976-77, the first time therefore that the clubs had met at the top level. City won 1-0 at Roker Park in a match that saw Graham Paddon break his leg.

Four shared seasons in Division One in the eighties ended in tears for both clubs in 1984-85 when they were relegated together, despite having both reached Wembley in the League Cup Final. Norwich won that match 1-0, and though never a classic, they controlled enough of the game to claim victory. Asa Hartford was the Norwich goalscorer, the ball taking a wicked deflection on route to goal. Such was the good atmosphere in the stadium that day, supporters swapped scarves at the final whistle. Since then all matches between Norwich and Sunderland have been played with The Friendship Trophy at stake - a cup that commemorates that special day back in 1985.

The Canaries bounced straight back to Division One the next year but for the Black Cats it was the start of a dark period that would include a single season in Division Three in 1987-88. But they had only two more single seasons in the top flight during the nineties before they eventually got back to the Premier League for 1999-2000. Perhaps one of the worst memories for Norwich fans when thinking of Sunderland comes from 1992 and the 5th of April to be precise. City were just one match away from a Wembley FA Cup Final but lost to their Second Division opponents 1-0 at Hillsborough.

This century Sunderland have bobbled between the top two divisions. In the Championship in 2006-07 (which Sunderland won) both matches finished in 1-0 home wins with Robert Earnshaw scoring the winner at Carrow Road. Since then there has been another cup clash, the fourteenth in history, which saw the Canaries crash 4-1 in a League Cup tie in 2009, Paul Lambert's second game in charge of Norwich. Sunderland have retained Premier League status since 2007-08, and the first ever clash between the clubs in this competition took place in September 2011, City winning 2-1 at home with goals from Leon Barnett and Steve Morison. The return fixture the following February was not so comfortable for Norwich, going down 3-0 in a televised evening match with a lacklustre performance.

Sunderland were founded in 1879 as Sunderland & District Teachers AFC and they turned professional in 1885. They have been English champions six times, the last time being 1935-36, and have won the FA Cup twice in 1937 and 1973. Their initial demise from Division One was the result of a financial scandal in 1957 when they were found guilty of paying players more than the maximum wage. It was not the first time they had been involved in such things, a similar situation arose in 1904. In between those dates Sunderland had been one of the richest clubs in the country - leading at one time to being nicknamed 'The Bank of England' by rivals.

. For a list of players associated with both clubs, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/01/norwich-city-sunderland-players.html
. For information on managerial associations, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/01/norwich-city-sunderland-managers.html

Did You Know ?

Jimmy Montgomery, Sunderland's goalkeeping hero from the FA Cup Final win over Leeds United in 1973, played 627 times for the club, more than any other player in history.

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

Most recent games
1 Feb 2012 (Premier League) Sunderland 3 Norwich City 0
26 Sep 2011 (Premier League) Norwich City 2 Sunderland 1

24 Aug 2009 (League Cup) Norwich City 1 Sunderland 4
2 Dec 2006 (Championship) Sunderland 1 Norwich City 0
4 Nov 2006 (Championship) Norwich City 1 Sunderland 0
4 May 2004 (Division One) Sunderland 1 Norwich City 0
25 Oct 2003 (Division One) Norwich City 1 Sunderland 0

pictured : Calum Davenport, who had loans spells at both Norwich and Sunderland in 2005 and 2009 respectively

Born This Week

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000Z

. January 30th (Today)

Dario Dumic ~ in 1992 in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia

Peter Crouch ~ in 1981 in Macclesfield

. January 31st

Korey Smith ~ in 1991 in Hatfield

Dean Marney ~ in 1984 in Barking

Gary Doherty ~ in 1980 in Carndonagh, Republic Of Ireland

Jon Rigby ~ in 1965 in Bury St Edmunds

Len Reilly ~ in 1917 in Rotherhithe

. February 1st

Jon Sheffield ~ in 1969 in Coventry

Mark Nightingale ~ in 1957 in Salisbury

Henry Spinks ~ in 1920 in Norwich

Peter Burke ~ in 1912 in Liverpool

. February 2nd

Jonathan Grounds ~ in 1988 in Thornaby-on-Tees

Trevor Rowlands ~ in 1922 in Wallston, South Glamorgan

William Aitken ~ in 1894 in Peterhead

. February 4th

Glenn Self ~ in 1953 in Norwich

Mervyn Cawston ~ in 1952 in Diss

Joseph Clare ~ in 1910 in Wigan

. February 5th

Charlie Woodhouse ~ in 1902 in Sheringham

[This feature is produced weekly and posted on Sing Up The River End! every Monday]

Division Two

2012-01-29T06:30:00.000Z

A second division was added to the Football league in 1892, and was known as Division Two. It was, as you may expect, the second tier of English football, and this lasted until the introduction of the Premier League in 1992, when it dropped down to being the third level. Division Two continued to exist until the end of the 2003-2004 season when it was re-branded as League One.

For many years, Division Two was the big target that Norwich City Football Club aimed for. Having themselves joined the Football league in 1920, fourteen seasons were spent in the third level, often with mid to lower half finishes. Only in the early thirties did real progress start to show through, and after finishing as champions of Division Three South in 1933-34, the Canaries duly won a place in Division Two for the following season.

Our first Division Two game took place on the 25th of August 1934 at Griffin Park, Brentford. Ken Burditt scored our very first goal at this level, but City went down 2-1 on the day. Brentford it should be said went on to win the title that season. Norwich's first Division Two victory came on the 27th of August in a 4-1 win over Bury at the Nest. At the end of the campaign, the Canaries were in a very respectable position of 14th, proving they had been worthy of their divisional rise, and the increased interest in the club led to the move to Carrow Road.

In the immediate seasons that followed, they continued to more than hold their own - always comfortably avoiding relegation. In February 1937 however, Tom Parker left his position as manager to take up a similar position with Southampton. Bob Young replaced him and though no noticeable downturn was immediately detected, by Christmas 1938 the Canaries were caught up in a relegation battle. Another change in manager took place - former international referee Jimmy Jewell sat in the hot seat in his one and only spell as a football manager. But Norwich finished the term one from bottom after a tense final match of the season which they won (against Nottingham Forest) but not by a big enough margin. This meant relegation, and months later the Second World War started, meaning football competitions were suspended.

The road to re-establishment was long and hard for Norwich. Their next match in Division Two would not occur until the 20th of August 1960 at Carrow Road against Sheffield United. Terry Allcock netted in a 1-1 draw. The team still consisted of many of the '59ers, the players that had taken the Canaries to a FA Cup semi final just a year earlier. 1960-61 was the start of a prolonged stay at this level for the club - twelve consecutive seasons in fact. Norwich became perennial second level participants, never in danger of relegation, nor, it should be said, promotion. On the 1st of July 1969, Ron Saunders was appointed manager, and though we did not understand it at the time, the club's days as a Division Two team were numbered. With a gritty, no nonsense style, that allowed no margin for slacking or under commitment, he quickly moulded a winning mentality at Carrow Road. On the 29th of April 1972, Norwich City were crowned Division Two champions for the first time in history.

It would be nice to say that that was the end of their association with Division Two. However, getting a foothold in the top flight was just as hard back in those days as it is now, and on three single occasions Norwich found themselves back in the competition. Each time though, immediate promotion followed - a third place in 1974-75 and 1981-82, and in 1985-86 City won the Division Two title for the second time in history, comfortably ahead of Charlton Athletic and Wimbledon in the final table. Norwich's last ever Division Two match was at Carrow Road on the 3rd of May 1986, a 4-0 hiding of Leeds United. By the time the Canaries next appeared in the second level in 1995, Division Two had been replaced in rank by the new Division One.

The Football League started in 1888, and the addition of Division Two in 1892 was a major and significant development to association football in England. Teams joining were largely from the Football Alliance, a rival competition to the Football League. The twelve original members were (in order of their final position in the table) Small Heath (later to be known as Birmingham City), Sheffield United, Darwen, Grimsby Town, Ardwick (later Manchester City), Burton Swifts, Northwich Victoria, Bootle, Lincoln City, Crewe Alexandra, Burslem Port Vale, and Walsall Town Swifts. Promotion was not automatic in the early seasons, a series of 'test matches' took place between the highest finishing teams of Division Two and the lowest finishing teams in Division One.

The last ever winners of Division Two were Ipswich Town in 1991-92. Manchester City and Leicester City jointly hold the record for the most Division Two titles with six each. No defunct football club has ever won the competition, but two clubs who are currently outside the Football League have - Grimsby Town (twice) and Luton Town.
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First & Last - Ian Butterworth

2012-01-29T05:30:00.000Z

First game : 20th September 1986 versus Aston Villa away Division One 4-1 win

Last game : 26th March 1994 versus Coventry City away Premier League 2-1 defeat

Signed from : Nottingham Forest
Next club : King's Lynn
Played professionally : until 1998
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Just Thinking..........

2012-01-28T06:00:00.000Z

Whilst recently scrutinising a list of players who started their professional careers at Norwich City, my eyes rested on Craig Bellamy. When Kenny Dalglish took him back to Liverpool last summer, I thought it was a very astute piece of business, and anyone witnessing Bellamy's impact in their recent win over Newcastle, and the League Cup semi final against Manchester City just the other night, may well agree with my judgement. Love or hate him, there are few players in the British game that can influence proceedings as well as Bellers. I think it is possible that he will only be fully appreciated ten or fifteen years after he has stopped playing. He is that kind of player. And it is then that supporters will get nostalgic and reminisce at his outrageous skill - and annoying ability to needle everyone around him. Is he the best player to come through the Norwich City youth system? Probably. And certainly few can get close to matching his accomplishments after leaving Carrow Road. So I hope we are never slow in making it known that his early years as a professional was as a City player - 91 games, despite spells of injury, and 34 goals. Not bad for a kid! Sadly, for the time being at least, many current Norwich fans can't quite take him to their hearts. That will change, in time. Because he is a very good footballer. And was, a very good Canary.
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Final League Placings 1935-1936

2012-01-28T05:00:00.000Z

Football League 1935-1936
Division Two

Manchester United 56
Charlton Athletic 55
Sheffield United 52
West Ham 52
Tottenham Hotspur 49
Leicester City 48
Plymouth Argyle 48
Newcastle United 46
Fulham 44
Blackpool 43
Norwich City 43
Bradford City 43
Swansea Town 39
Bury 38
Burnley 37
Bradford Park Avenue 37
Southampton 37
Doncaster Rovers 37
Nottingham Forest 35
Barnsley 33
Port Vale 32
Hull City 20

Full City Record : P42 W17 D9 L16 F72 A65 PTS 43 Manager : Tom Parker

Sunderland were English champions
Arsenal won the FA Cup

In This Year : The first Butlins holiday camp is opened in Skegness

The first Chocolate Crisp bar is produced by Rowntree's, later known as the Kit Kat

Construction of the Hoover Dam is completed

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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Royal Visit To Carrow Road - 1938

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000Z

This video club contains some brief footage of a red letter day in the history of Norwich City Football Club. On the 29th of October 1938 HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited the city to open City Hall. In the afternoon, the King proceeded to Carrow Road to catch the Canaries in action against Millwall. It is believed this was the first time in history that a reigning monarch had attended a Football League Division Two match.

Over 21,000 attended the game, though unfortunately Norwich slipped to a 2-0 defeat. It is believed the Royal party stayed for only fifteen minutes.

Carrow Road was still a relatively new home for the Canaries at the time, having only moved in there in 1935. The footage you will be most interested in comes towards the end of the clip, with the roof of the Barclay and the uncovered South Stand clearly visible, together with the very briefest of action.

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with thanks to British Pathe
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Debutants 1923

2012-01-27T04:30:00.000Z

Here is a list of all players who made their first team débuts for Norwich City Football Club in 1923 :

Robert Woolley   5 May 1923 v Luton Town (Division 3 S) (a) lost 4-0
Alex Christie   25 August 1923 v Millwall (Division 3 S) (h) drew 1-1
George Cooke   25 August 1923
Richard Field   25 August 1923
James Short   25 August 1923
Albert Sturgess   25 August 1923
Ernest Williamson   25 August 1923
James Jackson   27 August 1923 v Aberdare Athletic (Division 3 S) (a) drew 0-0
Sydney Smith   27 August 1923
Archie Reay   29 September 1923 v Merthyr Town (Division 3 S) (a) won 3-2
Jimmy Banks   6 October 1923 v Bournemouth (Division 3 S) (h) drew 1-1
Alan Phillips   27 October 1923 v Charlton Athletic (Division 3 S) (h) drew 2-2
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Norwich City History Against......West Bromwich Albion

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000Z

All Competitions

Norwich City 17 wins West Brom 23 wins 15 draws

Norwich goals 60 West Brom goals 75

Football League

Norwich City 14 wins West Brom 19 wins 13 draws

Norwich goals 51 West Brom goals 63

All league games at Norwich

Norwich City 8 wins West Brom 8 wins 7 draws

Norwich goals 31 West Brom goals 31

All league games at West Brom

Norwich City 6 wins West Brom 11 wins 6 draws

Norwich goals 20 West Brom goals 32

Cup Football

Norwich City 3 wins West Brom 4 wins 2 draws

Norwich goals 9 West Brom goals 12

West Bromwich Albion are one of the oldest clubs in the land and were original members of the Football League in 1888, when they finished in sixth position. They were in the top division for many of the early formative years of English football, only dropping to Division Two in 1901-02 for just a single season. They then enjoyed two more years in Division One before relegation again put them into the second level.

It was during this period that Norwich City first crossed paths with West Bromwich Albion - in the 2nd Round of the FA Cup on the 2nd of February 1907. The game would later take a special place in Norwich history as it provided one of the earliest occasions in which the club gained national attention. Only two years into professionalism, the Citizens were up against one of the more famous clubs in England. Much was made of the special week long preparations taken by the players, and a sizeable travelling support that made it's way from Norfolk to the Midlands. C.B.Fry scribed one of the earliest references to 'the Canaries' , the nickname officially adopted by Norwich soon after. As it turned out, the match was settled by a single goal by the 'Throstles' of West Bromwich in only the second minute. The game was played out in thick fog, and though beaten, it was an early indication that Southern League Norwich City had great hearts for cup competitions.

West Brom returned to the top flight after winning Division Two in 1910-11, and apart from four seasons at the end of the twenties and beginning of the thirties, remained there until just before World War Two. It was in the final campaign before football was suspended that the two clubs first met in the Football League. It was on the 1st of September 1938 at Carrow Road, and Albion won 3-2. They also recorded a victory in the return fixture the following April, 4-2 this time, and contributing to Norwich's relegation back to Division Three South after the war.

A long gap took place before the next clash - a 1969 FA Cup 3rd Round tie which West Brom won 3-0 at home. However, it was in the seventies that regular fixtures kicked in. Norwich of course gained top flight status for the first time in 1972-73 and immediately found themselves in a desperate relegation battle with Albion. On the 18th of November 1972, the Canaries won 2-0 at Carrow Road with goals from Graham Paddon and Dave Stringer. Of even more importance was the April game at the Hawthorns - a real four pointer, won by City through a David Cross goal. Cross would later become a West Brom player, but his strike ultimately sent them down to Division Two whilst the Canaries survived.

1974-75 though, saw Norwich also back in the second flight. A 1-1 draw at West Brom was followed by a 3-2 victory for City at home - Ted McDougall netting twice, once from the spot, and midfielder Mick McGuire nabbing the other. Norwich were promoted at the end of the season and West Brom joined them again in 1976-77. Many fixtures followed over the coming years though both clubs suffered relegations at different times. As City were winning Division Two for instance in 1985-86, West Brom were finishing bottom of Division One and moving in the opposite direction. The Baggies did not restore their top flight status until 2002-03 and even had to endure two years in the third tier in the early nineties.

Games between the clubs re-commenced when Norwich were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 1994-95 campaign. In the 1995-96 season, the Canaries won 4-1 at the Hawthorns through goals from Robert Fleck, Ashley Ward, Keith Scott and Neil Adams. West Brom got revenge the following year however with a 5-1 win. Norwich had to wait until 1999 before tasting victory in the series again - Iwan Roberts and Darel Russell scoring in a 2-1 win at Carrow Road.

This century, both clubs have been constant bobblers between divisions - West Brom between the top two flights and City doing likewise, as well as finding time for a single season in the third level. When Norwich won the last ever Division One competition in 2003-04, it was Albion who finished second and joined them in the Premier League. The Canaries went straight back down again, and although the Baggies narrowly survived, they too fell the following season. In the Championship in 2007-08, Norwich lost both games - they survived relegation, and the six points helped drive Albion to the title.

The next contest came in the Premier League in 2011 with West Bromwich Albion winning 1-0 at Carrow Road. In the return match on the 14th of January 2012, the Canaries triumphed 2-1, with a goal in each half from Andrew Surman and Steve Morison. Just two weeks later, City were back at the Hawthorns in a FA Cup 4th Round tie, again winning 2-1. Grant Holt and Simeon Jackson scored the goals in a game that saw Jed Steer make his début and Adam Drury appear for the 350th time in a Norwich shirt.

In total nine cup games have taken place in history. Norwich have won three times, twice in the League Cup, in 1974 and 1979, and that one FA Cup win in 2012. A well remembered tie was played out in the FA Cup 5th Round in 1982 at the Hawthorns, with only a superb Cyril Regis shot separating the sides on the day. Also in 1974, West Brom won a Texaco Cup match 5-1.

Formed in 1878 by workers from the Salter's Spring works, West Brom were originally called West Bromwich Strollers. As Albion, they went on to win the English league title in 1919-20. They have lifted the FA Cup five times (1888, 1892, 1931, 1954, 1968) and the League Cup once (1966). The club has played at the Hawthorns since 1900.

. For a list of players associated with both clubs, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/01/norwich-city-west-bromwich-albion_13.html
. For information on managerial associations, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/01/norwich-city-west-bromwich-albion.html

Did You Know ?

Fred Everiss was manager of West Bromwich Albion for an incredible 46 years from 1902 to 1948, managing a win ratio of over 43% from 1,520 matches in charge.

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

Most recent games
28 Jan 2012 (FA Cup) West Brom 1 Norwich City 2
14 Jan 2012 (Premier League) West Brom 1 Norwich City 2
9 Sep 2011 (Premier League) Norwich City 0 West Brom 1
19 Apr 2008 (Championship) Norwich City 1 West Brom 2
27 Oct 2007 (Championship) West Brom 2 Norwich City 0
9 Apr 2007 (Championship) Norwich City 1 West Brom 2
11 Nov 2006 (Championship) West Brom 0 Norwich City 1

pictured : John Hartson, former Baggies player who was loaned to Norwich City in 2007, playing four games

Why Carrow Road ?

2012-01-25T06:30:00.001Z

Ever walked down Carrow Road on the way to a game and wondered why it is so called ? No, me neither. But in case you are troubled by not knowing, here is the answer.

I have had to draw heavily from the information found on Wikpedia, and after reading through the article half a dozen times, I am still not confident I can fully explain. But here goes.

From around 1146 onwards, a Benedictine Priory was located in the area we now identify as Bracondale. Originally that 'village' was called Carrow. King Stephen had given the land to nuns, on the direction that they would build a church there, and it was this that eventually became known as Carrow Abbey, dedicated to St. Mary of Carhowe. Historical documents offer other alternative spellings, such as Carhoe, Carehowe and Carrowe. Julian of Norwich (pictured) is believed to have received her training at the Abbey in the mid thirteen hundreds.

Ownership changed hands a number of times in later years, including in 1878 to J&J Colman, the famous Norwich based mustard makers. In 1954 it was deemed a Grade I listed building.

The area to the north east, leading up to the abbey, was therefore called Carrow Road, and it is here that the home of Norwich City FC has stood since 1935.
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FA Cup - Norwich City Record 1950-1959

2012-01-25T06:30:00.000Z

1950-51
25 Nov 1950 1st Round (h) Watford won 2-0
9 Dec 1950 2nd Round (a) Rhyl won 1-0
6 Jan 1951 3rd Round (h) Liverpool won 3-1
27 Jan 1951 4th Round (a) Newport County won 2-0
10 Feb 1951 5th Round (a) Sunderland lost 3-1

1951-52
24 Nov 1951 1st Round (h) Northampton won 3-2
15 Dec 1951 2nd Round (h) Chesterfield won 3-1
12 Jan 1952 3rd Round (h) Arsenal lost 5-0

1952-53
22 Nov 1952 1st Round (a) Tonbridge drew 2-2
27 Nov 1952 Replay (h) Tonbridge won 1-0
6 Dec 1952 2nd Round (a) Brighton lost 2-0

1953-54
21 Nov 1953 1st Round (a) Yeovil Town won 2-0
12 Dec 1953 2nd Round (h) Barnsley won 2-1
9 Jan 1954 3rd Round (a) Hastings United drew 3-3
13 Jan 1954 Replay (h) Hastings United won 3-0
30 Jan 1954 4th Round (a) Arsenal won 2-1
20 Feb 1954 Leicester City (h) lost 2-1

1954-55
20 Nov 1954 1st Round (h) Headington United won 4-2
11 Dec 1954 2nd Round (h) Brighton drew 0-0
15 Dec 1954 Replay (a) Brighton lost 5-1

1955-56
19 Nov 1955 1st Round (h) Dorchester Town won 4-0
10 Dec 1955 2nd Round (a) Brighton won 2-1
7 Jan 1956 3rd Round (a) Sunderland lost 4-2

1956-57
17 Nov 1956 1st Round (h) Bedford Town lost 4-2

1957-58
16 Nov 1957 1st Round (h) Redhill won 6-1
7 Dec 1957 2nd Round (h) Brighton drew 1-1
11 Dec 1957 Replay (a) Brighton won 2-1
4 Jan 1958 3rd Round (h) Darlington lost 2-1

1958-59
15 Nov 1958 1st Round (h) Ilford won 3-1
6 Dec 1958 2nd Round (a) Swindon Town drew 1-1
11 Dec 1958 Replay (h) Swindon Town won 1-0
10 Jan 1959 3rd Round (h) Manchester United won 3-0
24 Jan 1959 4th Round (h) Cardiff City won 3-2
14 Feb 1959 5th Round (a) Tottenham Hotspur drew 1-1
18 Feb 1959 Replay (h) Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0
28 Feb 1959 6th Round (a) Sheffield United drew 1-1
4 Mar 1959 Replay (h) Sheffield United won 3-2
14 Mar 1959 Semi Final (n) Luton Town drew 1-1 *
18 Mar 1959 Replay (n) Luton Town lost 1-0 **

1959-60
14 Nov 1959 1st Round (h) Reading drew 1-1
18 Nov 1959 Replay (a) Reading lost 2-1

* played at White Hart Lane, Tottenham
** played at St. Andrews, Birmingham

New Arrival

2012-01-24T15:37:00.000Z

It's time to welcome our newest arrival - not just to Norwich City but also to Sing Up The River End! Hopefully he will play a fruitful part in our history. Here is his career record so far :

Jonny Howson

age : 23
position : midfielder
signed from : Leeds United

playing record
Leeds United 2006-2012 225 appearances 28 goals

international honours
England U21 1 appearance 0 goals
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Canary Fact File

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000Z

I know some people will visit this blog looking for facts, figures and trivia and won't want to read long passages of narrative. On a regular basis I will post fact files. To view all other similar posts just click on the label at the bottom. If more detailed information surrounding a fact exists elsewhere on Sing Up The River End!, this can be found using the search facility in the side bar.

Of the current Premier League clubs only two have crests that do not contain their name or initials - Norwich City and Wolves

Norwich City have had three homes - Newmarket Road, The Nest and Carrow Road

Ron Ashman was appointed manager of Norwich City on Boxing Day 1963, having been caretaker since the start of the month

Only two winners of the Norwich City Player of the Year award were born in Norfolk - Dave Stringer (1972) and Dale Gordon (1989)

The Canaries first ever manager in the Football League was Charles O'Hagan

Bobby Brennan was nicknamed 'Sir Robert' by his fellow '59 ers'

Life After City

2012-01-23T06:00:00.001Z

...........keeping a beady eye on ex Canaries and those out on loan

With the clock ticking on this January transfer window, there has already been activity involving Canaries past and present. On the loan front, Chris Martin remains at Crystal Palace, with the London club hinting that they may like to keep him a while longer yet. Josh Dawkin has returned to the safety of Carrow Road from trouble torn Kettering Town. George Francomb has joined Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League until the end of the season for some much needed game time. Tom Adeyemi, the victim of racial abuse whilst playing for Oldham Athletic against Liverpool recently, continues his education at Boundary Park.

Oli Johnson, who recently left Norwich City, has signed a contract until the summer with League Two outfit Oxford United. A number of clubs were said to have been interested in the 24 year old striker, including Carlisle United, where he had been training.

Michael 'The Admiral' Nelson left City in the January transfer window of 2011. Just a year later he is on the move again after a disappointing twelve months with Scunthorpe United. Despite thirty six appearances in all competitions for the Iron, he found himself out of favour and has now signed a three year deal with Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock. Another former Canary heading north of the border is Lee Croft who joins another Premier League outfit, St. Johnstone, on loan from his parent club Derby County.

Robert Eagle has returned to East Anglia, turning out recently for Lowestoft Town. The ex Norwich City youth midfielder was released by Conference club Grimsby Town before Christmas, having also had a spell on loan at Alfreton Town.

And finally one I missed earlier.......... Anthony McNamee, who left Norwich in the summer for Milton Keynes Dons, has been on loan at Wycombe Wanderers, where he played in six games.

Born This Week

2012-01-23T05:30:00.000Z

. January 23rd (Today)

Matthew Halliday ~ in 1987 in Norwich

Adrian Forbes ~ in 1979 in Greenford

. January 24th

Ian Henderson ~ in 1985 in Thetford

Alistair Miller ~ in 1936 in Glasgow

Frederick Dent ~ in 1896 in Sheffield

. January 25th

Simon Lappin ~ in 1983 in Glasgow

Ian Butterworth ~ in 1964 in Nantwich

Drazen Muzinic ~ in 1953 in Split, Yugoslavia

Phil Boyer ~ in 1949 in Nottingham

Phil Hubbard ~ in 1949 in Lincoln

Arthur Pembleton ~ in 1895 in Derby

. January 26th

Danny Crow ~ in 1986 in Gt Yarmouth

Shaun Elliott ~ in 1957 in Haltwhistle, Northumberland

Roger Hansbury ~ in 1955 in Barnsley

. January 28th

Nicky Southall ~ in 1972 in Middlesbrough

Reg Pointer ~ in 1935 in Norwich

Joseph Brain ~ in 1910 in Ebbw Vale

. January 29th

Jim Guy ~ in 1921 in Swansea

[This feature is produced weekly and posted on Sing Up The River End! every Monday]

Norwich City Signings By Manager - Bruce Rioch

2012-01-22T08:49:00.001Z

an attempt to record all Norwich City signings by the manager who brought them to the club

Cedric Anselin (loan to permanent)
Ged Brannan (loan)
Paul Dalglish (loan to permanent), Jean Yves de Blasiis, Pape Diop (loan)
Paul Hughes (loan)
Malky Mackay (loan to permanent), Phil Mulryne
Michael Watt

Total Players : 9

Bruce Rioch was in charge at Norwich City Football Club from 12th June 1998 to 13th March 2000

Youth players making the natural progression from the academy are not included. Future articles will take us back through history until all players and managers have been covered. To compare Bruce Rioch's history with the managers that followed him, click on the 'Signings By Manager' label below.
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Ian Mellor

2012-01-22T06:00:00.000Z

I have already posted my tribute to Trevor Hockey, the man I believed largely responsible for Norwich City avoiding relegation in the 1972-73 season, at the same time acknowledging the arrival of Colin Suggett and his efforts to the cause. However, another young man was brought in at around that same period who also more than played his part in securing our top level status.

Ian Mellor, was a clever signing by Ron Saunders. Recognising the slide down the table during the winter months, the City manager paid £65,000 for the 22 year old left winger. For his money he got a player who was pacy and extremely tricky. He was tall, very tall, but used his awkwardness to great effect. He also had the ability to pop up unnoticed in the box and given his height, was a danger with his head. Whilst generally a wide man, he was excellent at cutting inside and causing a bit of mayhem amongst opposing defenders. As a young man myself at the time, I recall thinking that he was more creative than most I had seen in yellow and green - a player that could spark things off around him.

Remembering the gloom surrounding Carrow Road in early 1973, Ian Mellor was a great acquisition. He had learnt his trade at Manchester City alongside legends Francis Lee, Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee. His presence brought us some entertainment in the final third of the field and he was soon a favourite with the fans. In all, he featured in eleven of those relegation matches, and as I said, played his part in our ultimate survival. Along the way he also had a significant role in helping Norwich reach the final of the Texaco Cup that season, scoring three goals over the two legs in the semi final as City won 4-3 on aggregate against Motherwell.

Although his time with the Canaries lasted longer than that of Hockey, Mellor's contribution to Norwich City was also destined to be relatively short. He did play under Saunders' predecessor John Bond, but was increasingly overlooked as the new manager brought in his own men. To help fund this, Mellor was sold to Brighton in 1974 for £40,000 (a record for the south coast side at the time). It was a shame to see him go in many ways because he was always a dangerous player and liable to produce something a bit different. I remember a good goal he scored at Carrow Road against West Ham in a 2-2 draw early in that 1973-74 season. He also scored our only goal in the League Cup semi final games against Wolverhampton Wanderers, netting in the 1-1 first leg draw (we lost the second leg at Molineux 1-0, Mellor's last ever game in Norwich colours).

In all competitions he represented City 43 times, scoring 9 goals. His farewell league appearance was on the 12th of January 1974 in a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury.

'The Spider', as he was known, had a great time at Brighton, not only scoring goals, but also acting as architect for the prolific Peter Ward. Spells at Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City were to follow. Wherever Ian Mellor was employed, he was always a popular player. After retirement, he became a PFA executive, and his son Neil currently plays for Preston North End.

Ian Mellor wrote just a few sentences in the history of our club. But given the times they were in, those sentences were vital and exciting.

Ian Mellor's League appearances :
1970-1973 Manchester City 40 - 7 goals
1973-1974 Norwich City 29 - 2 goals
1974-1978 Brighton & Hove Alb 122 - 31 goals
1978-1979 Chester City 40 - 11 goals
1979-1982 Sheffield Wednesday 70 - 11 goals
1982-1984 Bradford City 36 - 4 goals
before turning professional Ian Mellor played for Wythenshawe Amateurs, and after leaving Bradford City went to Worksop Town.

pictured : Ian Mellor - as a Norwich player but still in Manchester City colours !!

[This article has been updated and first appeared on Sing Up The River End! on the 15th of February 2010]
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They Wore The Shirt

2012-01-21T06:00:00.000Z

........players who appeared in ten games or less for Norwich City Football Club

Herbert Butcher - a locally born goalkeeper who played in just one match for Norwich City, in their very first season of existence. He was one of five keepers used in that 1902-03 Norfolk & Suffolk League campaign, and regrettably had five goals knocked past him as Lynn Town beat the Citizens 5-4.

Mark Halsey - the Essex born utility player made his début on the 26th of April 1978 in a 2-2 draw at Newcastle in Division One - but was also sent off. Thereafter he was limited to just two further appearances in 1980, and went on to have a long association with Wroxham FC.

Patrick Boyle - a left back hailing from Glasgow, he joined City on loan from Everton in 2006, but suffered a back injury after just three appearances, dismissing any idea of an extension to the original one month deal. He left Everton in 2008, and has since played in Scotland, currently with Dunfermline Athletic.
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Norwich City & Chelsea Players

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000Z

The following players have all had connections with Norwich City and Chelsea :

. George Anderson (F) *
. Ned Barkas (F)
. Ryan Bertrand (D) *
. Gordon Bolland (F)
. Jack Bradley (F)
. Geoff Butler (D)
. John Denoon (GK) *
. Len Dolding (W) *
. Bob Edwards (F)
. Robert Fleck (F) ***
. Danny Granville (D)
. Paul Hughes (M) *
. Percy Humphreys (F)
. Ray Kitchener (F) *
. Peter Osgood (F)
. Scott Parker (M)
. Ernie Reid (D) *
. David Rocastle (M) *
. Alan Rule (M) *
. Colin Shaw (F) *
. John Sissons (W) **
. Jimmy Smith (M/W) *
. Sam Smith (F) *
. Graham Stuart (M)
. Chris Sutton (F)
. Jimmy Thompson (F)
. Andy Townsend (M) **

* associated with Chelsea immediately before Norwich City
** associated with Chelsea immediately after Norwich City
*** sold to Chelsea in 1992 and bought back in 1995

All players listed made at least one competitive appearance for Norwich City. Their associations with Chelsea may have come through first team, reserve or youth football. Wartime guest appearances are not included, or trials in friendly matches.

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Norwich City History Against......Chelsea

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000Z

All Competitions

Norwich City 14 wins Chelsea 16 wins 16 draws

Norwich goals 53 Chelsea goals 62

Football League

Norwich City 12 wins Chelsea 11 wins 11 draws

Norwich goals 44 Chelsea goals 44

All league games at Norwich

Norwich City 8 wins Chelsea 3 wins 6 draws

Norwich goals 26 Chelsea goals 15

All league games at Chelsea

Norwich City 4 wins Chelsea 8 wins 5 draws

Norwich goals 18 Chelsea goals 29

Cup Football

Norwich City 2 wins Chelsea 5 wins 5 draws

Norwich goals 9 Chelsea goals 18

The Canaries have a poor record over Chelsea in recent times, though they fared much better before the London club enjoyed huge financial investment and actually lead the series overall in terms of league games. Though for many years the clubs have played football at differing levels, what clashes there have been have produced a number of moments of historical note to the Norwich City story.

The first match against Chelsea was on the 30th of April 1908. It does not count in any official figures as it was a friendly, or to be more precise, a Norfolk & Norwich Hospital Cup game. These matches were organised annually at the end of the season to raise money for charity. Chelsea proved to be a worthy attraction, in a game that ended in a 3-3 draw. Significantly, it was also the last first team match Norwich ever played at Newmarket Road, before they moved across the city to the Nest.

The first competitive fixture did not come about until the 11th of January 1936. The Pensioners were a Division One club back then, with Norwich, by this time onto their third home, at Carrow Road, trying to establish themselves in the Second Division. This game was in the FA Cup 3rd Round. A Frank Manders goal helped the Canaries to a very creditable draw. The historical significance is that it was the first time Norwich had beaten the 30,000 barrier for a home attendance (to be exact 32,378 were there). Though they lost the replay at Stamford Bridge 3-1, it was a sign of good progress for the yellows.

Fans had to wait until the 17th of November 1962 for the first ever league meeting. Chelsea had slipped out of the top flight for the first time since the late twenties, though it was to be for just a single season. The game was in west London and the home team won 2-0. Norwich did much better in the return fixture the following April - two goals from Jimmy Hill, and one each from Terry Allcock and Alistair Miller enabling a 4-1 victory. At the end of the campaign though, Chelsea finished second in the table behind Stoke City, and went back up to Division One.

Another FA Cup match took place in 1968 which Chelsea won 1-0. But Norwich's arrival in Division One for the first time in 1972-73 saw games take place regularly. Both clashes ended in home wins - 3-1 to Chelsea and 1-0 to Norwich thanks to a David Cross goal. But that season would be remembered for two other matches between the clubs. Or to be correct, three matches. Despite a huge struggle to maintain their newly won place at the top table of English football, Norwich had a great run in the League Cup in 72-73. After winning 3-0 at Arsenal in the 5th Round, they were paired against Chelsea for the two legged semi final. Magnificently, City won 2-0 at Stamford Bridge courtesy of the potent strike partnership of Jimmy Bone and David Cross. They feared backlash at Carrow Road, but in another thrilling game were winning 3-2 with only five minutes left. They were in an unassailable position, leading 5-2 on aggregate and surely off to a Wembley final for the first time in history. Then, a thick, dense fog came down from the River Wensum. Players could not see three inches in front of their faces and with 300 seconds left on the watch, the referee took the players off the field - and they did not return. Devastatingly, Norwich were robbed of their great moment and the match was expunged from the records and replayed. Thankfully, for all concerned, justice was seen to be done. The Canaries won again on the 3rd of January 1973, defender Steve Govier, in for the injured Duncan Forbes, scoring the only goal of the game.

Both sides bobbled in and out of Division One between the mid seventies and mid eighties, and when the clubs did appear at the same level, honours were largely even. The following ten years however saw shared status at the top level, including the Premier League, of which both were founder members. Norwich enjoyed a few good wins during the period - winning 3-0 at home in 1987 (Kevin Drinkell, Ruel Fox and Jeremy Goss), 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in 1991 (Robert Fleck (2) and Mark Bowen) and 3-0 at home in 1994 (Ashley Ward (2) and Jamie Cureton).

However, City's relegation from the Premier League in 1994-95 meant an end to fixtures until they returned there for a single campaign in 2004-05. But Chelsea, by now well established at the top end of the scale won both games, 4-0 and 3-1. The next clash came in the Premier League in 2011, with Chelsea winning 3-1 in an incident packed match at Stamford Bridge in which Grant Holt scored for Norwich and goalkeeper John Ruddy was sent off whilst the score was 1-1. The return fixture saw a goalless draw, City's first clean sheet of the season at the 22nd attempt.

In total, the clubs have been involved in twelve cup ties. In addition to those already mentioned, three took place in the seventies in the Anglo Scottish Cup, and all three ended in draws ! This century, three more FA Cup games have occurred. In 2002, Norwich battled to a very honourable goalless draw at Carrow Road. However they lost the replay 4-0. The game will forever be remembered for a stunning near post back heeled goal by Gianfranco Zola, from an otherwise poor corner. In 2007, the Canaries were back at the Bridge once again, and lost, once again, 4-0. Goalkeeper David Marshall was injured in the tenth minute, and Chelsea scored twice in time added on - disguising an otherwise valiant effort from City.

Chelsea were formed in 1905, just a few years after Norwich and in fact in the year that City turned professional. The new London club tried to get into the Southern League, a dream cherished also by Norwich, but were unsuccessful, due in part to objections by established members Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham (the borough in which Stamford Bridge is actually located of course). Instead, Chelsea went straight into Division Two of the Football League, a move that helped enable Norwich to be voted into the Southern League. Since then, Chelsea have never been out of the top two tiers of English football, but it did take until 1955 for them to win their first silverware - as champions of the Football League. The period between the early 60's and the early 70's saw the Blues as a major force, winning the League Cup (1965), the FA Cup (in a famous replayed final against Leeds United in 1970) and the European Cup Winner's Cup (1971). In modern times, huge investment has transformed Chelsea into one of the biggest clubs in world football. They won the Premier League in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2009-10 and the FA Cup in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

. For a list of players associated with both clubs, click here
http://canaryseventyninety.blogspot.com/2012/01/norwich-chelsea-players.html

Did You Know ?

Chelsea first reached an FA Cup Final in 1915, losing 3-0 to Sheffield United. It has forever been known as the Khaki Cup Final, due to the large number of soldiers in the crowd, bound for service in World War One.

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

Most recent games
21 Jan 2012 (Premier League) Norwich City 0 Chelsea 0
28 Aug 2011 (Premier League) Chelsea 3 Norwich City 1
17 Feb 2007 (FA Cup) Chelsea 4 Norwich City 0
5 Mar 2005 (Premier League) Norwich City 1 Chelsea 3
18 Dec 2004 (Premier League) Chelsea 4 Norwich City 0
16 Jan 2002 (FA Cup) Chelsea 4 Norwich City 0
5 Jan 2002 (FA Cup) Norwich City 0 Chelsea 0

pictured : Scott Parker, who had a brief loan spell at Norwich in 2000 and was a Chelsea player in 2004-05 (photo source BBC)

Time To Say Goodbye

2012-01-18T15:36:00.004Z

The following player has left Norwich City FC :

Ritchie De Laet
2011-2012 (on loan from Man Utd) 7 appearances 1 goal

He departs with our best wishes, and thanks for his service to the club
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Stars Of The Past - Herbert Skermer

2012-01-18T06:30:00.001Z

Herbert Edward Skermer was born in the industrial village of Selston, Nottinghamshire on the 19th of February 1896. He was a highly rated young goalkeeper who had played local football for the colliery sides of Selston and Hartshay and made the journey to East Anglia to join Norwich City on 23rd December 1919. He went straight into the first team, making his debut on Christmas Day in the 1-0 away win at Swindon Town in the Southern League. Norwich had two other keepers on their books at the time. Joe Lansdale was the first choice in the two years prior to Herbert Skermer's arrival. His understudy was Jack Groves who made seven league and cup appearances in 1919-20 - his last being on 20th December 1919 in a 5-0 thumping against Darlington in the FA Cup. It opened the way for Skermer to establish himself, which he duly did, missing only three games for the rest of the season. He made 22 appearances conceding only 26 goals as City achieved a mid table finish.

The next season was a significant one for the Canaries, as they joined the Football League Division Three. Herbert Skermer became a professional player in the August and did not miss a single game all season, appearing in all 43 league and cup matches. He therefore made history by becoming Norwich City's first ever Football League goalkeeper, playing in the 1-1 draw at Plymouth on 28th August 1920. He achieved 14 clean sheets that season, as City finished in the lower half of the division.

In 1921-22 the section was regionalised into Division Three South and Skermer was again first choice keeper until Christmas. However in early 1922 he lost his place temporarily to Swardeston born Alfie King due to injury and a family bereavement. Though he returned for a few more games, he played in Norwich City colours for the final time on 4th March 1922 in the 0-0 draw at The Nest against Exeter City. A few days later keeper William O'Hagan, a relative of Charles O'Hagan who had been City's first Football League manager, joined the club and Herbert Skermer left. He went on to play for Ramsgate Town, Coalville Swifts and in 1924-25 Loughborough Corinthians in the Midland League.

His final tally of appearances for Norwich City was 73 league and cup games and he was celebrated in the Pinnace cigarette card series (No 349). After he finished playing football he returned to the city of Norwich and was landlord of the Lame Dog public house in Queens Road from 1934 until his death on the 25th of November 1954.

[This item first appeared on Sing Up The River End! on the 22nd of July 2010]
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Debutants 1922

2012-01-18T05:30:00.000Z

Here is a list of all players who made their first team débuts for Norwich City Football Club in 1922 :

James Hodge   23 February 1922 v Millwall Athletic (Division 3 S) (h) won 3-1
Bill O'Hagan   11 March 1922 v Exeter City (Division 3 S) (a) lost 2-0
John Lythgoe   26 August 1922 v Brighton (Division 3 S) (a) drew 0-0
James Mills   26 August 1922
Jack Peart   26 August 1922
Stephen Wright   26 August 1922
Charlie Dennington   28 August 1922 v QPR (Division 3 S) (h) drew 1-1
Robert Stewart   7 October 1922 v Northampton (Division 3 S) (h) won 1-0
Joe Rowell   9 December 1922 v Reading (Division 3 S) (a) lost 4-1
John Gurkin   27 December 1922 v Reading (Division 3 S) (h) won 2-0
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Up For The Cup ITV 1980

2012-01-17T06:00:00.000Z

Here is a little memory jerker that might interest a few readers. Who remembers a Saturday evening television programme from 1980 called Up For The Cup ? It was shown on ITV (after Worzel Gummidge and Buck Rogers), lasted 45 minutes, and was hosted by David 'Diddy' Hamilton, who doubled up as a referee. The teams taking part were football supporters clubs who put forward their favourite variety acts to be judged by 'linesmen' - who were made up of professional footballers and managers. The winners lived to fight another day, progressing through to the next round.

I have no recollection as to who represented Norwich City, nor indeed the variety entertainers we nominated. But I can tell you that after seeing off Sunderland in the first round we fell to Charlton Athletic in the semi final. Their 'act' was Jim Bowen, just before he became really famous via Bullseye. Super, smashing, great. And we didn't even get our bus fare home.

So, let's see what we would have won ! Well, just a trophy, presented by the legendary Billy Wright. Bolton Wanderers were the victors in the Final - lifting a knock-out cup for the first time since winning the FA Cup in 1958.

Up For The Cup was not re-commissioned for 1981 !
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Ask Aitch !

2012-01-16T07:00:00.000Z

I recently received the following communication from life long Canary fan Tony Moore

Hi Aitch,
What was the capacity of the Nest ? I can't seem to find any reference as to how many it could actually hold (not necessarily very safely!!)

Well, Tony, like you I have never seen any official reference regarding the capacity at our old ground. Thinking about it, I guess there was no particular reason why any football stadium back in 1908 would have had a crowd limit. Obviously people stood up to watch, and there was no forward purchasing of tickets. It was therefore a question of a club waiting to see who (and how many) turned up on the day - and squeezing them in as best they could. Policing would have been almost non existent compared with later times, and as far as Norwich City were concerned travel to the game would almost certainly have been by foot or tram.

The Nest of course was also an unusual football ground, to say the least. Literally a football pitch laid out at the bottom of a pit. The attendance recorded for the very first game played there (a friendly against Fulham) was just over 3,000, but that was quite a way down on the gates that had been seen at Newmarket Road. Work on getting the ground ready for the new season had been rushed during the summer and improvements were ongoing. The crowd for the first league match against Portsmouth two weeks later grew to 6,700, and there were a couple of 9,000 crowds by the end of the season. The great thing about the old ground was the fact that there was lots of open space on the cliff running down the side of the stadium. This allowed fans to spread themselves out to all areas on days when a large crowd turned up. Health and safety eat your heart out ! It simply didn't exist in 1908 in the way we know it today.

Improvements did take place every year, and the club certainly did everything affordable to ensure everyone was housed safely. The Canaries played at the Nest for 27 years in all, and though crowds grew in size, it would be wrong to say it was bursting at the seams every week. There are famous pictures of supporters sitting on the stand roof in order to get a view of the match, but these occasions were exceptions. Often less than 10,000 attended. The problems really only started in the early thirties when Norwich for the first time challenged for the Division Three South title. It was then that every inch of space was used - legal, safe or otherwise. The straw that broke the camel's back was the FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday in February 1935 when 25,037 made it into the Nest. Six months later the club had re-located to the larger Carrow Road - because they and the FA knew a disaster was possibly just about to happen.

So, we know the ground could and did hold just over 25,000 (though sometimes the devil in me does wonder whether there were even more in attendance that day, and the club were too scared to admit it to the authorities). But in terms of safe capacity, the figure was most certainly way below that.

Do you have a question regarding Norwich City Football Club history or trivia ? Maybe a memory that you can't quite piece together due to missing information ? The solution of course may already be on Sing Up The River End! but if you want to contact me either by the comment facility or e mail (address at bottom of the blog) I will try to publish you an answer.

Many questions are likely to be beyond me. So, if I don't know the answer, I will put out a request to see if any other readers can help. It's amazing what people know and remember and it may just give you what you are looking for.

Born This Week

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000Z

. January 16th (Today)

Josh Dawkin ~ in 1992 in Huntingdon

Declan Rudd ~ in 1991 in Diss

Mattias Jonson ~ in 1974 in Kumla, Sweden

Bert Carberry ~ in 1931 in Glasgow

John Parker ~ in 1896 in Ellistown, Leics

. January 17th

Che Wilson ~ in 1979 in Ely, Cambs

Denis Parnell ~ in 1940 in Farnborough

Len Dutton ~ in 1922 in Cardiff

Frank McCudden ~ in 1899 in Edmonton

. January 18th

Robert Green ~ in 1980 in Chertsey

Neale Fenn ~ in 1977 in Edmonton

Ian Crook ~ in 1963 in Romford

Bill Bauchop ~ in 1882 in Alloa

. January 19th

Elliott Ward ~ in 1985 in Harrow

Danny Granville ~ in 1975 in Islington

Charles Bradbrook ~ in 1902 in Overstrand

. January 20th

Jurgen Colin ~ in 1981 in Utrecht, Holland

Bill Slack ~ in 1906 in Basford, Notts

. January 21st

David Bell ~ in 1984 in Kettering

Lee Marshall ~ in 1979 in Islington

Mark Crowe ~ in 1965 in Southwold

Andy Thompson ~ in 1899 in Newcastle-under-Lyme

. January 22nd

Maceo Rigters ~ in 1984 in Amsterdam

Geoff Taylor ~ in 1923 in Kessingland

Bob Woolley ~ in 1899 in Medway

[This feature is produced weekly and posted on Sing Up The River End! every Monday]
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Fine City, Fine People, Fine Club

2012-01-15T06:00:00.000Z

I had a great day out in Norwich on the Saturday before Christmas. Let me tell you all about it.

My sole intention for the day was to meet Frank Cordwell. If you didn't read the article I published about him last week, do go and look it up. He had some great tales to tell me, not just about Norwich City Football Club but also life in the Second World War. He is a fine upstanding gentleman, modest to the core, and still carries a glint in his eye, an enthusiasm normally only found in men a third of his age. Everything he spoke about was fascinating, and the opportunity to meet him was the nicest moment I have had since starting Sing Up The River End!

One thing that stuck in my mind for the rest of the day was his admiration for the former Norwich midfielder Bernard Robinson. 'Sticks' as Frank still called him, had played the majority of his 380 City games pre war, and before Frank himself had access to the club. But he was certain that Bernard was his favourite player, and he has carried that respect for the player for over 70 years.

Robinson had been brought up in King's Lynn, and spent his entire professional career as a Canary, and like many of our heroes before and since, stayed in the Fine City after his playing days were over. There is something about Norwich and football, that cannot be separated. I think most cities and towns will make claims that their football clubs stretch far and wide into the community. And many genuinely do. But the love affair between the people of Norwich and Norfolk and their club goes way beyond the perfunctory charity events and soccer schools found elsewhere. Many residents of the city and county really do 'get it' when it comes to the Canaries - even though the majority of them may never step foot into Carrow Road.

My day out in Norwich - on the 17th of December last year - threw up a few examples of this. I left my home in the East Midlands on icy roads. Ironically on that day, a fair number of City fans were moving in the opposite direction. The Canaries were playing at Everton you will remember. I had hoped to see the coaches travelling west as I headed east. But I got my timing slightly wrong. By the time I reached King's Lynn, the convoy of yellow and green had turned off up the A17. Instead, having left the dull low clouds behind at Wisbech, I was greeted with sleet at Lynn, which had turned to bright sunshine at Dereham, and then a snow flurry as I hit Norwich.

The first human life I saw when I slowed down at traffic lights on Dereham Road was a man walking on the pavement, morning newspaper under his arm. But I saw what he had on inside his jacket, keeping out the cold wind. Yes, his Norwich City scarf. I commented on it to my wife, and explained to her (probably not for the first time), how Norwich is a one club city. Yes, there are plastic fans within the city walls, but essentially, if you love football, you love the Canaries. And there, within a minute of arriving, was the first evidence.

Either side of meeting Frank Cordwell, I spent some time with my sister. We talked about many things, including NCFC. She is definitely not what you would call a football fan, but the game always crops up in conversation. Okay, partly because she knows about this blog. But like me, she was brought up in a family where Norwich City and football in general was always in there somewhere. She told me a memory she had of our Dad insisting on quiet at five o'clock on a Saturday evening so he could write down the football results for his pools. My own memory is that our Mum probably knew more about Norwich City than our Dad, and I am pretty sure she never went to a match. Strangely I have no recollection that Bernard Robinson had ever been mentioned by either of them. But then again, like Frank Cordwell, they were probably just a bit too young when he first played for the Canaries. I do though remember them talking with affection and pride about Sid Plunkett, Don Pickwick, Ron Ashman, Errol Crossan and many more. And Sammy Chung. He often got a mention. As I acquired heroes of my own, the conversations often went along the lines of my Ted MacDougall not being a patch on their Ron Davies. Different times, different heroes.

I should say that when I met Frank Cordwell, he was accompanied by his grandson Stuart Applegate (by marriage) and friend Darren Utting. These guys were much younger than me - well by ten years or more anyway. Stuart had an interest in NCFC whilst Darren was a self confessed Canary fanatic. The latter told me about how he cried as a lad when City sold Kevin Reeves, for a million pounds back in 1980. I had to admit that the event did not have the same hurt for me. Being that bit older, I had already become used to Norwich strikers moving on far too early. David Cross, Jimmy Bone, Phil Boyer and Ted MacDougall had all been and gone from my Canary supporting life by then. But for Darren, Reeves had been the main man - his first Norwich City legend.

Mid afternoon I travelled across Norwich for a quick visit to my auntie and uncle. The day was getting colder, the sky darker. So just a quick cuppa, and the dropping off of a Christmas card. I managed to catch the half time score from Goodison Park whilst in the car. 1-0 up. Get in !! My aunt and uncle are both in the second half of their eighties and for the best part of forty years I have known them to be serious followers of sport, only though, via a television. But even I was surprised on arrival to see them avidly following the Canaries' progress courtesy of Jeff Stelling. ''He's damn good'' said my uncle. In between a short catching up session, the conversation with my uncle swung from Ken Nethercott to Sandy Kennon, Paul Lambert to Norwich City's diminishing debt. And, needless to say perhaps, Grant Holt. ''He's a marvellous player you know. Like those players from the old days. He really let them have it'' my uncle told me. When news of the Everton equaliser came through, my auntie said ''Oh well, never mind''. My uncle pointed out that Norwich liked their late goals and should not be written off !

As soon as the final score was known, we said our goodbyes. A two and a half hour journey home awaited us. Passing Fortress Carrow Road on the way was not out of the question. So that is what I did. It was bathed in lights, against a black snow filled sky. Coming down the hill, it made a glorious sight. And on Radio Five, they were talking about our point gained at Everton. I thought about all those fans that had made the trip. And hoped they were happy.

As it turned out, the journey was slightly longer than hoped. Cold temperatures did not help. And shortly after I left apparently, Norwich had a fairly large fall of snow deposited on it. I reflected on my day. The wonderful Frank Cordwell. The way all of it was filled with the presence of Norwich City Football Club. People talking about them. Caring about their fortunes. Appreciating the present whilst understanding the past.

When I got home, I was really only up for lounging about. And then something happened that really did make my day complete. It was only a chance occurrence, but just rounded everything off nicely.

Take another look at the picture at the top. Meet Jude. That photograph popped up on my Twitter timeline soon after I put my feet up for the evening. It had been taken a few hours earlier at Goodison Park. It is of course a brilliant image. But on a day when I had conversed on just about all eras from the thirties onwards, here was a little lad living the dream. That very afternoon he had watched Everton v Norwich City in the Premier League. I have since learnt that he has been to a massive eighteen football grounds already. Wicked ! And his favourite player ? Well yes, that man again.....Grant Holt.

Jude lives in the north of England - hence his impressive travelling record. He was most impressed with the Etihad Stadium. Less so with Brunton Park. But it hit me that here he is, starting a long journey of supporting the club he loves. Yellow and green. Nothing else will matter in his world of football. He will see some great Canaries in the future, liking most and loving a few.

As for the hot dog. Well, it was the only size available at Goodison Park. And much much bigger than the one he had eaten earlier at Lime Street station ! In fact, I can only think of one other person who could have eaten it. Yes, that man again.....Grant Holt.

All those people I had met during the day had all been Jude's age once, and caught the same bug. Different times. Different heroes. But all sharing common emotions that come with Norwich City, whether they actually go to the matches or not. Jude will not remember every match he goes on to watch. But he will gather precious little memories that will keep him warm for the rest of his life. I know I have. And, as my day proved, many others have too.

I went to bed tired but content.

I could think of only one way to describe Norwich. Fine city, fine people, fine club.

© Sing Up The River End - not to be reproduced without permission (text or images)
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Canary Fact File

2012-01-14T06:30:00.000Z

In 1970, City striker Peter Silvester revealed in a soccer paper that his favourite TV programme was The Andy Williams Show, he would most like to meet Sammy Davis Jnr, and if he had not been a footballer he would have most likely been a surveyor

The new stand at the Nest was opened on the 25th of March 1920, and City celebrated by walloping Swindon Town 4-1 in the Southern League

Edward Laxton, who played for Norwich City in 1920-21, is believed to have been the first player to play in the Football League having been born in Brazil

Goalkeeper Mark Walton made 28 Canary appearances between 1990 and 1992. He came back to the club on loan from Gillingham in 1998, but did not get a first team game

Ipswich Town never played a single game at the Nest, not even a friendly match

Grenville Williams, who signed for Norwich City in 1946, had been on the Arsenal groundstaff before the war

Norwich City Goalscorers

2012-01-14T06:00:00.001Z

Norwich City first team goalscorers in all competitions. Friendlies and trials not included. Players still at the club omitted.

A

Terry Allcock   127
Ron Ashman   56
Sam Austin   39
Alf Ackerman   35
Neil Adams   30
Tommy Allsopp   27
Terry Anderson   19
Dean Ashton   18
Malcolm Allen   15
George Anderson   12
Arthur Archer   11
Zema Abbey   8
John Aitken   8
Joseph Armstrong   8
George Addy   6
Jack Acquroff   6
Ade Akinbiyi   5
Jens Berthel Askou   3
Chris Adams   3
Ivan Armes   1
Cedric Anselin   1
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Norwich City & West Bromwich Albion - Players

2012-01-13T06:00:00.001Z

The following players have all had connections with Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion :

. Mark Barham (M/W)
. Leon Barnett (D) *
. Geoff Barnsley (GK)
. Trevor Benjamin (F)
. Ron Bradley (M) *
. Paul Crichton (GK)
. David Cross (F)
. John Deehan (F) *
. Fernando Dervald (D)
. Robert Earnshaw (F) *
. Jim Edwards (M) *
. Ken Foggo (W) *
. Ruel Fox (W)
. Asa Hartford (M)
. John Hartson (F) *
. Gerry Howshall (M) *
. Andy Johnson (M)
. James Lamberton (D) **
. Lee Marshall (M)
. Denis Parnell (W)
. Paul Peschisolido (F)
. Mike Phelan (D/M)
. Colin Suggett (M) *
. William Taylor (W)
. Andy Townsend (M)
. Steve Walford (D)
. Brian Whitehouse (F) *

* associated with WBA immediately before Norwich City
** associated with WBA immediately after Norwich City

All players listed made at least one competitive appearance for Norwich City. Their associations with WBA may have come through first team, reserve or youth football. Wartime guest appearances are not included, or trials in friendly matches.
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Norwich City & West Bromwich Albion - Managers

2012-01-13T05:30:00.000Z

Three men have managed both Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion. The first was Archie Macaulay who left Carrow Road for the Hawthorns in 1961, having been in charge of the Canaries during the famous FA Cup run of 1959 and the promotion season of 1959-60. The club were naturally disappointed by his departure, though it did give Archie the chance to prove his skills at a higher level. His tenure however at First Division West Brom lasted only until 1963, after he only achieved mid table status with his new club. Ron Saunders was a great Norwich manager, and he managed the Baggies at the very end of his career, in 1986-87. He walked out on Birmingham City to take the job but could not prevent relegation. Failure to secure a return to the top flight led to his dismissal, and he never managed a professional club again. Gary Megson started his managerial career at Carrow Road, and his spell at West Bromwich Albion between 2000 and 2004 was his fifth job as a boss. He twice led the club to promotions to the Premier League.

Brian Whitehouse played for both the Baggies and the Canaries, and took temporary charge of the West Midlands club for three games in 1975 between the reigns of Don Howe and Johnny Giles.
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Just Thinking..........

2012-01-11T06:00:00.001Z

Fifteen points away from securing another term in the Premier League ? Roundly speaking yes. It would be harsh to reach forty points and still go down that is for sure. And if anything, a few less may still be sufficient - the current bottom three are a little short of their counterparts of 2010-11 at the same stage. But for me, those fifteen points are still a huge challenge. They will need to be dug out. And there must be no let up in performance. Some of the clubs in the mix are annually involved in the task of escaping relegation. Others have decent sized cheque books for this January transfer window. Five quick wins will do it for Norwich City of course, but this Premier League is tough - a two point return from the next four matches and the heat is back on. I am not being negative, regular readers of this blog will know I am as optimistic as they come. But a win, of any kind, is hard for all the teams in the bottom half of the table. Too many fans are taking it for granted that those fifteen points will come our way - based on the fact that we have seemingly raced to the twenty five point mark. Not so. The next four months will be as hard as anything we have seen in recent seasons. It is in our hands for sure. But we also need to see the bottom teams continually dropping points. Every time they win, 'survival Sunday' remains a possibility. And we don't want that now, do we !
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Norwich City Appearances

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000Z

Norwich City first team appearances in all competitions, including those from the substitutes bench. Friendlies and trial matches not included. Players still at the club omitted.

A

Ron Ashman   662
Terry Allcock   389
Terry Anderson   279
Neil Adams   206
Sam Austin   164
Tommy Allsopp   132
Arthur Archer   83
Alf Ackerman   70
Ivan Armes   65
Zema Abbey   63
Ade Akinbiyi   58
John Aitken   46
Malcolm Allen   46
Dean Ashton   46
John Allen   35
George Addy   33
Jens Berthel Askou   33
Chris Adams   30
George Anderson   30
Cedric Anselin 29
Joseph Armstrong   22
Jack Acquroff   17
Leslie Allman   15
William Aitken   14
Eric Arnold   13
Leslie Askew   12
Ben Alnwick   5
George Ansell   4
Jamie Ashdown   2
Charles Abbs   1
Phil Alexander   1
William Astill   1
Walter Atkinson   1
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Stars Of The Past - Reg Foulkes

2012-01-10T06:00:00.001Z

Reginald Ernest 'Reg' Foulkes was born on the 23rd of February 1923 in Shrewsbury. He was a tremendous young footballer who caught the eye of England selectors as early as 1937. Still a pupil at Lancasterian School in Castlefields, and playing his football for Shrewsbury Town Boys, he was called into the England Under 15 team. However, by 1939, World War Two had started, and Reg had to put any thoughts of a professional career on hold, though he did play numerous matches during the conflict for Birmingham City and Walsall as a guest.

Immediately after the war he signed for Walsall, and ironically played his first official game for them in 1945 at Carrow Road. This was in the 1945-46 'transitional season' - games not counted in player or club records, but significant nonetheless as teams were getting themselves sorted out in readiness for a resumption of proper competition. Norwich won the match 2-1 (as they did the return fixture at Fellows Park a week later), but for Reg it was the start of a good spell with the Saddlers. Between then and the end of the decade he added a further 160 appearances to those 'unofficial games' and even had a short go as a centre forward - netting five times in just ten matches.

But it was as a centre half that he made his reputation. Gritty and hugely dependable, he was a master of looking after the nuts and bolts of the defence, ensuring basic things were done correctly. He had been captain at Walsall, and not surprisingly, manager Norman Low instantly appointed him captain of the Canaries, after Reg moved to Carrow Road straight after the 1949-50 season had ended. He made his début for Norwich in the first match of the following season, on the 19th of August 1950 in a 2-0 home win over Port Vale in Division Three South.

In the four seasons after the war, Norwich had twice had to apply for re-election back into the Football League, and achieved no more than mid table existence the rest of the time. 1950-51 was the first under the guidance of Norman Low, and the addition of the organisational skills of Reg Foulkes in the heart of defence helped lead to a vast improvement in league fortunes. In that first campaign, the Canaries finished second in the table behind Nottingham Forest, easily their best post war achievement, aided undoubtedly by conceding just 45 goals in 46 matches. Reg played in all bar two league games (the last two of the campaign) and also successfully led the team through four rounds of the FA Cup (which included the 3-1 scalping of Liverpool in front of nearly 35,000 people at Carrow Road) before they lost to Sunderland in the fifth Round. He also found the net on no less than six occasions, including on the 11th of April 1951 the only goal of the game against Ipswich Town at Portman Road - enough for many supporters to consider him an all time Norwich City hero ! The campaign included an amazing 23 match unbeaten run in all competitions, and a run of 21 consecutive games in which the same eleven players were picked.

In the following season, the Canaries maintained their new found form. In latter times of course, their runners up position of 1950-51 would have been sufficient to gain promotion to the Second Division, but in those days, only the champions went up. In 1951-52 City finished third (level on points with runners up Reading) , with only 50 goals conceded by Reg and his central defensive partner Don Pickwick. He added another forty impeccable appearances to his Norwich City record. And to prove this was no fluke, 1952-53 saw a fourth placed finish, which may read as a downward trend but in fact the Canaries were only four points behind champions Bristol Rovers in the final table - a closer margin than either of the previous two campaigns.

Reg played in two significant matches for Norwich during these seasons, matches that also held personal interest for him. On the 29th of December 1951 he was in the team that won 8-0 at Carrow Road against Walsall, his former club. And on the 13th of September 1952 he led the team to an 8-1 victory away at Shrewsbury Town - the place of his birth ! In that latter match, Don Pickwick regrettably broke his leg, meaning Reg was partnered by Len Dutton or Ron Ashman for the rest of the campaign.

Inevitably the Canaries did slowly find their way back down the Division Three South table, though 1953-54 still saw a seventh place finish. Reg Foulkes was into his thirties by now and though he had relinquished the captaincy to Ron Ashman he was still very much a first team player, still putting in his normal gutsy and resolute defensive performances. Surrounded in central defence by either Pickwick or Ashman, and at times new recruit Roy McCrohan (who was able to play in just about any outfield position on the pitch), Reg had by this time become a stalwart figure at Carrow Road - admired by fans, players, scribes and opponents alike. Few visiting forwards relished a match against such a good Norwich side, who rarely gave much away in defence.

For two more seasons Reg Foulkes remained a lynch-pin of the City side, achieving more than thirty appearances in each of the 54-55 and 55-56 seasons and a partial return to captaincy in the first of those campaigns. On the 25th of April 1956, aged 33, Reg appeared in a Norwich shirt for the final time in a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth. The club however finished in 7th place once again, maintaining the good record achieved during his time in the team. His final City tally was 238 games and eight goals.

He retired from the professional game and took up the reigns as player manager of Wisbech Town. A year later he moved to King's Lynn. In the early sixties he was back at Carrow Road looking after the Reserves team, before leaving football and returning to his native Shrewsbury, where he still lives, to become an accountant. In 2003 he entered the Norwich City Hall of Fame.

The year after Reg Foulkes left Norwich City, they finished bottom of Division Three South. Admittedly, the club was in a mess on a number of fronts, not least financially. But more pertinently, the new defence let in 94 goals in 46 matches. To say they missed Reg and his marshalling skills would be an understatement. He was a fine leader, and a fine Canary.
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Time To Say Goodbye

2012-01-09T15:29:00.000Z

The following player has left Norwich City FC :

Oli Johnson
2010-2012 23 appearances 4 goals

He departs with our best wishes, and thanks for his service to the club
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Life After City

2012-01-09T06:30:00.001Z

...........keeping a beady eye on ex Canaries and those out on loan

Stephen Hughes has parted company with Scottish Premier League side Motherwell. The midfielder left Carrow Road a few months ago as a free agent and had hoped that a return to Fir Park (where he played between 2007 and 2009) would resurrect his career. However, after just four starts, the decision has been taken not to offer an extended contract. Stephen was always a hard working professional in his time with Norwich City and it is to be hoped that he soon gets himself sorted with regular football once again.

Simon Whaley, who played six matches in all competitions for Norwich in an unhappy stay between July 2009 and May 2010, has finally called time on his professional career. Numerous attempts to get a full time contract elsewhere (including a much publicised period of unemployment) have all ended in disappointment, and following a recurring knee injury, he has now retired at the age of 26. It is believed the Canaries paid £250,000 when signing him from Preston North End.

Former Canary defender Steve Walford has moved to Sunderland as first team coach, joining another former Norwich City player (and briefly manager) Martin O'Neill. As well as playing and working together at Carrow Road, the pair have also hooked up at Leicester City, Celtic, and Aston Villa.

Leon McKenzie has retired from professional football. He played his final game for Kettering Town on the 17th of December 2011, and now hopes to pursue a career in music.

Michael Spillane, who moved from Brentford to Dagenham & Redbridge on loan in November, has had the transfer made permanent in this current window. He made 32 appearances for the Bees, two fewer than he managed for the Canaries.
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Born This Week

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000Z

. January 9th (Today)

Dale Gordon ~ in 1967 in Caister, Norfolk

. January 10th

Julien Brellier ~ in 1982 in Echirolles, France

Alan Rule ~ in 1930 in Southampton

. January 11th

Mike Sheron ~ in 1972 in Liverpool

Bunny Larkin ~ in 1936 in Birmingham

Alex Birnie ~ in 1884 in Old Deer, nr Aberdeen

. January 12th

Pape Seydou Diop ~ in 1979 in Dakar, Senegal

. January 13th

Sammy Clingan ~ in 1984 in Belfast

Colin Woodthorpe ~ in 1969 in Liverpool

Jim Blair ~ in 1947 in Calderbank, Airdrie

Tom Smalley ~ in 1912 in Hemsworth, West Yorks

James McWhirr ~ in 1905 in Partick, Glasgow

. January 14th

Ruel Fox ~ in 1968 in Ipswich

Andrew Hart ~ in 1963 in Gt Yarmouth

Bryan Conlon ~ in 1943 in Shildon, Co Durham

. January 15th

Kevin Harper ~ in 1976 in Oldham

Ged Brannan ~ in 1972 in Prescot, Merseyside

Andy Proudlove ~ in 1955 in Buxton

James Mills ~ in 1898 in Rochdale

Peter Roney ~ in 1887 in Rutherglen

[This feature is produced weekly and posted on Sing Up The River End! every Monday]

Wartime Norwich City - Frank Cordwell

2012-01-08T06:00:00.000Z

We think young people have it hard these days. But it is unlikely that any of them will experience what Frank Cordwell went through in his late teens to mid twenties. He left school at fourteen, during that period when Adolf Hitler was busy making plans for his takeover of Europe, and by the time the Second World War started in 1939, he was a budding amateur footballer. The following few years would see him in the police force, fire brigade, RAF and, amongst it all, the Norwich City football team. And then, when the fighting was over, he had to walk away from the chance of being a professional player........because the life of a footballer was too precarious in those days, and simply didn't offer good enough prospects !

Born locally to the Fine City, young Frank only wanted one thing in his life. Football. I met him recently, for the first time. Though soon to be a nonagenarian, he carries the glow of a man who has had a good life. He also has great recall - stories of wartime Norwich flow easily from him - of both the football club and the city itself. The only time he didn't want to say too much was when the subject may have led to some self praise ! Some things I guess, just didn't need saying.

At fifteen, Frank was playing his football for a local amateur team called St.Paul's. His playing talents were spotted in 1938 and he was invited to attend some training sessions with Norwich City Football Club. Bob Young was the manager in those days, and Frank still has the newspaper cutting in his possession announcing that the club had taken him on as an amateur. ''I went to Carrow Road for the training'' he remembers with pride. ''They sorted me out with a better pair of boots from the storeroom. They asked me what size I was, and produced a lovely pair for me. They did not have the big toe cap which all boots seemed to have in those days. In fact they were more like the modern boots that came along much later. Anyway, I really wanted them, but couldn't get them to fit. I was told to soak them in cold water and apply plenty of dubbin. Eventually I was able to wear them in comfort. The club put some studs in them with a number - my number - so they were identifiable as being mine. All boots were kept by the club for safekeeping''.

''Anyway, one day I was asked to report to Mr Young's office'' Frank continued ''and he told me Norwich City wanted to sign me as an amateur player ''. A dream come true, I asked. ''Well yes, I was football mad at the time, and everyone knew it. I was working as a trainee at a shoe firm at the time and used to slip away whenever I could to go and play football. But my real dream was to join the RAF. But my Dad thought I would be better off in the police force. So he let me sign the forms for Norwich City, but was insistent that it should only be as an amateur''.

It was a difficult time at Carrow Road of course. With the onset of war in 1939, the Football League competition was abandoned after just three matches. The club lost some players to war service, and Frank was part of the process to build a squad of players in order that games could carry on in regional leagues. And he has some great tales to tell regarding life at the club in those times.

'' You could go down to the ground at just about any time for training. There would always be players down there. We used the Carrow Road pitch - there was nowhere else to play. But it was always a wet pitch, especially down the River End. So it wasn't ideal. A lot of the training revolved around a medicine ball. A big heavy old thing. The trainer would constantly throw it at you. To harden you up ! The only skills we used to practice were heading and shooting. Footballs were also heavy in them days, especially as they soaked up the water from the wet pitch. So that was hard work in itself. We used to run around the edge of the pitch to get fit. Run down half the field, walk the next half, then run again, and so on. Sometimes though the trainer would also have you running up and down the terraces !''

Whilst all this was going on in Frank's life, he had to go through various tests to get into the police force. With a bit of devilment in his eye, he told me he tried his best to fail. ''I really wanted to go in the RAF, not the police''. Then one morning he was called in to the work's office and given the news that he had been accepted. ''Next thing I knew I was down the station joining up''. But even that did not unfold the way he expected. ''I was immediately told I was being transferred to Norwich Fire Brigade. And not only that, I would be living in the station full time''.

So during the first years of World War Two, Frank found himself tackling fires not crime. He talked with pride about his days in the service, and still remembers all of his fellow crew members. ''I was fireman number 8. Malcolm Pease was number 1, Jimmy Savage 2, Bill Smith 3, Cyril Gooch 4, Willy Hobson 5, Thomas Mould 6 and Len Scrivens was number 7''. He also noted with sadness that he is the last surviving person from that watch.

It was really a case of fitting football in whenever he could. Talking to Frank about Norwich City in the early forties was wonderful to me. He reeled out names from the past left right and centre - legends, and men who had served the club so well pre war. He rubbed shoulders with men like Sid Plunkett, Billy Furness and Douggie Lochhead. And his favourite ? '' Bernard Robinson, without doubt. He was a really good player and everyone liked him. We all knew him by the nickname of 'Sticks' though. And another great man was Joe Hannah. People like this had given all of their footballing lives to Norwich City''. I found myself wanting to know more about those training sessions that a still very young Frank had taken part in. And more on how life was, in and around Carrow Road.

''The game was so much simpler then'' Frank admitted. ''There were no tactical sessions as such. Basically, everyone had the duty to get the ball wide to either of the wingers. And it was their job to get the ball to the centre forward, who hopefully did the rest. We didn't go backwards. Just forward. I was a half back, but once a match started, everyone tended to help out wherever needed. And man marking was essential. The idea was, if your team didn't have the ball, you simply made sure your opponent didn't get it. They also had a trick to improve your shooting. I was right footed so was allowed to wear my right boot. But I had to wear a plimsoll on the left. Remember, we are talking about a heavy football here. I soon learnt not to use my left foot! '' And what were medical facilities like, I asked coyly, already knowing the answer. ''We didn't have any as such. The trainer had his magic sponge and some smelling salts, and that was about all. After the game we were made to soak in a cold bath, to help ease the aches and pains. If you didn't get in, you were hosed down with cold water, whether you liked it or not''.

In 1942, Frank got his wish and joined the RAF and was posted to Skellingthorpe in Lincolnshire. Trips to Carrow Road were restricted to times when he was on leave. And after a period of a different kind of training to that which he was used to, he was handed the job of air gunner. ''I am not really sure how that came about to be honest, but anyway, that's what they told me I would be doing''. Suddenly he was fully engaged in the war, and it was at this point of our conversation that Frank preferred to keep some memories to himself. ''There are just some things best left unsaid''. But he was prepared to say that he flew in Lancasters, Wellingtons and Stirlings at different times, always at the top of the plane, in the gunners position. ''Because I joined the RAF for the second half of the war as it were, I went on some horrendously long missions - often eight to ten hours at a time - over into Germany or Norway. I remember on one occasion, after a trip to Czechoslovakia, we were ordered to fly over London on our way back. The War Office wanted it. In order to raise the spirits of the people''. When pushed as to how many missions he went on he would not say. He just smiled and said ''Anyway, lets get back to football''.

By this stage of course, Frank had grown a bit older, and started getting selected for matches. Though his RAF fighting duties took precedence over everything else, he continued to shine as a football player. He is immensely proud of the day he played in a Services International match at Stirling, representing England against Scotland. ''I'll tell you a story about that'' he beamed. ''I was picked to play, but then realised my boots were still at Carrow Road. I had to get a message to my Dad, and he went down to the ground to fetch them, and forward them to me. I needed my best boots for that game. We were all amateurs of course, servicemen too. But there were good footballers in both teams. Afterwards they put a half a crown into our boots, as a thank you for playing''. Unfortunately he finished on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline.

It was also during this period that Frank first played a game in Norwich City colours. By this stage of the war, even the 'unofficial' regional leagues had been discontinued, and Norwich played teams from the services. These matches were deemed important to the war effort. They served as a distraction for people from the reality of the situation, if only for ninety minutes. On the 15th of April 1944, Frank lined up against an Army XI at Carrow Road, a game that ended in a 4-4 draw. He showed me the newspaper cutting that he has kept to this day. I was intrigued to see his name alongside that of a man named Soo. ''Not Frank Soo'', I exclaimed. ''Yes, you've got him. He played for Norwich that day as a guest''. Soo had been a much acclaimed player before the war with Stoke City, and after it with Luton Town, and I had known of him as one of the first ethnic minority players to appear in the Football League. ''He was something special'' said our Frank. ''You could tell he was class''. Another name appeared in that team list too, and now it was my turn to tell Frank something. ''I see a player called Wilkinson was also in the City side that day. Not Pip was it? '' I asked. He confirmed it was. ''And you know who he was?'', I teased. Frank said he just knew him as Pip. ''He was the grandfather of the legendary England rugby union World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson'' I advised. A true fact. Pip went on to play games for Norwich City 'A' after the war, and had according to Douggie Lochhead, the hardest left foot shot he had ever come across.

Frank's best memory of the day was the advice he was given by Harry Proctor before the game. It was, simply, ''If you can't get the ball, make sure you get the ****** man !!'' He went on to reminisce just how physical football was in those days. ''It could be very rough. You picked up some dreadful knocks in the course of a game, but nobody thought much of it. It was how the game was. And to think, players did it all for so little reward. They might get a couple of quid for a win, a pound for drawing. But that was dependent on how many people had turned up to watch. If the attendance was poor, they didn't get anything''. He also recalled that after training, names were put up on a board for the team selected for the next match. ''If your name was there you were expected to turn up to play. Simple as that''.

When the Second World War ended, Frank returned to Norwich, and the Canaries of course still held his player registration. ''I had to make some decisions'' he admitted. ''By this time the leagues were back up and running and Douggie Lochhead had taken over as manager. He wanted me to turn professional and thought I had a chance of making it in the game. I was also aware that Chelsea and Sunderland wanted to talk to me. Though in fairness, before the war, Arsenal were 'the team' in England. The most admired. The club all others inspired to. There were no agents of course in those days. If you wanted to play for someone else you got hold of their manager. If he was interested, he sent you back to talk to your own manager about it, and then they sorted it out between themselves. Not very often were transfer fees involved''.

But in the end he decided to walk away from a career in football altogether. ''It was all a question of money and job security. I still had a job with the police, and the prospects there were much greater than anything football could offer. The game was so physical, you always knew you were never more than one game away from your last. There was no insurance you could take out. Many players found themselves suddenly on the scrapheap. So I opted for the police''.

Norwich CEYMS asked if they could play him in their side, and he also went on to represent Norwich Police in the Thursday League, often as captain. He also played for the England Police team against the Metropolitan Police in a match played at Peterborough. Then one day, his knee gave way, and only partially recovered. ''It was never the same again. And in 1950, with a family on the way, I hung up my boots for good''.

Frank admits that he never got the same thrill from watching as he did from playing, but did hold a Norwich City season ticket throughout the fifties. And like everyone else he loved the 1959 FA Cup run. ''I remember the Manchester United match in particular. Goodness, it was cold. Snow on the pitch as well. One of the United fans had brought a basket of pigeons with him. The idea was to send a message home to his wife every time their team scored. When Norwich got the first goal, he released a pigeon with the bad news. A second followed. More bad news. When the third went in he was beside himself and didn't dare think what his wife would be saying''.

1950 was also the year Frank left the police force. He worked for 35 years for Start-rite Shoes in Norwich, including time as area manager, until he retired in 1986. In his working life he was known as Bill Cordwell. ''My father was also Frank, and it got awfully confusing. My middle name is William, and one day someone called me Bill. And it stuck thereafter, as far as work was concerned''.

Before we finished, I wondered whether Frank had any memories of The Nest. ''Yes'' he replied. ''Though I was very young then of course. But I was taken to a few matches there. I best remember the concrete wall. It ran all down one side of the pitch, and should never have been allowed. The Norwich players knew how to deal with it, but visiting opponents didn't, and it was a tactic I'm sure to get them running into it and feeling the pain. I also remember the spectators chanting 'Give It To Varco'. He was a very good centre forward''.

My last question brought us right up to date. Like everyone else he thinks money has ruined the modern game. ''I have watched England games recently and all I can say is, well, they make me furious. Sometimes I have only made it to half time, then switched the telly off ''.

On that one Frank, you are not alone.

© Sing Up The River End - not to be reproduced without permission
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Who Knows..........

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000Z

I sometimes receive communication from readers, regarding a Norwich City fact, or memory. If I can't help, maybe you can .....

????

pcanaries asked if I remembered an incident in the 1974 League Cup 5th Round match against Ipswich Town, and in particular Kevin Keelan disputing their goal, scored at the River End. Does anyone recall the moment and know why he was so put out ?

Please leave your reply as a comment, or email me (address at bottom of blog) and I will add. We all have things we remember that others have forgotten......here is your chance to help a fellow fan. Do you have any questions that are nagging away somewhere in your mind ? Something you can only half remember. Drop me an e mail (anonymously if you prefer) and I will try to sort you out, or add to the 'Who Knows' section
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First & Last - Youssef Safri

2012-01-07T05:00:00.000Z

First game : 28th August 2004 versus Arsenal home Premier League 4-1 defeat

Last game : 9th April 2007 versus West Brom home Championship 2-1 defeat

Signed from : Coventry City
Next club : Southampton
Current club : Qatar SC
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Norwich City & Burnley - Players

2012-01-06T06:00:00.001Z

The following players have all had connections with Norwich City and Burnley :

. Ade Akinbiyi (F)
. James Bellamy (F)
. Wayne Biggins (F) *
. Mo Camara (D)
. Luke Chadwick (M)
. Paul Cook (M)
. Paul Crichton (GK) *
. Willie Donachie (D)
. Louie Donowa (W/M)
. Bill Graham (F)
. Sam Gunton (F)
. Roger Hansbury (GK)
. Sam Jennings (F)
. Alan Lee (F)
. Archie Livingstone (M)
. Paul McVeigh (M/F)
. Dean Marney (M)
. Neil Moore (D)
. Mike Phelan (D/M) *
. Kevin Reeves (F)
. Gary Rowell (F)
. Alan Taylor (F)
. Sam Vokes (F)
. Mick Walsh (D)
. Chris Woods (GK)

* associated with Burnley immediately before Norwich City
** associated with Burnley immediately after Norwich City

All players listed made at least one competitive appearance for Norwich City. Their associations with Burnley may have come through first team, reserve or youth football. Wartime guest appearances are not included, or trials in friendly matches.
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Norwich City & Burnley - Managers

2012-01-06T05:00:00.001Z

John Bond is the only man in history to have managed both Norwich City and Burnley. After a largely successful 340 games in charge at Carrow Road, which included a promotion, a Wembley Final, and the purchase of many fine Canaries, his spell at Burnley a few years later was less happy, and lasted just one season.

Former Norwich player (and assistant manager) John Benson replaced him in August 1984, but his time in charge was also short. He was sacked in May 1985.
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