CLUB HISTORY - 1996 to 2004
|
Chase was held responsible for his departure and the season degenerated into a battle of wills between Chase and the fans, as the team's form suffered. In March 1996 Chase sold Ashley Ward and Jon Newsome without informing the Manager, Gary Megson, as the financial vultures hovered. Football became of secondary importance as Chase was bought out by Club President Geoffrey Watling. The full disclosure of City's financial position, approximately £7 million in debt, was revealed but a new happier era was dawning. The summer of 1996 was dominated by Norwich City's fight for financial survival as the debts were restructured whilst a newly constituted Board of Directors met public demand by re-instating Mike Walker as Manager. Off the field TV cook Delia Smith and her husband, Michael Wynn Jones, first joined the Board and then became majority shareholders, bringing with them new ideas to increase the Club's profile and boost the team's chances of a return to top-flight football. Three days before the end of the 1997-1998 season, first team manager Mike Walker parted company with Norwich City Football Club. Even though Mike Walker did not have the success in his second period as Norwich City manager, there was genuine surprise at his departure less than two years back at the club. During the summer of 1998, there was a search for yet another manager. In the close season Bruce Rioch was installed as First Team Manager with Bryan Hamilton as his Director of Football. Bruce Rioch came to Carrow Road with a good record as a Football Manager. The club's fans were optimistic about the season ahead.
Off the field in December 1998, Bob Cooper replaced Barry Lockwood as Chairman. As the Millennium Season of 1999/2000 dawned, there was an air of optimism surrounding the club. Injuries to key players and a poor start to the campaign ensured that Norwich never really threatened to play a part in the promotion chase. In November of the Millennium Season, Chief Executive Gordon Bennett left the club to join Aberdeen. He had been credited with saving the football club in 1996 after former Chairman Robert Chase's departure. Just before Christmas 1999, key midfielder Darren Eadie left Norwich to join Premiership side Leicester City for £3 million. This was seen as good business for a player with an injury record. The club carried on with younger players taking the limelight. March 2000 saw the departure of Bruce Rioch from the club. Bryan Hamilton took temporary charge of the team. Bryan Hamilton's first game in temporary charge saw a 2-0 victory against local rivals Ipswich Town at Portman Road. This victory led to Bryan Hamilton being given the first team's manager's role on a permanent basis.
2000-2004 Manager Bryan Hamilton's efforts to 'strengthen' the team were in vain as five successive league defeats led to his resignation on 4 December 2000. Assistant Manager Nigel Worthington took temporary charge of first team matters. A succession of improved performances followed and Nigel Worthington was appointed the club's sixth manager in six years on 2nd January 2001. Later in January 2001, Norwich City played host to former boss Martin O'Neill's Celtic in Club Physiotherapist Tim Sheppard's Testimonial match. The match was played in honour of Tim Sheppard's twenty years of service to Norwich City Football Club. The game was evenly contested with Celtic eventually winning 4-2. April 2001 saw the Club add another trophy to its collection. The Club's Reserve side defeated Reading Reserves 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out (after the match had ended in a 1-1 draw after full-time and extra-time) to win the Avon Insurance League Cup Final at Carrow Road. Now with a recently-appointed first-team manager and a new chief scout, and with the Club celebrating it's Centenary in 2002, a new chapter in the history of Norwich City Football Club is about to unfold.
A season that will live long in the memory of all connected with the Club hardly started in ideal fashion. After a busy summer in the transfer market with Clint Easton, Mark Rivers, Paul Crichton, Neil Emblen and Marc Libbra joining the Club, Nigel Worthington's new-look Canaries enjoyed a positive pre-season programme. However, when the season kicked off for real they were thrashed 4-0 away to newly promoted Millwall and yet another long season looked on the agenda. Those two opening results of the campaign really did set the tone for a roller-coaster ride of a season which ended up with City booking a first ever place in the play-offs on the final day of the season. There were many highs and lows along the way. Six straight home wins and an overall home record of 15 wins, six draws and two defeats really underpinned City's season. In Robert Green a future England 'keeper looked to be in the making. Gary Holt was simply outstanding in the Canaries' engine room and Adam Drury was becoming one of the best pound-for-pound signings the Club had ever made. The final day of the season saw the Canaries go into their home game with Stockport County knowing that a better result than rivals Burnley would see them seal that all important 6th spot. Philip Mulryne's 6th goal of the season settled Canary nerves just before the break but then in the second half news that Burnley were also 1-0 up filtered through to Carrow Road. City needed a second goal and with just 15 minutes remaining Malky Mackay's forehead met a Clint Easton cross and Carrow Road erupted as City booked their place in the play-offs.
Nigel Worthington's side produced a great defensive display and despite a late Wolves goal at Molineux in the second leg it was City who were off to Cardiff for a meeting with Birmingham City. An evenly contested final went into extra-time with nothing to choose between the two sides. It was first blood to City with Iwan Roberts heading them in front but the Blues hit back through Geoff Horsfield and it was down to the dreaded penalty shoot out for a place in the Premiership. Sadly Birmingham won the shoot out 4-2. However, the Cardiff experience was one the Canaries will never forget and was a fitting climax to a season that saw the Club emerge as a serious promotion contender for the first time in many years. Off the pitch a successful public share issue at the start of 2003-04 helped the Club bridge the gap in finances left buy the collapse of ITV Digital. On the pitch the Club were boosted by Philip Mulryne's decision to sign a new deal with the Canaries. As the season kicked off winning promotion to the Premiership would have to be achieved if City were going to better their achievements of the previous season. Nigel Worthington's side showed no signs of a play-off hangover as they got the 2002-03 season off to a flying start. Sadly injuries to key players and a loss of form in the final third of the season saw City finish 8th in the table.
The 2003-04 campaign started indifferently for City who were struggling for goals, particularly away from home, in the opening weeks of the season. However the three-month loan signings of Peter Crouch and Darren Huckerby saw the Canaries fly up the table. Prior to Christmas, with the Canaries in an automatic promotion place the squad was strengthened by the signing of strikers Leon McKenzie and Mathias Svensson from Peterborough United and Charlton Athletic respectively. Nigel Worthington's side then topped the table by winning the local derby at Portman Road as McKenzie became an instant hero with a two-goal debut in the 2-0 success over arch-rivals Ipswich Town. A wonderful festive period was capped off by the permanent signing of Huckerby and wins over Nottingham Forest and Derby County. As 2004 unfolded the Canaries continued to lead the table with the inspirational Huckerby appearing to be at the heart of everything. An amazing end to the season saw the Canaries win eight of their last nine league fixtures and seal not only a return to the Premiership but also the First Division title after ending the campaign eight points clear of their nearest rival.
With the new Jarrold Stand now open and work underway on an infil between the Jarrold and Norwich & Peterborough stands, Carrow Road and the Canaries are gearing up for an exciting 2004-05 season.
Nigel Worthington made a number of changes to his City squad over the summer as he looked to create a team capable of competing in the top flight. The Club said a fond farewell to two popular figures in Iwan Roberts and Malky Mackay, but there was a return to Carrow Road for former player Dave Williams as Academy Technical Director. With the departure of Paul Crichton, Scottish International goalkeeper Paul Gallacher joined on a free transfer from Dundee United and Darren Ward on a two-year deal from Nottingham Forest. Academy 'keeper Joe Lewis was to also sign his first professional contract in the October following his 17th birthday. Other additions were experienced Danish Captain Thomas Helveg signed on a free, Bolton midfielder Simon Charlton and Swedish International Mathias Jonson. England U21 and Arsenal starlet David Bentley arrived on a year-long loan and Graham Stuart was also to join the Canaries in January until the end of the season.
And it was fitting that the team registered their first Premiership win on the weekend after this sad news. Norwich came from a goal behind to win 2-1 against Southampton. The start to the campaign was a difficult one with the Canaries registering nine draws and nine losses, with only two wins during the pre-New Year period.
With just 12 minutes left on the clock and 4-1 down the Canaries were to battle back to salvage an unlikely 4-4 draw against Middlesbrough with both Ashton and Adam Drury netting their first Premiership goals. The first part of 2005 was to continue to highlight the toughness of the top league with only two Canary wins in 11 matches. A 4-1 defeat at Highbury, which saw an inspired Premiership top scorer Thierry Henry put a hat-trick past City did not look good preparation for the visit of Manchester United to Carrow Road. However, goals from Dean Ashton and Leon McKenzie saw Norwich to victory over the Premiership giants, their first loss in the League in 21 games. It was also to spark a grandstand finish to the Canaries season, which would see the Club battle hard to gain control of their Premiership destiny. Victories over Newcastle, Charlton and Birmingham and a draw with fellow relegation candidates Crystal Palace left the Canaries in 17th place and one point above the drop-zone. This meant for the last game of the season a first away win at Fulham would see City avoid relegation back to the Championship. Unfortunately for the 6,000 plus Canary fans who made the trip to Craven Cottage the battling performances of late were far from evident as City were on the wrong side of a six-goal drubbing which saw them relegated. The next day saw a star-studded benefit match at Carrow Road for former player Alex Notman, whose career was prematurely ended by injury in November 2003 after failing to recover from a persistent ankle ligament injury suffered against Ipswich Town the previous season. City stars were joined by a number of Manchester United players - the club where Alex joined the Canaries from - including Louis Saha and Tim Howard.
|
1996-97 SEASON
1998-99 SEASON
2001-02
THE PLAY OFF'S
2002-03
On a truly memorable evening in Norwich City centre, a crowd estimated to be over 50,000 gathered to see Captain Adam Drury hold aloft the First Division championship trophy at City Hall before the team toured the City centre on an open topped bus.
2004-05
GOODBYE GEOFFREY
PREMIER LEAGUE 
