WONDERFUL celebration scenes followed City's last match of their title-winning Coca-Cola League One campaign despite a surprise 2-0 home defeat by Carlisle United.
First-half goals by Gary Madine and Jason Price ensured the Cumbrians ended their season on a high - but Canary disappointment was brief as the whole stadium became a cheering sea of yellow and green as skipper Grant Holt hoisted the League One trophy aloft after the game.
Before the match the whole ground gave a standing ovation to Anglian Home Improvements Player of the Season Holt, with Fraser Forster finishing as runner-up and Gary Doherty taking third.
City boss Paul Lambert made five changes to the team which started in last weekend's 3-0 win at Bristol Rovers, with Russell Martin, Jens Berthel Askou, Korey Smith, Darel Russell and Wes Hoolahan all coming into the side.
Carlisle temporarily silenced the Carrow Road party by taking a shock lead after just 56 seconds, Madine drilling home low into the corner from just inside the area with an excellent finish.
And they sent their faithful fans who had made the massive trek to Norfolk from Cumbria into ecstacy as they doubled their lead six minutes later. Ian Harte's free-kick from the right caught the Norwich defence napping and appeared to go straight in, although Jason Price indicated it had brushed his afro on the way during the visitors' goal celebrations.
The Canaries rallied and should have pulled one back on 12 minutes as Korey Smith rounded the 'keeper after running on to Chris Martin's excellent pass, but his underhit shot was cleared off the line.
Gary Doherty's cheeky backheel was palmed away by United 'keeper Adam Collin and he was called into action again later in the half when Chris Martin headed straight at him from seven yards out.
At the start of the second half Darel Russell was inches away from reducing the deficit as his fierce first-time drive was deflected a whisker wide of the post with Collin beaten.
In the 69th minute Russell Martin's cross found Wes Hoolahan and after a bit of ball juggling in the box he tried his luck with an audacious overhead kick which fell wide of the near post.
Lambert made his first change as Stephen Hughes came on for Lappin in the 70th minute. Two minutes later, after Chris Martin had fired a 20-yard free-kick well over the bar, on came Anthony McNamee for Oli Johnson.
McNamee had half a chance as the game moved into the 84th minute, but curled his shot straight into the arms of Collin from 22 yards.
With two minutes of normal time remaining Declan Rudd was brought on to give Fraser Forster the chance to leave the pitch to a massive ovation and chants of 'Fraser Forster, one more year' from the Barclay and Snakepit in what could be his final game for the Canaries.
After the match Lambert emerged for his media interviews absolutely soaked - and asked if he had been given the same treatment dished out to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp earlier in the week he commented: "Yes very similar - and Matt Gill will be docked a couple of weeks' wages for his part in it!
"But it was great because they deserve it and they've been brilliant for me all season. It's been a big, big effort what they have done considering what happened at the beginning and to win the league the way we did has been a great achievement.
"It was always going to be a bit difficult for us today because of the party atmosphere, everyone was loving it and so they should. I'm sure the city of Norwich will be a great place to be tonight, I hope so, because those supporters really deserve it."
Asked about the decision to take off Forster to allow the Geordie stopper to receive a huge ovation, Lambert said: "I just thought he deserved it because he's been magnificent for us this year. The crowd love him here and he's been brilliant for me. We'll talk to Newcastle - don't forget he is their player - but we'll just have to wait and see."
90+2 - Hughes plays Drury in on the left but his cross strikes a defender and rolls through to Mark Gillespie for his first touch. Straight up the other end and Joe Anyinsah looks to get in behind but Askou wins the important last tackle. Clayton's corner is headed clear but McNamee can't capitalise.
90+1 - Mark Gillespie comes on in goal to replace Adam Collin.
90th - McNamee with a couple of stepovers and a lay-off to Hoolahan, who bends his left-footed shot over the bar.
89th - Carlisle look like they will do likewise with sub 'keeper Mark Gillespie kitted up and ready to go.
88th - McNamee looks to bend one from the right corner of the penalty area but too much elevation. Declan Rudd comes on for Fraser Forster and is given a fantastic send-off.
86th - Ben Marshall makes way for Joe Anyinsah as Declan Rudd looks to be getting ready in the dugout.
85th - McNamee skips into some space and curls a left-footed effort from just over 20 yards at Collin.
83rd - Marshall gets to the byeline and cuts it back but Drury is well-positioned to intercept.
79th - Carlsile win a corner as Smith beats Madine in the challenge. Clayton takes the set-piece from the right and Hughes wins the near post header. Paul Thirlwell shoots from all of 30 yards, well wide.
77th - City work it from right to left over to Chris Martin. The striker cuts inside onto his right foot but gets under his shot, which clears the bar.
73rd - Anthony McNamee comes on to replace Oli Johnson.
71st - Chris Martin is fouled about two yards outside the Carlisle box and immediately sets about placing the ball himself. Anthony McNamee looks to be preparing to come on below us. Chris Martin skies the free-kick.
69th - Russ Martin is set away down the right flank and he crosses for Hoolahan, who knocks the ball over the head of one defender, the ball won't sit and has to repeat the trick before attempting an overhead kick, which goes wide. Stephen Hughes replaces Simon Lappin midfield, who completes the season without scoring.
67th - Today's attendance is 25,181.
66th - Madine's cross is blocked by Askou for a Carlisle corner. Clayton with the kick and Ian Harte wins the header and appeals for hands against a City player, which is turned down by referee Penn but another corner given. Clayton again from the right and Askou with a powerful header clear. It comes back at City and Madine heads wide.
64th - Carlisle replace Jason Price with Scott Dobie in attack.
63rd - A sweeping move sees Russ Martin hit his cross straight into the arms of Adam Collin.
49th - Gary Madine shoots straight at Forster from close range.
47th - Darel Russell comes within a whisker! Neat interchange from Martin, Hoolahan and Johnson set Korey Smith up and his drive from range pinged around inside the box before falling nicely for Russell for strike, which must have either taken a nick on its way through or a fingertip save from Collin. Lappin's corner is overhit.
46th - City resume the match kicking towards the Norwich and Peterborough Stand in this second half. No changes at the break by either team.
Half-Time - City trail by two goals to nil at the half to Carlisle United. Gary Madine shocked Carrow Road by opening the scoring after only 56 seconds and then Jason Price doubled the lead on seven minutes from an Ian Harte free-kick.
45+1 - Simon Lappin back in on the cover has to concede a corner. Clayton to take from the right. Fraser Forster plucks out of the air and referee Andrew Penn blows for half-time.
45th - The fourth official has just indicated there will be a minimum of one minute added on.
42nd - Paul Thirlwell is the first player booked this afternoon for a very cynical trip from behind on Wes Hoolahan as he was driving through the middle. Darel Russell's free-kick fails to yield anything.
39th - City putting on the pressure and take a quick throw-in on the left. Lappin hangs up a cross and Chris Martin is underneath it but heads straight into the arms of Adam Collin.
33rd - Ben Marshall chests down and lets fly from range but off-target.
28th - Wes Hoolahan twists and turns over the left and delivers a right-footed cross, hung up beyond the far stick for Russell Martin coming in but his downwards header finds the side-netting.
25th - Ian Harte with a deep free-kick but Adam Drury wins the header and City can break but the ball played through for Simon Lappin takes a deflection and just skips away from him.
24th - Russell Martin takes a big risk at the far post from a Clayton cross from the right, trying to chest it back to Forster but Jason Price nips in ahead and gets a toe on it but out for a goal kick.
22nd - Ben Marshall with a drive from the edge of the box but Gary Doherty throws himself at the shot to block for a corner. Adam Clayton takes and Askou is able to scramble it clear.
21st - Korey Smith has to head Adam Clayton's cross from the right behind for a corner to the Cumbrians. Corner is taken short and crossed for a different angle but Lappin hacks it clear.
20th - Long ball over the top and Fraser Forster does not know whether to stick or twist. He ends up coming just outside his area but is beaten to the ball by Jason Price, who sees his effort blocked by Askou.
17th - Drury back on and winning a corner for the Canaries. Nice link up with Simon Lappin and a chest down from Chris Martin. Simon Lappin's left-wing corner is missed on the volley by Jens Berthel Askou. It rolls through to Korey Smith on the edge of the area his strike is back-flicked by Gary Doherty and palmed away by Adam Collin.
16th - City screaming for a penalty as Oli Johnson is brought down in the box, but the former Stockport striker was offside when he received the little touch through from Chris Martin inside the box.
14th - Adam Drury has come over to the sidelines for some treatment on his left leg. Simon Lappin filling in at left-back for the time being.
12th - Korey Smith almost pulls one back for City. Chris Martin plays Korey Smith in behind the Carlisle defence and he rounds Adam Collin but on the stretch on his left foot doesn't put enough power on his shot and Richard Keogh gets back on the line to cut out.
9th - A change to the advertised line-up for the vistors. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson starts on the left-hand side of midfield in place of Tom Taiwo. The Carlisle press aren't sure why, can only assume an injury in the warm-up.
7th - Jason Price doubles Carlisle United's lead from an Ian Harte free-kick. Looked a very soft free-kick for a foul on Price by Adam Drury. The former Leeds United man Harte swung in a left-footed inswinger from the right, which Price seemed to get a small touch on and it skidded off the wet surface beyond Forster.
3rd - Almost a fantastic response from City with Russell Martin drilling a half-volley narrowly wide.
1st - We're underway at Carrow Road. Carlisle United lead here after just 56 seconds and it is Gary Madine with the goal. Madine linked up well with Jason Price and Ben Marshall presenting Madine with a free shot from just inside the area, which he buried into the far corner past Fraser Forster. Unfortunately Forster won't be able to equal Kevin Keelan's clean sheet record of 19 in a season now. He will be stuck on 18 for the season.
The players are out for the final time this season and after shaking hands, enter a pre-match huddle. It will be Carlisle United to kick us off with City attacking the Barclay End first half.
Aviva Fan of the Year
Winner - John Bush
The Anglian Home Improvements Player of the Season
3rd - Gary Doherty
2nd - Fraser Forster
1st - GRANT HOLT
In just under 20 minutes, the presentation for the Anglian Home Improvements Player of the Season will be made by chairman Alan Bowkett.
Wes Hoolahan returns to the starting lien-up for the final game of the season, as does Russell Martin, Jens Berthel Askou, Darel Russell and Korey Smith. Out go Michael Spillane, Michael Nelson, Matt Gill, Stephen Hughes and Anthony McNamee.
CITY: Forster (Rudd 88), Drury, R.Martin, Doherty (c), Hoolahan, C.Martin, Lappin (Hughes 69), Russell, Smith, Johnson (McNamee 73), Askou. Subs not used: Gill, McVeigh, Rose, McDonald.
Carlisle: Collin (Gillespie 90), Raven, Horwood, Thirlwell (c), Bridge-Wilkinson, Harte, Marshall (Anyinsah 86), Keogh, Clayton, Madine, Price (Dobie 64). Subs not used: Kane, Swinglehurst, Bowman.
Referee: Andrew Penn
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