Norwich City Academy forward Tony Springett has signed a new contract at the club through to the summer of 2025.
“I can’t really put it into words to be honest,” he said. “It was good when I got my first one, but for some reason getting the second one feels that much sweeter, so I’m over the moon really.
“I’ve been at the club since I was 12, so it’s been a long road. I don’t have anything bad to say about Norwich. It’s been so good since I came in at 12 all the way through to 2021 now. It’s been an absolute rollercoaster, going through different things such as a boarding school and schools programme. Just to get over all of that and see where I am now, I’m surprised by it really.
“I remember when we had tin huts as changing rooms. Seeing how much effort they’ve put into developing the whole training ground for the Academy is a good thing to see because it shows how much they really value and care for us as players.”
Last season, Springett managed six goals and six assists across the Under-18s and Under-23s teams, but is playing a deeper role this time around.
“I’ve had a little bit of a position change this year,” he said. “I used to be a winger but the formation has changed up a bit, so I’m currently playing on the left of the diamond in central midfield, which is very enjoyable and I get on the ball a lot more now than I did when I played as a winger. Never say never, I’m definitely trying to top and go further with my numbers.
“My game has developed a lot. I came into Norwich as a winger and over the years I’ve played centre attacking midfield, left-back, right-back… I feel like playing all these different positions gives me so much to take on. I take something from every single one that can develop me and help me do things that I do in my normal position.
"When coaches say to me ‘you’re going to be playing left-back, right-back or centre-mid’, I go ahead with it because I’ve always got something to take out from playing in a new position.”
This season, Springett is one of the young Canaries who have had the taste of scoring in front of fans at Carrow Road for the free-flowing U23s.
“This is probably the best season I’ve experienced at this football club so far, just because as a group of lads we’re so much closer this year than I think we’ve ever been, especially because most of us have been together since Langley days, so having them next to me makes it so much easier to relax and be myself,” he said.
“Even the newish lads such as Jonathan Tomkinson and Josh Giurgi, who didn’t go to Langley with us, have fit straight in and I feel like that team chemistry has allowed us to do good this year and we’re just hoping to go all the way and hopefully get into Division One.”
Nicknamed ‘The Wriggler’ by U18s coach Greg Crane due to his ability to wriggle out of difficult situations on the pitch, it turns out that listening to chart-topping pop-stars before matches has been the secret to Springett’s success!
“Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber are my go-to choices before a game,” he said. “I’m not down with all that drill and rap because that’s just not me. I don’t mind sharing what I listen to, because I’m not afraid to say or be ashamed of the fact that I like Justin Bieber and Ed Sheeran.
“I didn’t know Ed’s an Ipswich fan. This changes things, I might have to stop listening to him now. I just like his music.”
Off the pitch, Springett has been one of the Academy’s mental health ambassadors, learning a lot about a very important subject.
“I’ve learnt so much,” he said. “I came into the role not knowing much but wanting to do the role because speaking to people and making sure they’re okay is something I enjoy doing, but ever since I started doing it, I learn more and more every time I go for a meeting with Clive or Carys. I learn something new.
“Putting the things they taught me into work and seeing the outcome of people talking out more and feeling supported by the club is the best thing to see. It’s becoming a safe environment to speak up about how you feel and that’s the aim for us, so it’s amazing really.”