Norwich v City 1976

I remember that night very well. I was working in London at the time and me and my mate shared a flat in Chelsea with two others, one of whom was a rather desirable young lady. On that night the others were out and, after a beer or two, carnal relations took place. Afterwards I wandered into the kitchen, flicked the radio on and heard that we'd won at Norwich. Life didn't get much better than that at the time. She was from Saxmundham in Suffolk, the only person I've ever met from there. In fact I've never heard mention of it since. Happy days.

 

The train ride home took for ever and the boss gave me a bollocking next morning at work. He said I hadn't put in for a day off. Billy "Golden Boot" McGinley eh?

 

I remember the day so well.

From the train breaking down just before we arrived in Norwich. Patsy leading us from the train to the walk to the ground like the pied piper.

The match of course, where we were under the cosh for most of the game, and Billy McGinlay's winner 2 minutes from time, I dont think I have celebrated a goal like that since.

Finally the long train journey home and mum and dad waiting for me at Bradford Interchange.in the early hours.

 

Train delayed. Some groans on that special I tell thee. Great night they murdered us but super Dons cross cum shot. Yowsah

 

Typical me, I was in the bog for Don's goal and we heard a rumour that highlights of the game would be on the local tv news later that night, managed to find a pub with a telly but no highlights...

 

You look at a lot of this old City stuff and you see the effort, passion and desire that's been sadly missing for a few years now......

 

Me and a mate went on the Special organised by the club ?, so when I got back home in the early hours I darent wake our lass up but was more than happy with the football result.

 

If I remember correctly this was one of a very few times in my BCFC life that we could be accused of gamesmanship. As Stafford says the game was scheduled for Saturday but postponed due to a flu virus at VP. The following week we played the first team in a 'fitness test' reserve game, I think at Hartlepool which we won. Having got Norwich prepared for the re-arranged game we then got that called off as some of our lads had 'relapsed' and were not fit.
John Bond the Norwich Manager was livid and went on record to the effect "Why should we be playing the likes of Rochdale ( who they only beat after a replay previous round) and Bradford", naughty boy!
I was lucky to have a company car then but five in a Ford Capri that distance, no thanks, so we borrowed the FD's car, two grades up from mine, a Citroen with sloping back, suspension that went up and down and no gears, not even auto, something like a variable drive, I'm not a mechanic.
Sat in the stand opposite the players tunnel, great night, full of guts from our lads and a pint just outside Norwich watching the goals on the local news, home by 2.30 am.
Bond was sacked shortly after and me of little faith had already arranged a long weekend in Benidorm so missed the Southampton game but there were other compensations!

 

We were on the open end if I remember correctly in amongst the Norwich fans and they were great that night, even saying Bond did our pre-game talk for us, there didn't seem much love between them and Bond, as the final whistle went those around us wished us the best against Southampton great night with clocking in facing us in less than 8 hours.

 

I was in hospital and the nurse on the ward I was on was from Yarmouth she was livid at the result

 

I remember so well.That was the night
I learned gymnastics in my lounge! The
wife thought I'd totally lost it! I had.......

 

The match where I became a City fan!!

Living on the borders, but going to school in Halifax, you were expected to be a fan of them or like the vast majority, Leeds

I, been already a contradictory bugger (can you imagine that ) at only 13, chose differently