Norwich City Football Club – The Canaries
Norwich City Football Club was formed in 1902 and they gained entry into the Football League in 1920 with the formation of Division Three.
In 1934 the club moved into the second division after running away with the Division Three South championship. They were relegated back in 1939, the last season of league football before war broke out.
Norwich stayed in Division Three South until the regional sections merged in 1958 when they took their place in Division Three. It was from this point that the club really began to make its mark.
In the 1958-59 season Norwich made it all the way to the FA Cup semi finals. They defeated Manchester United 3-0 in the 3rd round before seeing off Cardiff City, Tottenham Hotspur (after a replay) and Sheffield United (also after a second game). A replay was also required in the semi final before the Canaries eventually bowed out against Luton Town.
The following season Norwich were runners up in the third division to win promotion to Division Two. Norwich remained in the second division for twelve seasons before topping the division in 1972 to win a place in Division One for the first time.
In 1961-62 Norwich claimed a League Cup triumph, beating Chesterfield, Lincoln City, Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Blackpool before disposing of Rochdale 4-0 in the two legged final.
The Canaries only just preserved their place in the top flight in 1972-73 but did win through to another League Cup final. They knocked out Leicester City, Hull City, Stockport County, Arsenal and Chelsea before losing 1-0 in the final to Tottenham Hotspur.
The year after they did suffer relegation but then enjoyed an excellent season in 1974-75. This was the first season in which three teams were promoted to the first division and Norwich were the beneficiaries, claiming promotion behind Manchester United and Aston Villa.
They also reached another League Cup final, beating Bolton Wanderers, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield United, Ipswich Town and Manchester United before losing an anti-climatic final 1-0 against Aston Villa.
The Canaries stayed in Division One for six seasons before relegation in 1981. Again they managed an instant return in third place, however.
1984-85 was a bittersweet season for the club. They suffered relegation from the first division but did capture the League Cup for the second time.
They defeated Preston North End, Aldershot, Notts County, Grimsby Town and Ipswich Town before beating Sunderland by the only goal in the final. This triumph was marred somewhat when they were denied a place in Europe for the first time by rioting Liverpool fans at that seasons’ European Cup final.
Norwich were again able to climb out of Division Two at the first attempt in 1985-86, this time as champions.
The Canaries then stayed in the top flight for nine seasons before being relegated in 1995. They reached the FA Cup semi finals in 1992 only to lose to second division Sunderland and were involved in the title race in the first ever Premier League season in 1992-93 before losing out to Manchester United late on.
After eventually finishing third they did finally get to compete in Europe, however, in the following seasons’ UEFA Cup. They defeated Vitesse Arnhem 3-0 on aggregate in the 1st round to set up a mouth watering clash with Bayern Munich in the next.
Goals from Jeremy Goss and Mark Bowen gave them an unforgettable win in the Olympic Stadium and another Goss strike saw them through after a 1-1 draw at Carrow Road.
Despite two more valiant displays in the 3rd round the Canaries bowed out to Inter Milan, losing both legs 1-0 to late goals.
Norwich found it harder to escape the second tier on this occasion. They reached the play offs in 2002, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate in the semi finals only to lose on penalties to Birmingham City in the final after a 1-1 draw.
In 2004 the Canaries stormed to the Division One title to return to the Premier League but lost their relegation battle on the final day of the following season to return to the Championship.