Whilst eating my lunch and reading the EDP I read a letter which amounted to a personal assault on Michael Turner. It concluded that he was our worst defender since Charlie Billington. With all the recent doom and gloom on here suggesting that being relegated with the current squad, current Manager, debt free and with parachute payments will be the end of the world it got me thinking about what really were bad times at Carrow Road. It might explain why the likes of Dave, Redruth and myself cannot get too worked up about our current position. I first went to Carrow Road in 1950. In the early/mid 50's we were in Div 3 South which was the lowest league. We finished bottom and had to apply to stay in the league. In todays world we would have been relegated to the Conference. In the end the Club went bust and if it were not for a public appeal led by the EDP, Arthur South and Geoffrey Watling the Club would have ceased to exist. Can you imagine the standard of player we had in those days? Charlie Billington was a centre half with the turning circle of a World War 1 battleship, was too short to be of any use in the air and had this incredible knack of being able to run with his legs wide apart. Every opposition centre forward used to nutmeg him and before he could turn round the ball was in the net. Many oldies reckon he was our worst player ever but I think they have forgotten Cameron Buchanan maybe because he only played 3 games. Nobody knew where he came from - he just arrived! He was billed as a goal scoring centre forward but when he waddled out we all burst out laughing. He had the build, mobility and footballing ability of a sumo wrestler. The only surprise is that he lasted 3 games. 60 years ago we could only dream of being in the position we are in today so the next time you want to moan about Michael Turner or Steve Morison think about Charlie Billington and Cameron Buchanan and realise how lucky we are to support NCFC at this time. Any other oldies have memories of those times?
poor bloke. he's a good defender who is just totally out of form. i don't know of the guys you're mentioning but i must say, i find the 'turner bashing' disgraceful.
It was a great post - funny, yet with a heartfelt message. I don't quite remember those players, but have been supporting City long enough to have sampled an impressive array of highs and lows! We're having it good at the moment, despite what you might read on the pink 'un forums, enjoy it while it lasts, who knows what's around the corner!
I started watching City circa 1970 so can't remember Mr Billington but here's a few bad 'uns to throw out there; Jim Blair, Willie Young (to say he was past his best when he turned up would be an understatement),Dean Coney and of course the legend that is Michael Theoclitoris !
Keith Briggs ? Not heard of him Kent. I do remember Max Briggs from late 60's early 70's he was pants, you don't mean him do you ?
Oh God, Zesh Rehman! I'd forgotten him. We had so many players under Grant and Roeder. I remember one season under Grant when we had about 9 goalkeepers, all a bit pants! And then Roeder signed Arturo Lupoli! He was a waste of wage money, but not more so than Antoine Sibierski... Or what about David Strihavka? And people say our current crop are rubbish - they queue up to say it on facebook if you've got it. Every post from the club is marred by fairweather fans slating Hughton and his team. They can't have been supporting the club 5 years ago, never mind 50, or else they certainly would not be complaining!
I remember Keith Briggs, kick-it-off - he was always on the back of the programme for a couple of years circa 2000, but I never once saw him play!
oh my god. steve walsh! he was absolutely abysmal. he threatened me once cos i gave him some stick when he didn't sign any autographs at stockport away (i think) when he was getting back on the coach. total prick. never played for the club again i believe...
From the 08/09 season there were many stinkers David Bell, Jon Otsemobor (believe he is at MK Dons now) and Fatty Matt Pattison spring to mind
Juan Velasco is one that I remember. Omar Koroma was pretty **** too. David Carney was awful for us as well but played with Blackpool in Premiership after leaving us, also we got the two Reading lads. James Henry, who played **** in his one game I watched, he's now at Millwall. Pearce not so bad, but I remember he ****ed up royally in one game.
Sorry don't really post on here much but can anyone remember Raymond Van Der Waard.... he was pretty ****.
And yet, he played for (and captained) Leicester during their successful spell under Martin O'Neill, so in his prime he was certainly no mug. According to Wikipedia 'Walsh was a hugely popular figure with Leicester fans, who nicknamed him "Captain Fantastic".' He won various honours, but also has the less than glorious distinction of having amassed the highest number of red cards of any Football League player ever! I guess for those who like their football "no holds barred" and idolise Norman Hunter, that would further increase their admiration.
