The following article I wrote for the Norwich City Official Match Day Programme for the fixture against Bolton Wanderers.
How can a man who was part of the team that won promotion to the Premier League never gets the credit he fully deserved? Perhaps much of it comes down to his lack of goal scoring prowess in a free-scoring team and being overshadowed by those players who have gone on to become club legends, such as Grant Holt and Wes Hoolahan.
The man who joined Norwich from Colchester in June 2010 and was part of the team that thumped the Canaries on the opening day of the season in League One the year before, in a game that still haunts me to this day. After initially spending much time on the bench when given his chance it was clear he had the vision to spot a pass no other player could and was able to control the game at his pace- and he proved that in the top two divisions he played in with the Canaries.
When someone says the name David Fox the first thing that comes to mind is Fratton Park on the 2nd of May 2011 and his perfectly weighted ball onto Simeon Jackson’s head that resulted in the goal that sent Norwich back to the Premier League. If that ball was played by a Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard of that time we’d still be talking about it to this day. As an 11 year old, I remember watching it live on Sky, shouting and screaming so much the whole village would have heard it! My team would be playing the likes of Ferguson’s Manchester United and Wenger’s Arsenal; something I couldn’t comprehend when the year before I was watching us against Stockport and Swindon.
I view him as the main cog that made that particular Norwich team of 2010-11 tick and be as successful as it was. Would we have been as successful without him? That we’ll never know! But Fox made some major contributions in his 32 appearances that season. His only goal for City many won’t remember came against Millwall at the New Den in a 1-1 draw in November 2010, with Fox scoring the opener that day.
He did finally get some recognition when he came third in the prestigious “Barry Butler” award in the 2011-12 Premier League campaign. After he more than held his own against some of the best teams in the country, he was rewarded with a new contract in the summer of 2012 and many viewed him as a player who could play a major role under newly appointed manager Chris Hughton. However, his game time was limited and he went out on loan to Barnsley, before eventually leaving the club to head back to Colchester.
Fox was one of the many lower league players who left a big legacy at Norwich in one of the most successful spells in the club’s history, and that shouldn’t be forgotten any time soon.
Comments from fans when interacting with my article suggest fans are in agreement. Glenn in reference to Fox said: “Super player” and Richard said: “I agree. He controlled the play with his passing”.
Jonah said: “Unbelievable central midfielder. Leitner reminds me very much of him on his ability to control a game”.
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