Shirt Collection Part Two: Norwich City 2014/15-2016/17
With Norwich City’s Premier League relegation days away from being confirmed, the attention will fast be turning towards preparation for another Championship campaign. Transfer rumours of those who could be joining or leaving the Canaries starting to grow, however, no news or hints on the shirts those who join will be wearing in the 2020/21 season has surfaced. In a week where clubs ranging from Chelsea to Cambridge have released their new shirts ahead of what could be another strange season for football, following the fallout of Covid-19, it’s an exciting period for shirt collectors across the globe.
Following on from the success of the first part of this new series on the Yellow Bird Blog, I will be looking at the shirts from a rollercoaster era for the club spanning from 2014/15 through till 2016/17, attaching my highlights and memories of each shirt. From a Wembley win one season, to a crushing 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland in the next, where the Canaries lost their Premier League status for the fourth time. This all before a frustrating Championship campaign that resulted in a change of philosophy for the club starting from the top.
Norwich 2016/17
Another season back in the Championship, a new look sponsor in the form of the Aviva Community Fund, and a number of high-profile signings such as Alex Pritchard and Nelson Oliveria had left Canary fans with high hopes.
On the release of this shirt, fans went onto praise the neat, simple, and effective shirt, especially after the backlash of the previous season’s shirts as a collective. Despite the praise this shirt gained, my memories of this shirt and campaign are not as immediately memorable. The eighth-place finish in a season which started brightly, but petered out with a whimper will not go down as one of the greatest.
A 7-1 victory over eventual play-off finalists Reading at Carrow Road is one which sticks out, a poignant celebration from Russell Martin after the club lost long-serving staff member Pete Oldfield in the lead-up to the fixture. Six first-half goals is a feat that is not often achieved by any team, let alone Norwich City. City also earning themselves a 5-1 victory over Nottingham Forest, in a game remembered for some superb goals. Also, handing a 5-0 thrashing of Brentford at Carrow Road in the same season. The stand-out goal of this shirt that always comes to mind is Wes Hoolahan’s against Rotherham, the intelligence to weave his magic to leave defenders on the floor was something most fans had come accustomed to throughout the years.
Arguably, the kit that gained the most media coverage was the 1992-1994 inspired third kit, a shirt which the club has gone on to continue to sell within the club shop since. Despite this, many people went onto reference the pattern to that of a bus seat. A superb 2-1 victory away against Wolves was played out in this shirt, but as was the frustration of this season, so was a 2-1 defeat away against Burton Albion. My most vivid memory of the black away kit of this season was a 2-1 away victory at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest, a memorable commentary moment from Stuart Hodge for Graham Dorrans low-drive finish.
Norwich 2015-16
A Premier League relegation season for the Canaries, where despite their best efforts, defeats late in the season against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Swansea away from home, and a 3-0 defeat to Sunderland at Carrow Road saw Norwich relegated. The home shirt from this season was criticised for the ‘box style’ position of the sponsor, in what was the 80th anniversary season of Carrow Road. Ironically, my most memorable moment of the home shirt comes away from home, the Canaries successfully winning 2-1 away at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Martin Olsson’s last-minute winner against Newcastle United, when the hope of survival was dramatically boosted is one of them spine-tingling moments. A Russell Martin goal at Anfield to get the Canaries a point against Liverpool was another successful outing for this shirt.
The green away shirt had positive feedback when it was released, an early point away at West Ham for City’s last visit to the Boleyn Ground a boost for Norwich, who have always struggled on the road in the Premier League. The third shirt saw many references to that of a McDonald’s uniform, a rare Ricky Van Wolfswinkel goal away at Rotherham in the Carabao Cup came in this shirt, as well as a superb strike from Jonny Howson at Stoke which ended with defeat in the league.
Norwich 2014/15
For many Norwich fans I know, this shirt ranks very highly in their personal all-time favorites, as described in part one of this shirt series, an influential factor will be the success of the team wearing it on the pitch. A season that looked to be going nowhere, yet ended up with a victory at Wembley in the play-off final in front of 90,000 people.
A league double over bitter rivals Ipswich, a victory away against eventual champions Bournemouth, despite losing Jonny Howson after he was sent-off, and a last-minute Gary Hooper goal away at Bolton to earn a crucial three points all stand out. City thumped both Huddersfield and Millwall in the heavy Christmas schedule too, along with too many other wins to note. However, until the arrival of Alex Neil in January, the season looked to be heading nowhere, when club legend Neil Adams left his position as manager. The way Neil crafted a desire and hunger to win cannot be faulted.
That day at Wembley will never be forgotten, defeating those from down the A140 over two-legs in the play-off semi-finals. Bradley Johnson, Nathan Redmond, Cameron Jerome, Jonny Howson, and Wes Hoolahan just some of the many players who will forever be remembered for what they achieved in this shirt.
As for the away kit for 2014/15, the key moment that will define this shirt was a 3-0 away victory against Watford, a time when both clubs were fighting for the sixth spot in the league. Bradley Johnson’s goal at the AMEX against Brighton on Easter Monday was crucial in guiding the club to an eventual third-place position in the Championship. A victory away to Blackpool and defeat at Wolves were also witnessed in one of the more underrated away shirts of recent times.
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. If you have enjoyed this style of post, or are a fan of this new series for the Yellow Bird Blog, then please follow it through the means below and get in touch with any feedback or contributions.
Twitter: @YellowBirdBlog
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To contact me via email with any ideas, feedback, or contributions towards the blog, contact aharvey1236@outlook.com.
The option to follow the blog for emailed alerts is also available. Part one of this series is linked below:
- From Wembley wonder to relegation misery, shirts tell a story of mixed times in history for City
- Shirts shape memories of seasons past, with football nostalgia at an all-time high
- City’s FA Cup dream remains alive as Premier League survival fades away
- Norwich vs Southampton Preview: Seemingly safe Saints provide first task as Farke eyes miracle
- 18 Cup Finals Ahead For City
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