City’s Carabao Cup meeting with Norwich brings together two clubs who have shared plenty of players down the years.
We picked our Man City and Norwich crossover XI ahead of the game, featuring some memorable names from both clubs. For supporters of a certain vintage, though, one name immediately springs to mind.
Darren Huckerby enjoyed promotion-winning spells with both City and Norwich, becoming an important part of Kevin Keegan’s wonderfully entertaining side at Maine Road before eventually establishing himself as a genuine Canaries legend.
Huckerby joined City from Leeds United in December 2000 and went on to score 31 goals in 82 appearances for the club. His best season came in 2001/02, when he scored 26 times in all competitions as City won the old First Division title and returned to the Premier League.
Hucks remembers a special Man City side
Looking back on that season for City’s official website, Huckerby described it as a “special time”.
“We had great attacking players,” he said, recalling a side containing Ali Benarbia, Eyal Berkovic, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Shaun Goater and Paulo Wanchope.
Huckerby summed up City’s approach under Keegan rather neatly: “We just attacked, attacked, attacked.”
It was not an exaggeration. City scored 108 league goals that season, with Huckerby’s pace complementing Goater’s goals in a team packed with attacking talent.
Huckerby later recalled that once things clicked, it became “full-on attack”. For those who watched that side, there were plenty of memorable afternoons along the way.
From Man City promotion hero to Norwich legend
There was another promotion still to come. Huckerby initially joined Norwich on loan in 2003 before making the move from City permanent that December. By the following spring, Nigel Worthington’s side were First Division champions and heading for the Premier League.
He stayed at Carrow Road until 2008, making 203 appearances and scoring 48 goals, and was twice named Norwich’s Player of the Season.
The numbers tell only part of why Huckerby remains so highly regarded in Norfolk. He was an exciting footballer to watch, but the bond with Norwich endured because the affection always appeared to run both ways. He later returned to work in the club’s academy and is now a Norwich City ambassador.
Asked by Norwich’s official website whether he considered himself a Canaries supporter, Huckerby’s answer was unequivocal.
“Definitely.”
He said Norwich had become his home and added: “I think I will be associated with Norwich for the rest of my life.”
That bond remains strong more than two decades after he first arrived at Carrow Road.
But when City and Norwich meet again, it is worth remembering the Manchester chapter too. Huckerby helped take City back to the Premier League as part of one of the most entertaining sides of the Maine Road years before heading to Norfolk and doing it all over again.
Two clubs, two title-winning promotion seasons and plenty of happy memories on both sides. There are far worse people for City and Norwich supporters to have in common.
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