Our ‘On This Day’ feature for 22nd September takes a look at Norwich City’s programme from their 1984/85 home fixture against Watford. Read our programme review below and check out all the Division One issues from 1984/85 here.
Norwich City’s ‘Canary’ programme was one of the larger Division One issues for the 1984/85 season, with 22 pages of content.
The issue for the fixture against Watford opened with manager’s notes from Ken Brown, who offered his thoughts on his side’s struggles away from home, following a recent defeat at the hands of Southampton. There were also columns from coach Mel Machin and captain Dave Watson, as well as a page of photographs from the Dell defeat.
There were two pages of updates from around the club in ‘Carrow News’, while ‘Press Comment’ noted the financial risks and rewards arising out of the decision to seed teams for the League Cup draw. The issue featured a brief profile of winger Steve Goble and an article on young defender Steve Bruce, who had signed from Gillingham in the summer, quickly becoming a regular in the Canaries team. Meanwhile, City forwards John Deehan and Mick Channon were interviewed about penalty taking duties, reflecting on the club’s opening day draw with Liverpool when Channon converted a late spot kick with Deehan having missed one earlier in the game.
‘Canaries Through the Years’ provided a statistical look back at Norwich’s history – here offering a complete record of the 1907/08 season – the club’s last at its Newmarket Road home. The feature included a team photo from the time, which was a nice touch. A column from Commercial Manager Mac Mackay noted the opening of a new matchday programme store at Carrow Road, at which supporters could obtain a bundle of 10 programmes for £1! There was also a two-page feature examining England’s World Cup qualifying prospects under Bobby Robson, as the nation looked to move on from the disappointment of not qualifying for Euro 84.
There were two pages on visitors Watford, containing brief introductory notes alongside profiles of the club’s players, and manager Graham Taylor. Separately, the programme provided a profile of Watford striker George Reilly, who had appeared for the Hornets in the 1984 FA Cup Final, having been close to quitting the game before joining Watford from Cambridge United.
‘Canary’ thus offered a good amount of reading for the 50p cover price, with a variety of features on Norwich City past and present.