By Patrick Lay

Norwich City v Pompey – Friday 18^th April 2025

Pompey travelled to East Anglia for this Good Friday game on the back of rescuing a dramatic stoppage time 2-2 draw in our ‘six-pointer’ at home to Derby County.  Despite dropping to 19^th, Cardiff’s loss at home in their ‘six-pointer’ to Stoke last weekend extended our gap above the bottom three to three points.  Whilst Norwich’s loss at Burnley a week ago keeps The Canaries in 13^th and all but mathematically out of the Play Off race.

Pompey’s last visit to Carrow Road was in January 2019 in the FA Cup 3^rd round when Aston Villa loanee Andre Green got the winner deep into added time.  Then our last league meeting in NR1 was in December 2010 when goals from David Kitson and Greg Halford secured our 2-0 away win.

Myself and Ajit decided from the outset that the historic city of Norwich was an absolute must.  So we decided to do an overnight trip for this Good Friday fixture by making the 160 mile drive across from Birmingham on Maundy Thursday.  For over 700 years, Norwich was one of the original big cities in England and from the 11^th century medieval times through to the Industrial Revolution had a population second only to London – the Birmingham of its time.

As you turn off the A11 onto the A147 on the perimeter of the city centre, straight away you are treated to a dip into Norwich’s historic past with the remains of the city walls as pictured in the collage below.

After enjoying a nice meal and a few drinks in the evening, it was up early on the Friday morning to savour the many sites of the lovely Norfolk city.  Just outside of the city walls is The Cathedral of St John the Baptist (Roman Catholic Cathedral) on Unthank Road which opened in 1910 as pictured below.

As we headed into the city centre, we came across a lovely park called Chapelfield Gardens with the Easter funfair in full swing.

On Theatre Street (as the name would suggest) is one of the oldest theatres in the UK still in use with a history similar to ‘Trigger’s Broom’ in Only Fools and Horses.  Established in 1758, it was rebuilt in both 1801 and 1826.  It was rebuilt again in 1935 after being burnt down the previous year and survived bomb damage in WW2.  It was last refurbished in 2007 and still stands proudly in the city.

Heading through Millenium Plain and St Peters Street were some key buildings in a nice cluster together.  Pictured in the collage below is the grade ii listed art deco City Hall built in 1938 where Norwich City Council are based. L-R: Norwich Market (in operation here since the 11^th century, St Peter Mancroft (the city’s largest medieval church) and Norwich Guildhall (built in the early 15^th century).

On St Giles Street is the fabulous St Giles House and St Giles on the Hill church at the end of the street.  When first opened in 1852, St Giles House was the headquarters for the London and Norwich Fire Insurance Company.  Nowadays, this grade ii listed Victorian building is an independently ran hotel and brasserie.

In truth there were countless lovely old buildings from 18^th and 19^th centuries to take in as we meandered our way through the city’s quaint old streets.  Pictured in the collage is a selection of just some of them.  Top: Pottergate.  Clockwise: Pottergate, St Gregory’s Back Alley/church, Stranger’s Hall entrance (14^th century on Charing Cross), Princes Street with Parish Church of St George, The Maddermarket Theatre (built in 1794 as a Roman Catholic Chapel, it has been used as this theatre since 1921).

We got talking to a man in one of these streets who informed us that Norwich once had around 60 churches within its city walls and many of these are still in existence, including two cathedrals of course.  It was time now to see arguably one of Norwich’s two most famous landmarks – Norwich Anglican Cathedral.  Standing at a height of 315 feet, the cathedral spire is Norwich’s tallest building with only Salisbury Cathedral boasting a taller spire.

As we made our way onto the cathedral grounds to wander around it, we did so with impeccable timing as the Good Friday service was underway out on the Cathedral grounds.  Note the statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson in the collage below.

Just before stopping for lunch, we passed one of the other two iconic landmarks in the city – Norwich Castle.  Initially built as a wooden fortification by William The Conqueror in 1067, construction on the stone fort (as pictured below) began in 1094 by William II until his death before his brother King Henry I finished it in 1121.

There was still time after lunch for a leisurely stroll along the River Wensum and a lovely scenic route to the stadium.  But not before passing another distinctive section of the old city walls on Barn Road (corner with St Benedict’s Street). 

The contemporary student accommodation behind it called St Benedict’s Gate is the site of where the medieval gatehouse for where the road to Kings Lynn once was stood. 

At one point there were 13 gatehouses on the city walls, all of which were demolished in the late 18^th and early 19 centuries to make way for trading in Norwich.  But the remains of St Benedict’s Gate still existed until 1942 when it was sadly demolished after damage by a WW2 bomb in that vicinity.

We started our walk along the river at New Mills.  This grade ii listed pumping station was built in 1897 and was in operation until 1972.  In the late 20^th century, it was used as a museum before closing in 2003.  On this same spot different corn and water mills were built here in 1430 and 1710.

To complete the Riverside walk, we had to alternate between the north and south banks of the Wensum where a mixture of lovely old Victorian buildings and modern apartments can be seen in the collage below. 

Top: St George’s Street bridge and the Norwich Technical Institute (now used by Norwich University of Arts). 

Left: Whitefriars bridge with grade I listed St James Mill in the background (formerly part of Jarrold’s Printworks). 

Right: St James Quay apartments (also part of the old Jarrold’s site), note part of the old city walls on River Lane.

 

 

Pictured in the collage below are arguably the two stand out features on this beautiful walk by the Wensum.  On the south bank there is Swan Pit Sluice Gate which was used as a breeding area for swans going back to the 18^th century (hence the name). 

Then there is the impressive looking Cow Gate at the point where the Wensum bends round.  Contrary to first impression, this gate was not part of the old city walls (although it had some link), but a nearby separate fort built in the late Middle Ages to defend the city from the river.

 

 

It was time for a selfie of me and Ajit and some ambient images of the Wensum as it bent round.

 

 

Riverside Walk now hugged the east bank and two other things of note pictured in the collage are the sports grounds of Lower School, Norwich with Norwich Cathedral in the background (a far cry from the concrete school playgrounds many of us in Pompey grew up with).  Then there is the 15^th century Pull’s Ferry watergate made from flint stone.

 

 

After finishing our walk along the River Wensum fittingly at Carrow Bridge, we had arrived just along from the stadium and what an impressive abode The Canaries have as pictured below.

 

 

Now for some history about Norwich City FC.  Formed in 1902, the club progressed through the Norfolk & Suffolk League and the Southern League.  The Canaries played their first six years at Newmarket Road (the A11 as you head into the city centre) before relocating to the distinctively named The Nest just north of the city’s railway station. 

Norwich became a Football League club in 1920 (the same season when Pompey were Southern League Champions) as both ourselves and The Canaries entered the newly formed Division 3 South.  In 1935 that Norwich moved to Carrow Road where their record attendance is just shy of 44k. 

Despite winning the League Cup in 1962, it would be a further decade until top flight football first came to Norfolk under the management of Pompey goalscoring legend Ron Saunders.  The Canaries suffered narrow 1-0 defeats in the 1973 and 1975 League Cup Finals.  Then a 1-0 win in the 1985 League Cup Final against Sunderland earned Norwich their second and most recent major trophy to date.

As one of the founder members of the Premier League in 1992, Norwich’s highest league finish to date was in its inaugural season (1992-93) where they finished 3^rd under manager Mike Walker. 

After qualifying for the UEFA Cup and their first ever season in Europe, Walker’s side reached the 3^rd round famously knocking out Bayern Munich en route. 

Since then, The Canaries have remained a solid club fluctuating between the Championship and the Premier League (save the one season in League One 15 years ago).

Carrow Road has a modern day 27k all-seater capacity.  With gradual changes before and after the Taylor Report, it is one of the best examples of an old ground that can be redeveloped without needing to relocate.  Pictured on the left in the collage below is the River End stand.  Originally an uncovered terrace, this was replaced in 1979 with a terrace at the front, executive boxes and an upper tier of seats.

In 1984, the old main stand opposite ourselves was partially destroyed by fire and a couple of years later fully reconstructed as a like for like all-seater single tiered stand with its replacement having a cantilever roof.

The former covered terrace at the Barclay End to our right was replaced by a near identical stand to the River End Stand in 1992.  Whilst in that same year, terracing in the lower tier of the River End Stand was replaced with seats.  Last summer, safe standing was installed in the Lower Barclay Stand, the curiously named ‘Snake Corner’ of the main stand plus some parts of the away section in the South Stand.

My only previous visit to Norwich was to Carrow Road in January 2000 where Lee Bradbury’s second half effort couldn’t prevent a 2-1 defeat.  But the most memorable aspect was veteran keeper and ‘The Legend’ himself Alan Knight starting in goal for us in what would be his 801^st and final appearance for Pompey.  The only player to have played in four different decades in four different divisions and all for the same club.

We sat in the equivalent stand that day (former South Stand) which was a single tier stand with pillars and looked rather antiquated compared to the rest of the redeveloped stadium. 

Then in 2003, the final piece of the Carrow Road jigsaw was complete with the replacement South Stand and Holiday Inn hotel in that corner with the other three corners filled.

As we walked around the to the away stand with the usual pre-match ambience of both sets of fans arriving and that sense of anticipation, my first thought was I’d be happy if we grind out a draw.  But after walking through the visiting turnstiles and into a cauldron of Pompey fans echoing out the concourse and inside the South Stand, not a soul in the stadium could have predicted the afternoon ahead.

Pictured below, the players made their way on to the pitch to the Pompey Chimes as ever in high spirits and some tickertape which you rarely see these days.  Whilst Norwich fans had some yellow and green flags in the Barclay Stand and their club mascot Captain Canary.

 

 

Norwich got the game underway and after just one minute, Nicolas Schmid dived down well to save José Córdoba’s low shot on the turn.  This early wake-up call galvanised Pompey into action as Adil Aouchiche’s curling effort from outside the box forced keeper George Long to push it away to safety.  The game was delayed on 12 minutes when Norwich’s Kellen Fisher picked up an injury but thankfully he was OK to continue after colliding with Josh Murphy who was back defending for us.

Minutes after play resumed, Pompey got the all-important breakthrough on 15 minutes when Freddie Potts moved forward in the midfield and switched the ball wide to Matt Ritchie who got in a dangerous left foot cross that was met by Colby Bishop’s diving header that Long could only help on its way into the net – cue hysteria amongst the Pompey fans as chants of “We Are Staying Up” swept across the stand.

 

 

Sensing this was three points for the taking, Murphy collected a fine through ball out wide from Potts and surged into box before firing just wide of the far post.  Then on 21 minutes the home side were level after a good run by Borja Sainz forced Potts to concede the corner.  Jacob Wright’s in-swinging corner caught out our defence and Potts’ goal line clearance only went as far as Josh Sargent who volleyed into the roof of the net.  The Barclay Stand celebrated with their trademark goal music of Samba De Janeiro.

 

 

Despite our attacking intent, there was still this sense of perspective and a fan near me must have read my mind as he commented that he’d take a point.  With the game evenly balanced, Pompey tried to regain the lead with Bishop coming close, then on 33 minutes a good move by Sargent played in Oscar Schwartau whose cut back found the head of Fisher who could only head straight at Schmid’s legs.

 

 

A vital stop as the visitors strived to get back in front and on 39 minutes a fine move from Potts and then Isaac Hayden played in Murphy on one of his mazy runs into the area as he squared back to Ritchie to side foot home to put Pompey back in front.

 

 

With half time looming, it was crucial to go into the break with our lead intact.  Pompey didn’t surrender the initiative as we kept attacking with Connor Ogilvie’s header coming close.  Then two minutes into the five stoppage time minutes added, Pompey were awarded a penalty after Aouchiche’s shot from outside the box was parried and from the rebound Hayden was tripped by Marcelino Núñez. 

 

 

Up stepped Bishop to make amends for his penalty being saved against Derby to put Pompey 3-1 up amid more wild celebrations from the travelling fans as we gained some crucial breathing space right at the interval.

 

 

HT: Norwich City 1-3 Pompey

Shortly after the break, Norwich made a double substitution with midfielder Núñez making way for defender Jack Stacey with Emiliano Marcondes replacing the injured Sargent.   

I realised I hadn’t taken a selfie of me and Ajit inside the stadium, so I quickly took one whilst there was a break in play.

 

 

It was just as well I was quick as on 51 minutes Pompey took a firm grip on the game.  After Ogilvie won the ball off Stacey in defence, then a fine interchange of passes down the wing between Murphy and Aouchiche saw Murphy take aim which Long got down well to save at his near post only for Murphy to cut back to Bishop to stroke into the top corner.

 

 

 

A special moment indeed for the Pompey striker who claimed his first hat-trick for the club and there was no doubt who was taking the match ball home.

 

 

 

There was plenty of bounce in Pompey, and that’s just the fans bouncing around if we’re staying up.  On 54 minutes, John Mousinho made his first change as Hayden made way for Andre Dozzell in the midfield.  Pompey continued to press and with efforts from Aouchiche and Ogilvie.  Then Norwich made their third substitution with another defender Callum Doyle coming on for midfielder Schwartau.

“Ole, Ole…” rung out every time Pompey touched the ball, but the “Oles” were cut short on 64 minutes when the hosts got back into the game when Wright’s incisive diagonal ball to Stacey saw the substitute run into box and finish superbly into the top corner.

 

 

They say a two-goal lead is a dangerous lead and minutes later Marcondes headed over from Wright’s cross which at 4-3 would have meant it was anyone’s game.  Norwich then brought on Jacob Sørensen for José Córdoba, but on 71 minutes Pompey were back in cruise control.

After Marcondes’ foul on Ogilvie, the free kick was lofted forward and won back by Aouchiche.  Then after a neat bit of play with Bishop, Aouchiche cut back to Reagan Poole who swept home number five as it hit Fisher on its way in after crossing the line as the players and fans were in raptures together.

 

 

 

 

 

With 15 minutes to go, Kusini Yengi was brought on for hat-trick hero Bishop who, as it transpires from Mousinho, took a knock to his knee.  As the game entered the final 10 minutes, The Canaries still strived to get some way back into the game.  Following a short corner, Sørensen got in a header from Wright’s cross that Schmid dived down to keep out and prevent Sainz from bundling home a consolation for the hosts.

On 85 minutes, Pompey made a triple substitution with Terry Devlin coming on for Aouchiche, Zak Swanson replaced Rob Atkinson as Matt Ritchie made way for Marlon Pack. Four minutes later, Norwich made their final substitution with Amankwah Forson being brought on for Fisher.

Norwich did get another consolation goal on 90 minutes.  This time a direct corner from Wright caught us out as Marcondes’ glancing header looped over Schmid and in off the far post as a few ironic cheers came from the Pompey fans.

 

 

I personally felt this was a bit too soon to joke as Norwich are a decent side who on another day could have scored a few more themselves.  So when the fourth official then indicated an additional six minutes to be played, I did fear that another goal from the home side would make for a very nervous finish.  But it proved a worry-free stoppage time as the referee signalled the end of an outstanding and vital win for Pompey in an incredibly entertaining game as our fans and players celebrated a five-star afternoon in Norfolk.

 

 

 

 

FT: Norwich City 3-5 Pompey

Att: 26,838 (1,889 Pompey fans)

As Pompey embarked on the 200-mile trip home from Norwich, we did so still in 18th place.  But with defeats for Plymouth, Cardiff, Hull and Oxford and Luton winning their six-pointer at Derby in the day’s early kick off, we are now six points above the relegation zone.  So by virtue of Hull and Derby playing each other on Saturday, Pompey need just three more points from our last three games to guarantee survival.

After crossing over the river on Carrow Bridge after the game, we saw another piece of history – the remains of the 14^th century Devil’s Tower.  This is also not part of the old city walls though and there is some question as to whether it was used in the past.  I also found out that Carrow Bridge is a lift bridge to allow boats to pass with its surviving former 19^th century Bridgemaster’s signal box.

There was still time for a lovely unexpected surprise.  As we crossed King Street on our way back to the car, we noticed what looked like part of the old city walls and a pathway.  Expecting this pathway to be a cut through, the path takes you up some steep steps to Carrow Hill through a wooded area alongside the city walls and up to Black Tower.  This is such an enchanting spot and looked like a scene from a children’s adventure novel.  Pictured in the collage below, it seems impossible to believe this a quarter of a mile from a football stadium.  A lovely end to a fantastic day as me and Ajit set off back to Brum.

So up next for Pompey is the visit of 12th place Watford this afternoon as The Hornets (no longer able to reach the Play Offs) look to finish the season on a high and search for their first win at Fratton Park since April 2002.  Whilst victory for Mousinho’s side today means Championship football will return to PO4 next season with two games to spare.  PUP PPU.