1985–86 Norwich City F.C. season

Norwich City
1985–86 season
ChairmanSir Arthur South (until 25 November)
Robert Chase (from November)
ManagerKen Brown
StadiumCarrow Road
Second Division1st
FA CupThird round
League CupFourth round
League Super CupSemi-final
Player of the YearKevin Drinkell
Top goalscorerLeague: Kevin Drinkell (22)
All: Kevin Drinkell (23)
Highest home attendance20,129 v Portsmouth
Lowest home attendance11,732 v Shrewsbury Town
Average home league attendance14,528
Biggest winNorwich City 6–1 Millwall (21 December 1985)
Biggest defeatMillwall 4–2 Norwich City (24 August 1985)

For the 1985–86 season, Norwich City F.C. competed in Football League Division Two, following their relegation from Division One the previous season. They also completed in the FA Cup and Milk Cup as well as the first, and ultimately only, staging of the Screen Sport Super Cup.

Overview

The previous season saw Norwich relegated back to the Second Division after three seasons in the top flight, a loss only slightly mitigated by them winning the Milk Cup.[1] Norwich had a slow start to the season that saw them lose their first three away games, but things steadily improved and, after losing to Wimbledon in October, they would go unbeaten in the league for eighteen games, until they played Wimbledon again in March. In December, they first reached third place, and thus a promotion spot, with a 3–0 win over Blackburn Rovers, then overtook Portsmouth into first place with a 3–1 win over Oldham Athletic in the next game. They would remain top for the remainder of the season, achieving promotion in April with a 2–0 win at Bradford City and guaranteeing top spot with a 1–1 draw against Stoke City in the next game. They would finish a successful league campaign with a 4–0 win at home to Leeds United.[2] They would remain in the top flight for the next nine seasons, still a club record.

Behind the scenes, in November, chairman Sir Arthur South received a challenge from board member Jimmy Jones, who proposed a vote of no confidence over building contracts being awarded to companies that South had an interest in. Instead, South and the board resigned, and a new board was installed headed by Robert Chase, with Jones as vice-chairman.[3] Chase would remain in charge of the club until 1996.

Norwich had early exits from both main cup competitions, being knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool, who beat them 5–0 in the third round, while their defence of the Milk Cup ended in the fourth round with defeat to eventual winners Oxford United. Norwich had initially qualified for the UEFA Cup as Milk Cup winners but the Heysel stadium disaster led to English club first being withdrawn from European competition by the FA and then banned indefinitely. As compensation, Norwich and the other affected teams were invited to compete in the Screen Sport Super Cup. Norwich successfully qualified from Group 1 with a win and defeat against Everton and two draws against Manchester United, before losing a two-legged semi-final to Liverpool. The second leg, played on 6 May, would be their last game of the season.

Squad

Squad at the end of season (6 May 1986)[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Chris Woods
— GK England ENG Graham Benstead
— GK England ENG Harvey Lim
— DF England ENG Ian Culverhouse
— DF Netherlands NED Dennis van Wijk
— DF England ENG Steve Bruce
— DF England ENG Dave Watson (captain)
— DF England ENG Paul Haylock
— DF England ENG Tony Spearing
— DF England ENG Kenny Brown
— DF England ENG Phil Chapple
— MF England ENG Mike Phelan
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF England ENG Peter Mendham
— MF Wales WAL David Williams (vice-captain)
— MF England ENG Mark Barham
— MF England ENG Garry Brooke
— MF England ENG Dale Gordon
— MF England ENG Jeremy Goss
— MF England ENG Ruel Fox
— FW England ENG Kevin Drinkell
— FW England ENG Wayne Biggins
— FW England ENG John Deehan
— FW England ENG Robert Rosario
— FW England ENG Paul Clayton

Transfers

In

Date Pos Name From Fee Reference
24 May 1985 MF Garry Brooke Tottenham Hotspur Unknown [5]
30 May 1985 MF Mike Phelan Burnley Unknown [6]
30 May 1985 MF David Williams Bristol Rovers Unknown [7]
14 June 1985 FW Kevin Drinkell Grimsby Town Unknown [8]
7 October 1985 DF Ian Culverhouse Tottenham Hotspur Unknown [9]
14 October 1985 FW Wayne Biggins Burnley Unknown [10]

Out

Date Pos Name To Fee Reference
16 July 1985 DF Greg Downs Coventry City £40,000 [8][11]
16 July 1985 FW Gary Rowell Middlesbrough £25,000 [12][13]
19 July 1985 FW Mark Farrington Cardiff City Unknown [14]
25 July 1985 MF Asa Hartford Bolton Wanderers Free [15][16]
13 August 1985 MF Mike Channon Miramar Rangers Unknown [17]
15 August 1985 FW David Fairclough Oldham Athletic Unknown [18]
25 November 1985 MF John Devine Stoke City Unknown [19]
10 February 1986 MF Louie Donowa Real Deportivo de La Coruña Unknown [8]
20 March 1986 FW Jon Rigby Aldershot Unknown [20]

Loans out

Date Pos Name To Until Reference
13 December 1985 FW Robert Rosario Wolverhampton Wanderers End of season [12]
23 December 1985 MF Louie Donowa Stoke City 31 January 1985 [8]

Final table

Main article: 1985–86 Football League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Norwich City (C, P) 42 25 9 8 84 37 +47 84 Promotion to the First Division
2 Charlton Athletic (P) 42 22 11 9 78 45 +33 77
3 Wimbledon (P) 42 21 13 8 58 37 +21 76
4 Portsmouth 42 22 7 13 69 41 +28 73
5 Crystal Palace 42 19 9 14 57 52 +5 66
Source: [21]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

References

  1. ^ "Norwich City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Norwich City match record: 1986". 11v11. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  3. ^ Canary Citizens p.175
  4. ^ "Norwich CITY squad 1985/86". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  5. ^ Canary Citizens p.224
  6. ^ Canary Citizens p.309
  7. ^ Canary Citizens p.347
  8. ^ a b c d Canary Citizens p.246
  9. ^ Canary Citizens p.339
  10. ^ Canary Citizens p.218
  11. ^ 1987 Club Directory p.161
  12. ^ a b Canary Citizens p.390
  13. ^ 1987 Club Directory p.311
  14. ^ Canary Citizens p.252
  15. ^ Canary Citizens p.266
  16. ^ 1987 Club Directory p.59
  17. ^ Canary Citizens p.231
  18. ^ Canary Citizens p.251
  19. ^ Canarty Citizens p.244
  20. ^ Canary Citizens p.317
  21. ^ "League Division Two end of season table for 1985-86 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 July 2025.

Bibliography

  • Canary Citizens Centenary Edition: Authors Mike Davage, John Eastwood and Kevan Platt ISBN 0711720207
  • The Football League Club Directory 1987: Editor Tony Williams ISBN 1-869833-01-5
  • Norwich City: The Modern Era: Author Rob Hadgraft ISBN 978-1-905328-82-6
  • News of the World Football Annual 1986-87: Editors Bill Bateson and Albert Sewell ISBN 0 85543 076 1
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