As the general and expected mood is low during this off-season following the relegation of Norwich City from the Premier League after one season, it would be impossible to forget what happened a year ago today and the atmosphere the national stadium witnessed in the 2015 Championship Play Off Final.
Seeing Bournemouth and Watford grab automatic promotion to the top-flight, City were left to take the longer route to return back to the top-flight following their relegation the prior season.
In their final fixture against Fulham, it was confirmed that City would have to see off their closest rivals Ipswich before being new boss Alex Neil could experience promotion in his first season since moving to Norfolk.
A 41st minute Jonny Howson strike from inside the box was soon cancelled out by Paul Anderson’s tap in just minutes later, meaning the Canaries would have to settle for a draw at Portman Road, with a Wembley visit for either team awaiting them at Carrow Road.
A Christophe Berra sending off from a handball to Nathan Redmond’s shot on the line saw Wes Hoolahan step up to penalty spot and push City ever-so closer to a date at the National Stadium. An equaliser from the Tractor Boys through Tommy Smith saw the set back, only for Nathan Redmond and Cameron Jerome to ensure it would be the Norfolk side who would be booking their day at Wembley, whilst potentially foreshadowing the game in two weeks time.
With almost 39,000 tickets given to Canaries to experience their first Wembley visit for 30 years, unsurprisingly disappointment was shared among those waiting for the tickets to go on general sale, with home/away season ticket holders, priority club members and shareholder members snatching up the tickets moments after going on sale.
Either way, the National Stadium would be full to the brink and that certainly was the case as the 3pm kick-off time was nearing.
The division was clear between the Yellows and the Reds on Wembley Way, more-so once fans had walked through the gates and taken their perch. Almost 39,000 Green and Yellows shirts, 38,000 Red and White shirts, and an atmosphere worth remembering, with the Canaries after revenge following the early celebrations in Boro’s 1-0 victory at Carrow Road a month earlier.
#NCFC team vs @Boro: Ruddy; Whittaker, Martin (c), Bassong, Olsson; Redmond, Howson, Tettey, Johnson; Hoolahan; Jerome. #OurFinalStep — Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC)
Referee Mike Dean was the man to who’d commence the fight after Boro’s delayed arrival to the National Stadium, as Alex Neil and his opposite number Aitor Karanka took our their place in the dugouts.
It was Bradley Johnson who seemed the closest with hitting the bar, whilst Jelle Vossen replicated his opponent’s attempt for Boro in similar fashion. However, it was just minutes later that former Daniel Ayala slipped up under pressure from Cameron Jerome, seeing the City’s top-scorer slot it past goalie Dimitrios Konstantopoulos putting the Canaries ahead 12 minutes in and leaving Boro fans silent.
GOOOOAAAAALLL FOR CITY! JEROME! — Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC)
As Norwich fans set the East End alight for the first time in the 2015 PlayOff finals with both Wycombe Wanderers and Swindon Town failing to find luck days before. However, it was the next goal which followed, which would later stick in the memory for its quality.
3 minutes later, a Adam Clayton pass intercepted by Martin Olsson, 17 passes and possibly the team goal of the season. The most vital pass from Steven Whittaker would meet Nathan Redmond on the bounce and soon the Canaries were 2-0 ahead within 15 minutes.
GOOOOOOAAALLL FOR CITY! REDMOND! — Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC)
The Canaries’ Twitter account said everything:
15 – OH MY WORD! Brilliant football by City and they double their lead as Redmond takes Whittaker’s pass and rifles home! #MFC 0-2 #NCFC — Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC)
Whilst no more goals followed for the Canaries and Boro pushed but failed to fight back, City continued to ensure their promotion back to the top-flight wouldn’t be down to pure luck, but because of their quality and worthiness after the second half of the season, which followed Alex Neil’s appointment in January.
As the end was nearing, chants were ringing out around Wembley and it was clear who’d be lifting the Play Off trophy and securing their return to the Premier League.
By 4:55pm, Mike Dean blew the whistle again – not to indicate kick-off, not to indicate a goal, not to indicate a foul but to indicate something much sweeter for the fans wearing Yellow.
THAT’S IT! WE’VE DONE IT! WE’RE GOING BACK TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE! #OurFinalStep pic.twitter.com/RjghbqG9xs — Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC)
Moments later, celebrations galore. The walk up the famous steps was nothing compared to the reward at the top, even if binoculars were required to see the players lift the trophy in the air. Alex Neil was carried on Bradley Johnson’s shoulders. And there was a division right in the middle of the National Stadium once again.
What a difference 90 minutes makes at Wembley, as seen from the below images capturing before and after pictures of both sets of fans pre-match to Norwich’s celebrations on the pitch concluding their amazing day.
What would follow the win at Wembley was certainly not what fans had hoped to witness and a year on, maybe the mood is a little more doom and gloom. But positivity should and will always surround the May 25, 2015.
City return back to the Championship but from recent years, when has that term ever not lifted excitement and thrill?
On May 25, the Wembley arch was green and yellow, and the sea of yellow on Wembley Way will always be a memory because as the Telegraph’s Jonathan Liew highlighted as Norwich’s relegation was confirmed against Watford:
Twitter: Respect to the work of @jonathanliew. Great stuff. #ncfc https://t.co/NYP5uXbie6 (@BobRutler)
