1985–86 Norwich City F.C. season

Norwich City 1985–86 Sir Arthur South (until 25 November)Robert Chase (from November) Ken Brown Carrow Road Second Division 1st FA Cup Third round League Cup Fourth round League Super Cup Semi-final Player of the Year Kevin Drinkell Kevin Drinkell (22) Kevin Drinkell (24) 20,129 v Portsmouth 11,732 v Shrewsbury Town 14,528 Norwich City 6–1 Millwall (21 December 1985) Millwall 4–2 Norwich City (24 August 1985) _ ffef00 ffef00 ffef00 007020 ffef00 _ ffffff ffffff ffffff ffffff 007020 1984–85 1986–87 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.https://www.fchd.info/NORWICHC.HTM Norwich City Football Club History Database 10 September 2023 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.https://www.11v11.com/teams/norwich-city/tab/matches/season/1986/ Norwich City match record: 1986 11v11 6 July 2025 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.Canary Citizens p.175 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 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)https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te1388/norwich-city/squad/ Norwich CITY squad 1985/86 worldfootball.net 13 July 2025 y y ENG GK Chris Woods y ENG GK Graham Benstead y ENG GK Harvey Lim y ENG DF Ian Culverhouse y NED DF Dennis van Wijk y ENG DF Steve Bruce y ENG DF Dave Watson captain y ENG DF Paul Haylock y ENG DF Tony Spearing y ENG DF Kenny Brown y ENG DF Phil Chapple y ENG MF Mike Phelan y y ENG MF Peter Mendham y WAL MF David Williams vice-captain y ENG MF Mark Barham y ENG MF Garry Brooke y ENG MF Dale Gordon y ENG MF Jeremy Goss y ENG MF Ruel Fox y ENG FW Kevin Drinkell y ENG FW Wayne Biggins y ENG FW John Deehan y ENG FW Robert Rosario y ENG FW Paul Clayton Transfers In DatePosNameFromFeeReference24 May 1985MFGarry BrookeTottenham HotspurUnknownCanary Citizens p.22430 May 1985MFMike PhelanBurnleyUnknownCanary Citizens p.30930 May 1985MFDavid WilliamsBristol RoversUnknownCanary Citizens p.34714 June 1985FWKevin DrinkellGrimsby TownUnknownCanary Citizens p.2467 October 1985DFIan CulverhouseTottenham HotspurUnknownCanary Citizens p.33914 October 1985FWWayne BigginsBurnleyUnknownCanary Citizens p.218 Out DatePosNameToFeeReference16 July 1985DFGreg DownsCoventry City£40,0001987 Club Directory p.16116 July 1985FWGary RowellMiddlesbrough£25,000Canary Citizens p.3901987 Club Directory p.31119 July 1985FWMark FarringtonCardiff CityUnknownCanary Citizens p.25225 July 1985MFAsa HartfordBolton WanderersFreeCanary Citizens p.2661987 Club Directory p.5913 August 1985MFMike ChannonPortsmouthUnknownCanary Citizens p.23115 August 1985FWDavid FaircloughOldham AthleticUnknownCanary Citizens p.25125 November 1985MFJohn DevineStoke CityUnknownCanarty Citizens p.24410 February 1986MFLouie DonowaReal Deportivo de La CoruñaUnknown20 March 1986FWJon RigbyAldershotUnknownCanary Citizens p.317 Loans out DatePosNameToUntilReference13 December 1985FWRobert RosarioWolverhampton WanderersEnd of season23 December 1985MFLouie DonowaStoke City31 January 1985 Final table 1985–86 Football League Second Division y NOR https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/8-may-1986/ League Division Two end of season table for 1985-86 season 11v11.com AFS Enterprises 27 July 2025 Results Division Two 1985 8 17 y 1 1–0 Norwich City Oldham Athletic Mendham 26 Carrow Road Norwich 12,508 J. Bray W 1985 8 20 y 2 2–1 Blackburn Rovers Norwich City Fazackerley 63 pen.Garner 87 Bruce 30 Ewood Park Blackburn 6,567 M. Scott L 1985 8 24 y 3 4–2 Millwall Norwich City Kinsella 5Lovell 47 pen.Wilson 68Hinshelwood 76 Brooke 22Deehan 90 pen. The Den London 7,100 A. Robinson L 1985 8 26 y 4 1–1 Norwich City Barnsley Bruce 90 Owen 55 Carrow Road Norwich 13,510 E. Scales D 1985 8 31 y 5 2–0 Portsmouth Norwich City Morgan 24 82 Fratton Park Portsmouth 15,504 D. Reeves L 1985 9 7 y 6 4–0 Norwich City Sheffield United Bruce 41Drinkell 61 78Haylock 89 Carrow Road Norwich 12,899 R. Lewis W 1985 9 14 y 7 1–1 Middlesbrough Norwich City Drinkell 60 Rowell 1 pen. Ayresome Park Middlesbrough 5,475 J. McAuley D 1985 9 18 y 8 4–3 Norwich City Crystal Palace Watson 24Drinkell 44Phelan 55Barham 78 Gray 21 26 pen.Droy 90 Carrow Road Norwich 13,475 J. Ball W 1985 9 21 y 9 0–0 Huddersfield Town Norwich City Leeds Road Huddersfield 7,225 J. Worrall D 1985 9 28 y 10 2–0 Norwich City Hull City Rosario 9Mendham 61 Skipper 0 78 Carrow Road Norwich 12,639 M. Cotton W 1985 10 5 y 11 1–2 Norwich City Wimbledon Drinkell 5 Martin 16 pen.Cork 19 Carrow Road Norwich 12,707 H. Taylor L 1985 10 12 y 12 0–4 Carlisle United Norwich City Rosario 20Phelan 54Drinkell 88Brooke 90 Brunton Park Carlisle 2,907 G. Courtney W 1985 10 19 y 13 3–1 Norwich City Shrewsbury Town Mendham 28Drinkell 35Barham 83 van Wijk 27 o.g.Pearson 0 78 Carrow Road Norwich 11,732 N. Butler W 1985 10 26 y 14 0–2 Sunderland Norwich City Williams 61Mendham 87 Roker Park Sunderland 17,908 R. Banks W 1985 11 2 y 15 1–1 Brighton and Hove Albion Norwich City Saunders 54 Biggins 63 Goldstone Ground Hove 10,423 D. Axcell D 1985 11 9 y 16 0–0 Norwich City Bradford City Carrow Road Norwich 13,939 K. Miller D 1985 11 16 y 17 1–1 Stoke City Norwich City Bertschin 53 pen. Drinkell 70 Victoria Ground Stoke-on-Trent 6,469 D. Ashby D 1985 11 23 y 18 3–2 Norwich City Grimsby Town Watson 43Biggins 51Lyons 54 o.g. Culverhouse 69 o.g.Emson 84 Carrow Road Norwich 12,108 C. Downey W 1985 11 30 y 19 0–2 Leeds United Norwich City Drinkell 38Bruce 57 Elland Road Leeds 11,480 C. Thrushell W 1985 12 7 y 20 3–0 Norwich City Blackburn Rovers Bruce 22Van Wijk 29Barham 54 Carrow Road Norwich 12,820 M. Dimblebee W 1985 12 14 y 21 1–3 Oldham Athletic Norwich City Phelan 75 o.g. Drinkell 51Barlow 69 o.g.Barham 84 Boundary Park Oldham 3,949 R. Nixon W 1985 12 21 y 22 6–1 Norwich City Millwall Mendham 4Williams 9 33Barham 20Drinkell 58Phelan 77 Sheringham 83 Carrow Road Norwich 12,349 V. Callow W 1985 12 26 y 23 3–1 Norwich City Charlton Athletic Drinkell 67 84Deehan 88 Flanagan 64 Carrow Road Norwich 17,984 J. Ball W 1986 1 1 y 24 0–1 Fulham Norwich City Drinkell 90 Craven Cottage London 7,463 M. James W 1986 1 11 y 25 2–0 Norwich City Middlesbrough Williams 44 pen.Bruce 84 Carrow Road Norwich 13,730 I. Hemley W 1986 1 18 y 26 2–0 Norwich City Portsmouth Barham 77Drinkell 86 Carrow Road Norwich 20,129 N. Butler W 1986 1 25 y 27 1–2 Crystal Palace Norwich City Barber 46 Mendham 13Biggins 38 Selhurst Park London 8,369 R. Milford W 1986 2 1 y 28 2–2 Barnsley Norwich City Hirst 26Thomas 86 Deehan 39Mendham 43 Oakwell Barnsley 5,608 I. Hendrick D 1986 2 8 y 29 0–3 Shrewsbury Town Norwich City Drinkell 3 64Barham 20 Gay Meadow Shrewsbury 5,157 J. Worrall W 1986 3 8 y 30 2–1 Wimbledon Norwich City Evans 61Cork 64 Barham 22 Plough Lane London 5,827 G. Ashby L 1986 3 12 y 31 4–1 Norwich City Huddersfield Town Drinkell 4Biggins 60 85Bruce 72 Curran 38 Carrow Road Norwich 12,772 D. Hedges W 1986 3 15 y 32 2–1 Norwich City Carlisle United Williams 32 pen. 55 McGarvey 66 Carrow Road Norwich 13,852 H. Taylor W 1986 3 22 y 33 2–5 Sheffield United Norwich City Edwards 34 80 Smith 6 o.g.Drinkell 41Mendham 65Barham 89Biggins 90 Bramall Lane Sheffield 11,894 K. Redfern W 1986 3 29 y 34 2–1 Norwich City Fulham Barham 22Deehan 40 Coney 30 Carrow Road Norwich 17,320 T. Holbrook W 1986 3 31 y 35 1–0 Charlton Athletic Norwich City Pearson 49 Selhurst Park London 8,458 D. Axcell L 1986 4 5 y 36 3–0 Norwich City Brighton and Hove Albion Connor 50 o.g.Drinkell 71Williams 81 pen. Carrow Road Norwich 15,155 K. Baker W 1986 4 9 y 37 0–0 Norwich City Sunderland Carrow Road Norwich 17,752 B. Hill D 1986 4 12 y 38 0–2 Bradford City Norwich City Drinkell 1Biggins 46 Odsal Stadium Bradford 7,190 T. Fitzharris W 1986 4 19 y 39 1–1 Norwich City Stoke City Gordon 75 Bertschin 65 Carrow Road Norwich 17,757 M. Scott D 1986 4 26 y 40 1–0 Grimsby Town Norwich City Hobson 54 Blundell Park Cleethorpes 8,090 N. Midgley L 1986 4 29 y 41 1–0 Hull City Norwich City Williams 80 Boothferry Park Hull 6,146 D. Allison L 1986 5 3 y 42 4–0 Norwich City Leeds United Ormsby 33 o.g.Drinkell 59Bruce 66Williams 79 Carrow Road Norwich 17,942 K. Millar W Source:Norwich City: The Modern Era p.202-205 FA Cup 1986 1 4 y Third Round 5–0 Liverpool Norwich City MacDonald 23Walsh 37McMahon 73Whelan 78Wark 81 Anfield Liverpool 29,082 D. Hutchinson L Source:Norwich City: The Modern Era p.206 Milk Cup 1985 9 30 y Second Round, First Leg 1–1 Preston North End Norwich City Brazil 20 pen. Bruce 45 Deepdale Preston 4,330 G. Tyson D 1985 10 9 y Second Round, Second Leg 2–1 Norwich City Preston North End Brooke 64Rosario 87 Brazil 5 Carrow Road Norwich 11,537 G. Napthine W 1985 10 29 y Third Round 0–2 Luton Town Norwich City Mendham 28Bruce 34 Kenilworth Road Luton 8,202 B. Hill W 1985 11 20 y Fourth Round 3–1 Oxford United Norwich City Aldridge 20Thomas 51Phillips 63 Drinkell 15 Manor Ground Oxford 7,851 A. Robinson L Source: Screen Sport Super Cup 1985 10 2 y Group 1 1–0 Everton Norwich City Lineker 70 Goodison Park Liverpool 10,329 J. Hough L 1985 10 23 y Group 1 1–0 Norwich City Everton Mendham 61 Carrow Road Norwich 12,196 T. Ward W 1985 11 6 y Group 1 1–1 Manchester United Norwich City Whiteside 54 pen. Biggins 6 Old Trafford Manchester 20,130 T. Mills D 1985 12 11 y Group 1 1–1 Norwich City Manchester United Williams 9 C. Gibson 71 Carrow Road Norwich 15,449 D. Vickers D 1986 2 5 y Semi-Final, First Leg 1–1 Norwich City Liverpool Drinkell 49 Dalglish 79 Carrow Road Norwich 15,313 J. Moules D 1986 5 6 y Semi-Final, Second Leg 3–1 Liverpool Norwich City MacDonald 56Molby 72 pen.Johnston 78 Brooke 2 Anfield Liverpool 26,696 A. Seville L Source:1987 Club Directory p.338–339 Appearances Pos Position Player League FA Cup Milk Cup Screen Sport Super Cup Total Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Sub Goals Starts Subs Goals Goalkeepers GK Chris Woods 42 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 0 6 0 0 53 0 0 Defenders RB Ian Culverhouse 30 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 0 39 0 0 LB Dennis van Wijk 27 2 1 1 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 35 2 1 CB Steve Bruce 42 0 8 1 0 0 4 0 2 6 0 0 53 0 10 CB Dave Watson 42 0 3 1 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 0 51 0 3 RB Paul Haylock 12 0 1 – – – 1 0 0 1 1 0 14 1 1 LB Tony Spearing 7 1 0 – – – 1 0 0 1 0 0 9 1 0 Midfielders CM Mike Phelan 42 0 3 1 0 0 4 0 0 6 0 0 53 0 3 AM Peter Mendham 35 0 8 1 0 0 4 0 1 5 0 1 45 0 10 RW Mark Barham 35 0 9 1 0 0 4 0 0 5 0 0 45 0 9 LW David Williams 37 2 8 1 0 0 3 0 0 6 0 1 47 2 9 AM Garry Brooke 8 5 2 – – – 1 1 1 1 2 1 10 8 4 AM Dale Gordon 3 3 1 – – – – – – 0 1 0 3 4 1 AM Louie Donowa 0 2 0 – – – – – – – – – 0 2 0 Forwards ST Kevin Drinkell 41 0 22 1 0 0 4 0 1 6 0 1 43 0 24 ST Wayne Biggins 28 0 7 1 0 0 – – – 4 0 1 33 0 8 ST John Deehan 22 4 4 0 1 0 – – – 2 0 0 24 5 4 ST Robert Rosario 8 0 2 – – – 4 0 1 1 0 0 13 0 3 ST Paul Clayton 1 0 0 – – – – – – 1 0 0 2 0 0 Source:Canary Citizens p.429 Goalscorers Rank Position Player Division Two FA Cup Milk Cup Screen Sport Super Cup Total 1 ST Kevin Drinkell 22 0 1 1 24 2 CB Steve Bruce 8 0 2 0 10CM Peter Mendham 8 0 1 1 10 3 RW Mark Barham 9 0 0 0 9 LW David Williams 8 0 0 1 9 4 ST Wayne Biggins 7 0 0 1 8 5 ST/LB John Deehan 4 0 0 0 4 LW Garry Brooke 2 0 1 1 4 6 CM Mike Phelan 3 0 0 0 3 CB Dave Watson 3 0 0 0 3 ST Robert Rosario 2 0 1 0 3 7 RW Dale Gordon 1 0 0 0 1 LB Dennis van Wijk 1 0 0 0 1 RB Paul Haylock 1 0 0 0 1 Own goals 5 0 0 0 5 Source: References Bibliography Canary Citizens Centenary Edition: Authors Mike Davage, John Eastwood and Kevan Platt 0711720207 The Football League Club Directory 1987: Editor Tony Williams 1-869833-01-5 Norwich City: The Modern Era: Author Rob Hadgraft 978-1-905328-82-6 News of the World Football Annual 1986-87: Editors Bill Bateson and Albert Sewell 0 85543 076 1 Category:Norwich City F.C. seasons Norwich City