Childhood's End

As I read the news on Twitter, by serendipitous coincidence, "Funeral for a Friend" stated playing on the Sonos. We've known for a long while that this was coming, and in many ways it must be a merciful release - but nevertheless it's devastated me.

John Peel used to tell a story about meeting Lonnie Donegan. Peel was too star struck to speak. It was like that with me & Duncan. The first two times I met him - I couldn't speak. Then, when we had the season tickets in the South Stand, there were a couple of hospitality seats in front of us. For one of those awful Liverpool/Suarez matches Duncan and his wife sat in front of us."You'd have had him in your pocket." I said.
"Not sure about that." he said. I think that must have been his last visit to Carrow Road. And he was wrong. He would have done.

My first visit to Carrow Road was in 1969. Duncan had just become Captain, and he became my hero. 50 years later he still is. Don't get me wrong, I've idolised many players - Kevin Keelan, Dave Stringer etc., but for me Duncan stood alone. I don't have the words to do him justice. He wasn't 6 foot 2 - but he appeared to be, so indominatable was he in the air. He was fast. And he was hard - but fair. There was no malice in his play. And what a leader! Vociferous, leading by example. One half of the greatest centre back pairing in our history.

He seemed to have sprung fully-formed from the waters of the Wensum - but that wasn't true at all. He'd played hundreds of times for Colchester before he joined City. But he took flight with us. Captain for our first two promotions to the top flight. Led us out for our first two appearances at Wembley. And whatever the record books say, he scored on his final appearance - I was right in front of the flight of the ball, so I know Justin didn't touch it.

Like so many of the real greats he never left Norfolk, and he never really left Norwich City. He was Chief Scout, and before that in charge of Club Canary. And through it all, the force of his personality and his love for Norwich City shone through. I remember seeing him at Watford station after a match, not only organising his own charges - but sorting out a bunch of old ladies who had nothing to do with Norwich. Everyone always knew who was in charge.

And now he's gone, and I think my childhood is finally over. Over the coming days there will be many tributes - but don't believe the line that he was one of the greats. He wasn't one of the greats. He was THE GREATEST.

(And he told terrible jokes).

Thank you, Duncan.

Posted By: Winged Eel Creosote on October 24th 2019 at 13:40:15

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