| Position:
Central defender
Age: 34
Born: Calder, Halifax (Oct 6, 1971)
Height: 6ft, 0in.
Weight: 12st, 0lbs.
Date signed: June 30, 1997
Signed from: Oldham, £600,000
City debut: v Wolves H (Aug 9, 1997)
Contract: June 2007
Former clubs: Halifax, Oldham
Season 2005/06 Appearances (max 50): 40 Goals:
1
Norwich City appearances: 370 (12th on all-time
list) Goals: 12
Career:
Halifax (90-91): 66 appearances, plus 3 as sub, 0 goals.
Oldham (91-97): 185 appearances, plus 7 as sub, 1 goal.
Total: 251 appearances, plus 10 as sub, 1
goal.
This season is Fleming's testimonial year with a match arranged
for the occasion against Newcastle United at Carrow Road on
July 26. Canary fans will be keen to show their support to
one of the most loyal and consistent Norwich players of recent
years. Fleming was not an ever present for City last season
as he lost his place at central defence on a number of occasions
throughout the season. He was often required to fill in at
right back and did a solid job; however he does prefer the
central role and will be looking to regain his first team
place this season.
OFF DUTY (2004):
Marital status: Married, to Nicola.
Children: Katie (9), William (7).
Home: Thorpe End.
Current car: Saab estate.
First car: Vauxhall Astra.
How do you relax away from football: First
and foremost by spending time with my wife and the kids –
but I also enjoy the occasional game of golf. I didn’t
play much during pre-season – I never get on the course
then. I also had an injury which didn’t help. But I
can play to a reasonable standard – something between
nine and 12 handicap – and I had the privilege of playing
against Justin Rose earlier in the summer. I enjoyed giving
him one or two tips!
Favourite other sport to watch: I’ll
watch anything on the telly as the wife will tell you. I’d
say cricket and golf are my two favourites.
Favourite television programme: The Office.
Favourite holiday destination: That’s
a tricky one. If pushed I’d say Naples, in the United
States, and Rome.
Favourite restaurant/eating place: Tommy
T’s (with the kids) and Morston Hall.
Favourite read: A Lot Of Hard Yakka by Simon
Hughes (the former cricketer and current Channel Four pundit).
Favourite film: Gladiator.
Recommended listening: I’ve got fairly
broad tastes – how about Elvis and Lennie Kravitz?
Best thing about living in Norfolk: The quality
of life.
Worst thing about living in Norfolk: I’m
a long way from home (Yorkshire).
Whose is the first result you look out for:
There’s two, Halifax and Oldham, my previous clubs.
What would you have done for a living if you hadn’t
made the grade: I would have loved to have been a
professional golfer.
What will you do when your playing career is over:
I haven’t given it too much thought up to now. I love
the game and I’d like to stay in it, maybe in a coaching
capacity. But I’d like to think I have got plenty of
years left in me as player yet!
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
First footballing memory:
Kicking a ball around with my brother Paul at a local park.
He also went on to be a professional.
First match attended: It would have been
a Halifax Town match at the Shay when I was about five or
six – but I can’t remember any more than that.
First footballing hero: That’s easy,
Bryan Robson. He was just awesome, the complete midfield player
I would say. I was fortunate enough to play against him a
couple of times when I was with Oldham which was a big thrill.
First team (amateur): Friendly Youth, Halifax.
First team (professional): My home club,
Halifax Town.
First team debut: It was during the 1988-89
season against Scunthorpe when I was just 16. I think they
just ran out of numbers and threw me in on the bench. My full
debut came the following season against Torquay. My brother
was also in the side – but the games must have passed
me by because I don’t remember the scores.
First manager: That would be Billy Ayre who
sadly died not too long ago. He was a lovely man and did an
excellent job for a number of other clubs as well as Halifax.
First captain: Paul Futcher, a vastly experienced
defender who helped me a lot when I was a youngster starting
off in the game.
First goal: I once scored for Halifax in
a penalty shoot-out but I suppose that doesn’t count.
I only ever scored once before I came here and that was for
Oldham against Everton not long after I joined them in 1991.
I seem to remember I got the better of Matt Jackson to nod
one in.
First game for City: The 2-0 home defeat
against Wolves on the opening day of the 1997-8 season. Iwan
Roberts and Victor Segura also made their debuts in that game.
First goal: I got off the mark for Norwich
in a 5-0 defeat of Huddersfield towards the end of my first
season at Carrow Road.
First honour: I waited a long time for it
– the 2003-4 First Division Championship!
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