How City’s biggest rivals missed out on a Canaries legend

Adam Drury and the traditional new signing picture with then manager Nigel WorthingtonPicture: Archant

Drury became one of the Canaries most dependable players for more than a decade and was involved in three promotions, making 361 appearances. He captained City, was named player of the season in 2003 and is a member of the club’s Hall of Fame.

But it could all have been very different had Ipswich pursued their interest back in 1999. Instead, they opted to sign Blackburn’s Gary Croft – and the rest, as they say, is history.

Barry Fry was the Peterborough manager who sold Drury to Norwich, having given him the label of best left back outside of the Premier League - for which he charged a fee of £500,000.

“There had been a few teams that had shown an interest and Baz was great with me,” said Drury, 41, who is now assistant manager at local non-league club Wroxham.

“He had always told me - I don’t know if the moves weren’t right for him or me.

“Gillingham had been having a look, Ipswich had a look, I think there were one or two others, but nothing was ever concrete where he felt it was a good move for me or the club.

“It (Ipswich’s) interest was proper interest and they ended up signing a lad called Gary Croft around that time.

“I don’t now whether they couldn’t agree a fee or they weren’t really sure.”

Fry confirmed to Drury that the move to Carrow Road was going on an aborted Posh away trip.

“I think we had a game on a Tuesday night and we were on the way and it got called off,” Drury said, in an interview with Peterborough United’s official web site.

“He called me to the front of the bus and said ‘Norwich have come in and we’ve agreed a fee’. He said to have a bit of time to think about it and let me know and I spoke to my family and friends. And obviously, having been released from Norwich at the age of 15 I thought it was time to go back.

“And I knew they didn’t have a left back at the time so I knew I was going in to play, which was a big thing.

“I wasn’t going anywhere to not play – and that is not because I think I deserved to play, but obviously I didn’t want to go somewhere and not have a chance, just to be back-up, so I went there and it worked out perfectly.”