Norwich City top 100 appearances: Ruel Fox (56)

Ruel Fox in full flight for Norwich City against Manchester United. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant)

He may have been born and raised in Ipswich but City fans were happy to let that slide when Fox was shining at the top level for the Canaries.

The flying winger progressed through’s City’s youth teams and made his league debut as an 18-year-old in a 2-1 home win over Oxford in the First Division in November 1986.

Played regularly in 1987-88, scoring twice in 40 games, but made limited appearances the following two seasons due to the form of Dale Gordon before truly establishing himself after his fellow wide man was sold to Rangers. Was a key part of the team of 1992-93 which finished third in the Premiership – the Canaries’ highest ever league finish – as his pace and trickery saw his talents come to the attention of other teams.

Played in every game of the 1993-94 Uefa Cup run and had nine goals to his name by the time he was sold to Newcastle in January 1994, after that European adventure had come to an end.

Ruel Fox in action against Oldham, marked by a future Canary, Craig Fleming. Picture: Archant Library (Image: Archant)

His sale followed hot on the heels of manager Mike Walker’s exit for Everton and was one of the sales which angered City supporters so much as the era of chairman Robert Chase crumbled under financial pressures.

Described by then Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan as ‘the best player in his position in the country’ at the time of his signing for the Magpies and Fox hit the ground running.

Ten goals in his first season helped Keegan’s entertaining team to finish third and qualify for Europe but the arrival of French winger David Ginola saw Fox sold to Tottenham for around £4m in October 1995.

Made over 100 appearances for Spurs but never really settled at White Hart Lane and joined West Brom for £200,000 in 2000, helping the Baggies to promotion to the top flight in 2002 with former Canaries team-mate Gary Megson in charge, but did not have his contract renewed, at 34 years old, and retired.

Has held a variety of roles with hometown club Whitton United in the Eastern Counties League, currently as director of senior football, while scouting for players in England who could represent the Caribbean island of Montserrat and working as a personal trainer.