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Warne opens up on his love for Norwich City ahead of Championship clash
Paul Warne will miss Saturday's game with Norwich City. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Rotherham United boss Paul Warne has admitted that games against Norwich City do hold a deeper meaning for him and evoke memories of his childhood.
The Millers boss is a boyhood Canaries supporter and grew up in Norfolk - playing for local sides Wroxham and Diss Town before going onto to play over 200 games for the Yorkshire side.
Warne won’t be on the touchline today as he self-isolates after a family member tested positive for coronavirus - but he knows his players will ‘give him everything’ against City.
Speaking about his love for City, Warne told the media in his pre-match press conference: “I think everyone who is a proper football fan respects the fact that you all get given a club by your dad or mum. That’s tattooed on your heart for the rest of your life.
“Both sets of my grandparents are Norwich fans, most of my family and friends back home are. The Norwich games mean a lot to me and it’s sad I can’t be there on Saturday.
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“I’m not saying it’s just another game because for me it isn’t but if there was a game that I could miss and my players knew I weren’t there but would give everything for me, it’s this one.
“I preach to them all the time about my family and my background so they are well aware of that. I’ve had a few of them text me this week saying they were going to give everything for me on Saturday - which is genuinely really nice.
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“Those games do mean more to me because I’m looking at the badge that I drew as a kid and won a certificate at primary school for drawing a good canary and castle. It does mean more, I’d be lying if it didn’t but I’ll remind my players that we aren’t the hunted anymore - we’re the hunters so we’ve got to get after the game.”
Warne has been open about his love for the Canaries previously - and was visibly emotional when discussing the fixture earlier this week.
Warne is a boyhood Canaries fan. Picture: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
“In fairness, the Nottingham Forest one on Tuesday night is great because I used live 500m from the ground when I was at the university for three years but Norwich is a big thing for me.
“It makes me think of my dad so it does have more of an affect. It makes me of when I was 8-years-old running home getting my first Norwich kit.”
