Leeds and Norwich - Played For Them Both

So away from all the drama of the last two days, Leeds have a massive game at the weekend, one that could define our season, but that is going to be the case for every game between now and the end of the year. Got to try and win them all! Anyways, I am bringing you another installment in this series, where I look for the great, the good and the ghastly who have managed to pull on the famous white of Leeds and the yellow and green of Norwich.

Goalkeeper – Rob Green

Rob Green started his career with the Canaries, coming through their youth academy, and going on to play 223 games for the club. During a career that also saw 12 England caps, Green also took in spells at West Ham United and Queen’s Park Rangers before arriving at Elland Road. His solitary season with Leeds saw him acquire just shy of 50 appearances. He is yet to make a competitive appearance since leaving the club for Huddersfield Town and then Chelsea.

Right Back – Danny Mills

Another who came through the ranks at Norwich, Danny Mills managed 101 appearances for Leeds United during his five year spell at Elland Road. He managed 66 for his hometown club, with a spell at Charlton Athletic sandwiching the two clubs. He also managed 19 caps for England, and has since gone into football punditry.

Centre Back – Leigh Bromby

Fun fact. Leigh Bromby is the only player ever to make 100 appearances for both Sheffields United and Wednesday. An irrelevant fact, but a fun one. Bromby also took in a short spell on loan at Norwich, where he made five appearances, during his spell at Wednesday. He went on to finish his playing career with Leeds, where he made 55 appearances, including one goal scored against Stockport. He later went on to serve Leeds as a youth coach, before being made redundant by Massimo Cellino.

Centre Back – Darren Kenton

Not got a whole lot to say on this one. He managed 4 appearances for Leeds on loan from Leicester City. Another to come through at Norwich, he made 158 appearances for the Canaries. Good on him.

Left Back – Adam Drury

A bit of a Canaries legend, this one. Drury spent 11 years at Carrow Road prior to his joining Simon Grayson’s recently promoted Leeds team. His best years were behind him, and he only managed 13 games across two years for Leeds, eventually going on loan to Bradford before retiring. He is a member of the Canaries’ Hall of Fame though, for whatever that is worth.

Central Midfield – Andrew Hughes

A cult hero at Leeds, Hughesy could have played either full back role in this team, but was primarily a central midfielder, and a bit of a journeyman when it came to the lower leagues. He always gave 110% for the Leeds shirt though, and this is surely how he managed 116 competitive games for the Whites, with one goal to show for it. He also managed 72 appearances during a two year stint at Norwich.

Central Midfield – Jonny Howson

We’ve had a few Norwich academy graduates in this list, so how about we pick up a Leeds one? Howson was a proper Leeds lad, captaining his club on numerous occasions and scoring one of the goals that helped Leeds to secure promotion from League One. The scenes! He managed more than 100 games for both clubs, having left Leeds for Norwich when the opportunity came. He currently plays for Middlesbrough in the Championship, where he is well on his way to 100 appearances too.

Central Midfield – Bradley Johnson

Another who helped Leeds to promotion from League One but eventually left for Norwich, Johnson was a bit of an enigma for much of his time at Elland Road. Utilised as a left back, left midfielder and centre mid, Johnson racked up 119 Leeds appearances before leaving for Norwich on a free. He made 142 appearances for Norwich, many in the Premier League, before joining Derby, where he has also entered the hundred club. Some say that some of his shots are still rising into the atmosphere.

Forward – Darren Huckerby

A disappointing signing after a 6 million pound fee, Huckerby only managed 2 goals in his 40 league games for the club, costing the club approximately 3 million per goal. He’s remembered with more fondness in Norfolk, however, where he managed 190 games, scoring 41 goals. Became a cult hero at the club, and is still an active follower of Norwich.

Forward – Luciano Becchio

At last, someone whose Leeds career went better than their Norwich one! Luciano became a cult hero figure at Elland Road due to his long hair and his habit for scoring goals. He was picked up on a free transfer and scored more than Berbatov! He made 190+ appearances for Leeds, scoring some 75 goals. His departure for Norwich went less successfully, managing a mere 13 games for the Norfolk club, with a return of 0 goals. An unsuccessful loan move to Rotherham beckoned, followed by a return to his native Argentina. Still a fan and follower of the Mighty Whites, however. The less said about the player who replaced him at Elland Road the better…

Forward – Billy Furness

An old one here, and one that even Stoopo may be struggling to remember. Furness played for Leeds United between 1928 and 1937, during which he managed 243 games for the Peacocks, scoring 62 goals for the club. He also picked up his solitary England cap during this time period. Furness later signed for Norwich, where he played 99 competitive games (excluding wartime games), both before and after the Second World War. He became a long serving member of the Norwich staff afterwards, eventually stepping away from the club in 1963. He’s another of this team to serve as a member of the Norwich Hall of Fame.

Manager – Nigel Worthington

Worthington played 43 games for Leeds United in the 90s, and went on to manage Norwich between 2000 and 2006. His most recent managerial stint was at York City.

So that’s the team! Honourable mentions to Jon Newsome, Robert Snodgrass and David Healy, and a dishonourable mention for Steve Morison. Really not that many players that I could find to play for both.