Norwich City’s finest moment 22 years on: The day Mike Walker’s underdogs knocked Munich off their perch

Twenty-two years ago yesterday, 19th October 1993, marked the night that, for many, especially neutrals, defines Norwich City history. The night that Mike Walker’s men rocked European football. The night that Mike Walker’s ‘country bumpkins’ defeated Bayern Munich, and in doing so became the first English side to defeat the German giants at their famous Olympic Stadium.

A record which still stands today. Described as “arguably their finest hour” by the BBC and “their finest performance” by the Telegraph, I look back on the game that still, to this day, tends to be the first thing associated with Norwich City, 22 years on.

Having been favourites for relegation prior to the 1992-93 season, Norwich City surprised fans and pundits alike by finishing in 3rd place in the inaugural Premier League season - which remains their highest ever league placing - and in doing so earning European football for the first time in the club’s history.

However, there was much doubt over whether Norwich would be able to sustain this success over a second season and, in particular, at European level. English football was still feeling the effects of the five-year ban from European competitions related to the Heysel disaster and as a result the prospect of English success in the 1992-93 Champions League and UEFA Cup was low.

This was evidenced by Manchester United’s (the reigning Premier League champions) exit in the Champions League second round at the hands of Galatasaray. With England’s biggest and most successful clubs struggling, the idea that Mike Walker’s inexperienced, (City were described by the Independent’s Trevor Haylett as “mere babes at European Level”) and arguably over-achieving side could make significant inroads into the competition was unfathomable.

Anyone underestimating the Canaries, however, was soon to sit up and take notice as City got off to a dream start in their European curtain-raiser versus Vitesse Arnhem. 3 goals in a scintillating 18-minute period in the second half took Norwich to a comfortable 3-0 first-leg victory. Goals from Efan Ekoku, soon to be Munich nemesis Jeremy Goss & John Poulson catapulted Walker’s underdogs into the European limelight. A follow-up goalless draw in Arnhem earned City a place in the second-round and the daunting prospect of facing four time European and twelve time Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich.

No matter where you looked in the build-up to the tie, no-one gave Norwich a chance. To everyone, it was a mis-match of giant proportions; surmised perfectly by Norwich striker Chris Sutton’s father, who recalled that “Alan McInally predicted that Bayern were going to win about ten”. The Times columnist Martin Samuel patronisingly describes how “Norwich’s expedition was regarded as little more than an exotic day out with a football match attached”. To put it simply, little old Norwich were universally regarded as lucky to be there, and as such they were just going to Germany enjoy the occasion; the actual match was an irrelevance, for there was only ever to be one outcome. Or so people thought.

The general air of disrespect to Norwich was mirrored by the actual Bayern players themselves, or so was the belief of City goalkeeper Bryan Gunn. For The Times, Gunn recalled that “there was an air of arrogance about them (Bayern Munich). We used that as a stimulus.” There was no such arrogance come 9.45pm local time on the 19th October 1993.

It took 12 minutes for Walker’s underdogs to make their mark in the game. Rob Newman’s floated cross was headed away weakly by a back-pedalling Matthäus towards the edge of the Bayern Munich penalty area. It was just seconds later that the most iconic image of Norwich City history was taken. The headed ball fell straight into the path of City midfielder Jeremy Goss and the Cypriot duly obliged with one of the sweetest connections of his career, volleying the ball from 20-yards past a stranded Raimond Aumann in the Bayern goal. The goal went on to be voted as the greatest Norwich City goal of all time in a 2008 poll, perfectly demonstrating both its beauty and significance.

If this wasn’t enough of a shock, City’s lead was doubled just 18 minutes later. A hopeful Ian Crook free kick evaded the challenging Chris Sutton and Oliver Kreuzer, leaving Mark Bowen free to steal in behind the pair, the Welshman adjusting perfect to loop a header into the far corner of the goal. The Canaries were in dreamland, and no-one was more shocked than John Motson, who famously commented, “This is almost fantasy football!”.

Despite Christian Nerlinger halving the deficit before half-time, City held on fairly comfortably to secure the victory. Against all the odds Bayern had been toppled and the Norwich squad had written themselves into club folklore. Everyone sat up to take notice. Everyone now knew who Norwich City were. For the first time in the club’s history, plucky Norwich City were the word of the street.

Supporters of rivals Ipswich Town, who boast an illustrious European portfolio themselves, often taunt City fans by suggesting that, as opposed to winning leagues or trophies, this one game is Norwich’s biggest achievement, a game that we can’t let go. But why would we let it go? David had beaten Goliath, and on a global scale too.

Norwich went on to draw the second-leg of the tie 1-1, thanks to another Jeremy Goss goal, earning them a third-round tie against Internazionale, the eventual champions. Inter defeated Norwich 2–0 on aggregate and Walker’s men went on to be relegated from the Premier League the following season, and, to-date, City have not qualified to play in European competition again, never again reaching such lofty heights.

But we don’t talk about that bit.