Dave Stringer
Encyclopedia
Dave Stringer is a former player and manager of Norwich City
football club.
As a player, he won the fans' vote to be Norwich City player of the year
in 1972 and made a total of 499 appearances for the club. He ended his playing career with Cambridge United
before returning to Norwich city to coach the youth team, winning the FA youth cup in 1984. He went on to manage the reserve team and was appointed first team manager on 9 November 1987 following the sacking of Ken Brown.
In his first season as Norwich manager, 1987-88
, he guided the club to 14th place in the Football League First Division
. The following season was arguably the best in the club's history, as they featured in the league title race and topped the league at several stages before finishing fourth, and also reached the semi finals of the FA Cup
. They were one of several teams (the others including Liverpool
and Nottingham Forest
) who were in contention for the double
that season, and perhaps the most unlikely. They finished 10th in 1990 but dipped to 15th in 1991, and their 18th place finish in 1992 was the closest they had yet come to relegation since being promoted in 1986. They reached the FA Cup
semi finals again in 1992 and this time were faced with a seemingly far easier challenge than they had been faced with three years earlier (when they had clashed with Everton
), as they were now paired with Sunderland
who were a division below them. However, they were once again deprived of playing in their first ever FA Cup final as the Wearside
club defeated them.
Stringer resigned as manager on 1 May 1992 and was succeeded by Mike Walker
.
During his time as manager at Carrow Road
he signed key players including Robert Fleck, Andy Linighan
, David Phillips
and Tim Sherwood
as well as bringing through young players including Ruel Fox
and Chris Sutton
.
As a child, he grew up in Southtown Great Yarmouth; The Sun
later reported that he was the man who "played against cows" because he practised his dribbling skills with bovine assistance.
In 2002, Stringer was named an inaugural member of the Norwich City Hall of Fame.
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
football club.
As a player, he won the fans' vote to be Norwich City player of the year
Norwich City player of the year
The Norwich City player of the year award is voted for annually by Norwich City's supporters, in recognition of the best overall performance by an individual player throughout the football season...
in 1972 and made a total of 499 appearances for the club. He ended his playing career with Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
before returning to Norwich city to coach the youth team, winning the FA youth cup in 1984. He went on to manage the reserve team and was appointed first team manager on 9 November 1987 following the sacking of Ken Brown.
In his first season as Norwich manager, 1987-88
1987-88 in English football
The 1987–88 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable nine-point margin and just two defeats all season....
, he guided the club to 14th place in the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. The following season was arguably the best in the club's history, as they featured in the league title race and topped the league at several stages before finishing fourth, and also reached the semi finals of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. They were one of several teams (the others including Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
) who were in contention for the double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
that season, and perhaps the most unlikely. They finished 10th in 1990 but dipped to 15th in 1991, and their 18th place finish in 1992 was the closest they had yet come to relegation since being promoted in 1986. They reached the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi finals again in 1992 and this time were faced with a seemingly far easier challenge than they had been faced with three years earlier (when they had clashed with Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
), as they were now paired with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
who were a division below them. However, they were once again deprived of playing in their first ever FA Cup final as the Wearside
Wearside
Wearside is an area of north east England, centred on the continuous urban area formed by Sunderland, Seaham and other settlements by the River Wear. Mackems is a nickname used for the people of Wearside....
club defeated them.
Stringer resigned as manager on 1 May 1992 and was succeeded by Mike Walker
Mike Walker
Mike Walker is the name of:*Mike Walker , gossip columnist for the National Enquirer*Mike Walker , jazz guitar player from Salford in England*Mike Walker , American football player...
.
During his time as manager at Carrow Road
Carrow Road
Carrow Road is a football stadium in Norwich, England, and is the home of Norwich City Football Club. The stadium is located toward the easterly end of the city, not far from Norwich railway station and the River Wensum....
he signed key players including Robert Fleck, Andy Linighan
Andy Linighan
Andrew "Andy" Linighan is a former English football player.Linighan was born in Hartlepool into a footballing family – his brothers David and Brian were also professional footballers. He first played for his local side, Hartlepool United, before spells at Leeds United , Oldham Athletic and...
, David Phillips
David Phillips
David Phillips may refer to:*David Phillips , Canadian actor*David Phillips , former Canadian international...
and Tim Sherwood
Tim Sherwood
Timothy "Tim" Sherwood is an English former professional footballer who was captain of Blackburn Rovers' Premiership title-winning side...
as well as bringing through young players including Ruel Fox
Ruel Fox
Ruel Adrian Fox is an English former professional football player of Montserratian and Antiguan descent who played for Norwich City, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Bromwich Albion from 1986 to 2002...
and Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton
Christopher Roy "Chris" Sutton is an English football manager and former player.In his career, Sutton played for Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Celtic, Birmingham City and Aston Villa. Sutton scored over 150 career goals in over 400 league appearances spanning 16 years in the English...
.
As a child, he grew up in Southtown Great Yarmouth; The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
later reported that he was the man who "played against cows" because he practised his dribbling skills with bovine assistance.
In 2002, Stringer was named an inaugural member of the Norwich City Hall of Fame.