David Norris (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Martin Norris is an English footballer who plays for Football League Championship
club Portsmouth
as a midfielder
, having previously played for Boston United
, Bolton Wanderers
, Hull City
, Plymouth Argyle
and Ipswich Town
.
, which was a non-league club at the time. 'Nosher', as he was known, was a popular goal-scoring midfielder and his performances soon attracted the attentions of league clubs. Bolton Wanderers
paid Boston £50,000 for the 18-year old in February 2000.
as "one for the future", Norris found first team appearances very rare. He was loaned back to Boston within a month of signing to keep himself match fit. He was loaned once again in 2002 to Hull City
, for a month, playing 6 games (3 as a sub) and scoring 1 goal. After only making 2 appearances for Bolton in the League Cup
and FA Cup
, he was loaned to Plymouth Argyle
. He had his loan extended to the full three months and was then signed for a fee of £25,000 in October 2002.
in 2004. At the end of the 2005/06 season Norris was named Plymouth Argyle Fans Player of the Season, scoring a goal in the 3–2 win over Sunderland in August.
In November 2008 Norris was heavily criticised for a controversial goal celebration against Blackpool, interpreted as a show of support for jailed friend and former Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick
. McCormick was returning from Norris' wedding in June 2008 when he fell asleep at the wheel due to the effects of alcohol
and caused the deaths of two young boys. He was sentenced to seven years and four months prison time in October of that year.
The family of the bereaved took offence at Norris' gesture and he was subsequently fined and warned by Ipswich. He was once again caught out when he told the Ipswich website he had not intended the celebration as a show of support to Luke McCormick and the statement was later changed by the club, adding further to the controversy. The statement now reads that the celebration was in fact a message to Luke McCormick. Later that week it was revealed that Norris was fined £25000 by Ipswich and would make a face-to-face apology to Phil and Amanda Peak (the parents of the two boys).
He scored his first goal for the club in the 1–1 draw with Southampton away from home. In the summer of 2011 Norris turned down a new contract extension at Ipswich Town, with the club only prepared to offer him a two-year extension, a year short of the midfielders demands. With rival Championship club Leeds United heavily linked with signing him on a free transfer.
on a free transfer after turning down a new two year deal with Ipswich. On 6 August, in his debut league appearance for Portsmouth, he scored against Middlesbrough
in a game which ended 2–2. He scored his second goal for Portsmouth in a match away at West Ham United
, which ended 4–3 to the home team. At first it was believed that Benjani Mwaruwari
had scored the goal, but replays later showed that Norris had already put the ball over the line when Benjani headed in the rebound. His first goal at Fratton Park came in a 2–0 home victory against Barnsley
. With the match goalless, Erik Huseklepp
headed the ball down to Norris, who volleyed it into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
, through his mother, who has family in Kildare
. Though he has never been selected to play for them, he was contacted by Steve Staunton
(Irelands former manager) about playing.
Football League Trophy
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, having previously played for Boston United
Boston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
.
Boston United
Having started his career at Stamford AFC, Norris followed manager Steve Evans to Boston UnitedBoston United F.C.
Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...
, which was a non-league club at the time. 'Nosher', as he was known, was a popular goal-scoring midfielder and his performances soon attracted the attentions of league clubs. Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
paid Boston £50,000 for the 18-year old in February 2000.
Time at Bolton
Described by Sam AllardyceSam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
as "one for the future", Norris found first team appearances very rare. He was loaned back to Boston within a month of signing to keep himself match fit. He was loaned once again in 2002 to Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, for a month, playing 6 games (3 as a sub) and scoring 1 goal. After only making 2 appearances for Bolton in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
and 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...
, he was loaned to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. He had his loan extended to the full three months and was then signed for a fee of £25,000 in October 2002.
Plymouth Argyle
He has since acquired the new nickname of "Chuck", and became an integral part of Argyle’s promotion to The ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
in 2004. At the end of the 2005/06 season Norris was named Plymouth Argyle Fans Player of the Season, scoring a goal in the 3–2 win over Sunderland in August.
Ipswich Town
In the January 2008 transfer window Ipswich Town had two bids rejected by the Plymouth board despite Norris handing in a transfer request. Ipswich lodged one final, increased bid which was finally accepted after brokering a deal with Bolton that would allow Plymouth to receive more than the 50% Norris' clause initially gave them. Norris finally signed for Ipswich Town on 31 January 2008 for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract until 2011.In November 2008 Norris was heavily criticised for a controversial goal celebration against Blackpool, interpreted as a show of support for jailed friend and former Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick
Luke McCormick
Luke Martin McCormick is a former English football goalkeeper. He played for Plymouth Argyle between 2003 and 2008, but his contract was cancelled by mutual consent in July 2008 after he caused a car crash which killed two children...
. McCormick was returning from Norris' wedding in June 2008 when he fell asleep at the wheel due to the effects of alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and caused the deaths of two young boys. He was sentenced to seven years and four months prison time in October of that year.
The family of the bereaved took offence at Norris' gesture and he was subsequently fined and warned by Ipswich. He was once again caught out when he told the Ipswich website he had not intended the celebration as a show of support to Luke McCormick and the statement was later changed by the club, adding further to the controversy. The statement now reads that the celebration was in fact a message to Luke McCormick. Later that week it was revealed that Norris was fined £25000 by Ipswich and would make a face-to-face apology to Phil and Amanda Peak (the parents of the two boys).
He scored his first goal for the club in the 1–1 draw with Southampton away from home. In the summer of 2011 Norris turned down a new contract extension at Ipswich Town, with the club only prepared to offer him a two-year extension, a year short of the midfielders demands. With rival Championship club Leeds United heavily linked with signing him on a free transfer.
Portsmouth
On June 15, 2011 Norris signed for PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on a free transfer after turning down a new two year deal with Ipswich. On 6 August, in his debut league appearance for Portsmouth, he scored against Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in a game which ended 2–2. He scored his second goal for Portsmouth in a match away at West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, which ended 4–3 to the home team. At first it was believed that Benjani Mwaruwari
Benjani Mwaruwari
Benjamin Mwaruwari , known as Benjani, is a Zimbabwean footballer who currently plays for Portsmouth in the Football League Championship, where he plays as a striker....
had scored the goal, but replays later showed that Norris had already put the ball over the line when Benjani headed in the rebound. His first goal at Fratton Park came in a 2–0 home victory against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. With the match goalless, Erik Huseklepp
Erik Huseklepp
Erik André Huseklepp is a Norwegian footballer forward who plays for Portsmouth and the Norwegian national team.-Early career:At the age of 18 he played youth football for Fyllingen...
headed the ball down to Norris, who volleyed it into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
International career
Norris qualifies to play for the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
, through his mother, who has family in Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
. Though he has never been selected to play for them, he was contacted by Steve Staunton
Steve Staunton
Stephen "Steve" Staunton is an Irish association football manager and former professional footballer, who was most recently manager of Darlington...
(Irelands former manager) about playing.
Career statistics
- .
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Boston United Boston United F.C.Boston United Football Club are an association football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They currently play in the Conference North. The club is known as 'the Pilgrims' in reference to the Pilgrim Fathers, who fled from Boston to the USA and founded Boston, Massachusetts. The club's...1999–00 17 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 18 8 2000–01 2000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 Total 22 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 23 12 Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C.Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....2000–01 2000-01 in English footballThe 2000–01 season was the 121st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Manchester United secured their 3rd Premiership title in succession and their 7th title in just nine seasons...0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 2001–02 2001-02 in English footballThe 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 Total 0 0 1 0 4 0 0 0 5 0 Hull City Hull City A.F.C.Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...2001–02 2001-02 in English footballThe 2001-02 season was the 122nd season of competitive football in England.-Arsenal cruise to title glory:In what had earlier been one of the most closely fought Premiership title races for years, Arsenal won the championship by seven points. Their crown was won in the penultimate game of the...6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 Total 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...2002–03 2002-03 in English footballThe 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Most Memorable rise:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time.-Most Memorable...33 6 3 0 0 0 0 0 36 6 2003–04 2003-04 in English footballThe 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....45 5 1 0 1 0 1 0 48 5 2004–05 2004-05 in English footballThe 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*2004–05 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League...35 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 3 2005–06 2005-06 in English footballThe 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...45 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 47 2 2006–07 2006-07 in English footballThe 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...41 6 5 1 1 0 0 0 47 7 2007–08 2007-08 in English footballThe 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...27 5 1 0 2 0 0 0 30 5 Total 226 27 11 1 5 0 1 0 243 28 Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C.Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....2007–08 2007-08 in English footballThe 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1 2008–09 37 3 2 0 2 0 0 0 41 3 2009–10 24 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 25 1 2010–11 36 8 1 0 6 3 0 0 43 11 Total 106 13 4 0 8 3 0 0 118 16 Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C.Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...2011–12 18 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 4 Total 18 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 19 4 Career total 378 57 17 1 18 3 1 0 414 61
Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
Individual
- Plymouth Argyle Player of the YearPlymouth Argyle F.C. Player of the YearPlymouth Argyle Football Club is an English association football club based in Plymouth, Devon. Founded in 1886 as Argyle Football Club, they became a professional club in January 1903, and were elected to the Southern League ahead of the 1903–04 season...
: 2005–06
External links
- David Norris at Plymouth Argyle
- David Norris at Hull City