Football: Let's be havin' you (IN THE PREM NEXT SEASON)

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, May 15, 2005 | by EXCLUSIVE By DAVID WALKER

THE night Saint Delia became a little devil may go down in football folklore as the most significant in Norwich City's Premiership history.

Today, in the battle for survival, the club owned by Delia Smith can ensure its survival by discovering a winning recipe at Fulham. Victory for the Canaries, and their enthusiastic owner, will make their three rivals' survival strategies totally academic.

And Norwich manager Nigel Worthington has no doubts about the impact Delia's infamous, on-field "Let's be havin' you" tirade has had on everyone connected with the club.

"At the time, I didn't even know she'd gone out on the pitch at half-time against Manchester City to try and whip up the fans to back the team," said Worthington. "I was told afterwards and then saw the video footage on television.

"I think everyone who saw her - at Carrow Road and around the country - stepped back in amazement. At first a lot of people saw what happened as a negative for Delia and the club.

"But about seven days later opinions changed. People realised the whole incident had become a huge positive for us all. And that's how it's turned out for us.

"Let's make one thing absolutely clear. First and foremost Delia is a massive Norwich City fan who wears her heart on her sleeve.

"She has an enthusiasm and passion for this club that shows through to everybody she meets.

"That's a great asset to have in any owner of a football club and her passion drip feeds through the club from the top and affects everybody. I promise you, she and her husband Michael, are Norwich mad."

Delia's on-field antics might have stunned the nation, but her unforgettable call to arms can be downloaded as a ringtone for mobile phones and many of the 6,500 Norwich fans heading to Craven Cottage today will be wearing club shirts emblazoned with Delia's infamous one-liner.

Once each season Delia arranges a staff away day, so the entire Carrow Road non-playing staff will be at Craven Cottage. They will enjoy their day out, but share the owner's passion in backing their boys.

In fact, she will buy lunch for them all and then sit with them in the stand rather than occupy a seat in the directors' box.

The Delia moment is also short- listed for the prize of most memorable moment in a football fans poll conducted by Zoo magazine.

And the millionairess, who made her money as a television chef and author, is constantly teased about her most recent public performance. "The players give her stick," said Worthington. "And she takes it in good heart.

"She's very easy-going. She calls in at the training-ground and has a little chat with everybody.

"She doesn't interfere with the football, but asks everybody if there's anything she can do to help them or their families."

While Norwich have not been invincible since Delia's public rallying call, they have accumulated points at an impressive rate to climb out of the relegation zone in the final week of the season.

Worthington is brutally realistic. "I don't blame people for writing us off as relegation certs," he said. "We've lived with that from the moment we won promotion last season.

"We've kept our belief in what we're doing and tried as hard as we can to stay up.

"There have been times in the season when life looked tough for us. But I've looked at what was happening and understood some of the problems.

"For instance, we have a squad of 25 players. Around mid-October we picked up six or seven long-term injuries to senior players who would make our first choice starting line-up. I was calling on a 17- year-old and two 18-year-olds to get through Premiership matches. Then, in mid-March, the experienced pros started coming back and our form has picked up.

"We've not moaned about our problems. We've got on with the job and we've all learned so much. It's been a good experience.

"I know there are good people at this club and that helps us all believe we can survive. We can hang in there.

"Regardless of what happens this weekend, I think we've offered good value to the Premier League - and it's a great boost to know that our destiny is in our own hands.

"I don't even think about relegation. My thoughts are totally centred on us going to Fulham and getting the result that means we stay up.

"We don't have to go gung-ho and chase a result. We can be strong, sensible and make sure we get things right. And I wouldn't swap our position with anybody else in the relegation battle."

Worthington has enjoyed a remarkable five years at Carrow Road from the time he initially arrived as Bryan Hamilton's assistant.

Leeds United tried to lure him north as part of their Academy coaching team and there were also overtures to take over at Sheffield Wednesday.

But he has remained loyal to the Canaries' cause and has no regrets. "It's been an excellent five years. A great learning curve at a club blessed with real stability.

"The spirit in this club - and our relationship with the sporting public of Norfolk - is fantastic. I've really enjoyed my time here and I know we have more great times to look forward to.