After hearing that a former Canaries player had been taken to hospital, a group of supporters decided to make a surprise visit to deliver a special gift.

Bunny Larkin, who played for Norwich City between 1960 and 1961, has begun to develop dementia over the past two years but still remembers his time on the pitch and talks fondly about it.

The 87-year-old was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after another illness, where he is waiting for a care package which will allow him to return home.

On hearing the news, Norwich City's Community Sports Foundation (CSF), which runs the Duncan's Club Alzheimer's support group named after Duncan Forbes that Bunny attends, decided they would make a trip to cheer him up.

Norwich Evening News:

The club donated a signed shirt with Bunny's name and the number 60 on the back, the year he signed for City from Birmingham for £10,000, and presented him with it.

One of the group's members, Ronnie Moulton, even made Bunny a scrapbook with pictures and newspaper clips from his playing days.

A spokesman for CSF said the book "absolutely made his day and provoked a joyous reaction" as he remembered stories from his career.

Norwich Evening News:

The inside forward was part of City's Division Three promotion-winning team in 1960, scoring 16 goals in 48 games in total before going on to play for Doncaster, Watford and Lincoln.

He returned to Norwich to live and work after his career finished, where he has remained ever since. 

Norwich Evening News:

The Thursday morning Duncan's Club, which is held at The Nest in Hellesdon, has been so popular since it started in September last year that a second event on Wednesday mornings is being planned.

Volunteers hope to fund the second morning via funds from the City Giving pot which can be donated to on CSF's website.

Bunny's career

Bunny still holds a record for being only one of two people to ever score a goal on their debut in the league, League Cup and FA Cup.

He also scored on his debut for every team he played for and turned out for Birmingham City in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a precursor to the Europa League.

He also played non-league for clubs including King's Lynn and Wisbech before retiring.