Norwich City v Watford: Leigh Bromby memories and preview

The 44-year-old may have spent only a combined 13 months at the two clubs, but they were spells defined by the connections between them. In fact, Bromby's year at Vicarage Road wouldn't have taken place without a month at Norwich five years earlier.

But it wasn't a lasting impression on manager Nigel Worthington that secured him his Hornets move, or a sensational individual performance. Instead it was training ground interaction with an academy coach, who retained an affection for Bromby long-term.

"The youth team coach was Aidy Boothroyd, who then signed me at Watford because he'd met me at Norwich and saw what I was like," the retired defender recalls, speaking to the Pink Un. "He said I'd gone over to him and spoken to him when he was under-18s coach and asked him about the sessions, and I didn't have to do it. He'd always wanted to sign me from that moment.

"Even though it was only a month, it felt like I met a lot of people. I met Malky Mackay, Adam Drury, who I ended up playing with at Leeds, there was a psychologist there who I worked with at Watford as well. If I hadn't gone to Norwich, I wouldn't have signed for Watford."

Bromby and Adam Drury played together at Norwich and Leeds (Image: Newsquest Archive) The reunion with those ex-Canaries was a powerful one for Bromby, who made the unexpected move from his Yorkshire homeland to Hertfordshire as a result.

"It wasn't something I was planning on doing, but when I spoke to Aidy he was impressive," he continues. "He told these stories and spoke about knowing me from Norwich. You thought, 'he really wants to sign me'. Aidy was a big part of that.

"I'll tell you who was there as well: Malky Mackay, who was going into coaching as I came in and was the one who phoned me. He seemed to be following me around! It's so interesting, your journey."

It's been more than two decades since his Carrow Road exit, but Bromby still retains a fondness for the club present in many former players. He had hoped to extend his stay in Norfolk, but instead returned to parent club Sheffield Wednesday with a deal unable to be struck.

"Norwich was only positive for me," he says warmly, speaking across a fragile telephone connection like it was yesterday. "I came to Norwich and played a month in a period where they wanted to get back up. Really talented players, Nigel Worthington was there, and I wanted to sign permanently.

"But Sheffield Wednesday called me back, so I played five games and then went straight back. But I've only got really good memories of those games, played against Ipswich, which was great. I met some really good people.

"It is a special club. I played at big clubs like Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Leeds, but Norwich has a unique feel to it, that was what really interested me. It was such a good time and a place to be.

"The city being where it is, everyone in Norwich knows what's going on with the club and it feels like a massive community. Everything is focused around the football club, because there's no one else. That gives it a real uniqueness."

The 44-year-old loved his time under Nigel Worthington (left) (Image: Newsquest Archive)

In later life Bromby went on to be head of football operations at Huddersfield Town, working closely with recently departed former City coaches Narcis Pelach and Paul Clements. He's loath to admit it, but he feels their loss may give the visitors a slight advantage going into this weekend's game.

"I think with the changes, with Narcis and knowing what that might create, I think that might have an effect," he concedes. "That is the only reason I'd say I'd be unsure about the result, in terms of what effect that's going to have.

"Nothing's changed for Watford going into the game, so I would say it's in their favour just because of what's happened behind the scenes.

"This is going in a Norwich paper, so I should probably back Norwich! But being really, really honest, I've been in those environments before. I think it could have an impact, and that's why if I had £10 to put on it, it'd be on Watford."