Tony Norman
Encyclopedia
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Norman (born 24 February 1958 in Mancot
, Wales
) is a former professional
footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Hull City
, Sunderland
and Huddersfield Town
.
He holds the record for consecutive appearances for Hull City, playing 226 consecutive games between August 1983 and September 1988. In 2005, as part of the club's centenary celebrations, a poll was carried out to name the top 100 Tigers, and Norman was the highest-placed goalkeeper at number six. During his time at Boothferry Park
, Hull completed a swift climb from the Fourth Division to the Second, and in 1986 finished sixth - their 2nd highest finish (they finished 5th in 1971) until they finally won promotion to the top flight 22 years later.
On leaving Hull City, he signed for Sunderland for a then club record fee. During his time at Roker Park
, he helped them win promotion to the top fight in 1990 and also played at Wembley in the 1992 FA Cup Final, where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool. He played a starring role in that cup run, including Man of the Match displays away to West Ham and at home to Chelsea. He remains the only goalkeeper to have played for Sunderland at Wembley twice.
He departed from Sunderland in the summer of 1995 to sign for Brian Horton
(who had been his manager at Hull City) at Huddersfield Town
. He remained in West Yorkshire
for two seasons until he finally called time on his playing career in 1997 at the age of 39.
During his lengthy career he played one season of top flight football, when in 1990-91 he kept goal for a Sunderland side that suffered relegation on the final day of the season from the penultimate pre-Premiership First Division.
He made 5 international appearances for Wales
, usually serving as deputy to the legendary Neville Southall
.
Since retiring from professional football Norman has been diagnosed with a rare heart condition called cardiomyopathy
. In 2005 he undertook a 190-mile charity walk in aid of the Children's Heart Federation.
In August 2008 Norman returned to Sunderland AFC as Academy Goalkeeping Coach.
Mancot
Mancot is a village in south east Flintshire, Wales, approximately 1.5 miles from Queensferry, 1.2 miles from Hawarden and 5 miles from Chester...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
) is a former professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
footballer who played as a goalkeeper for 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...
, 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...
and Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
.
He holds the record for consecutive appearances for Hull City, playing 226 consecutive games between August 1983 and September 1988. In 2005, as part of the club's centenary celebrations, a poll was carried out to name the top 100 Tigers, and Norman was the highest-placed goalkeeper at number six. During his time at Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park
Boothferry Park was a football stadium in Kingston upon Hull, and was home to the football club Hull City for over 50 years from 31 August 1946 until December 2002, when they moved to the Kingston Communications Stadium....
, Hull completed a swift climb from the Fourth Division to the Second, and in 1986 finished sixth - their 2nd highest finish (they finished 5th in 1971) until they finally won promotion to the top flight 22 years later.
On leaving Hull City, he signed for Sunderland for a then club record fee. During his time at Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
, he helped them win promotion to the top fight in 1990 and also played at Wembley in the 1992 FA Cup Final, where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool. He played a starring role in that cup run, including Man of the Match displays away to West Ham and at home to Chelsea. He remains the only goalkeeper to have played for Sunderland at Wembley twice.
He departed from Sunderland in the summer of 1995 to sign for Brian Horton
Brian Horton
Brian Horton is an English former footballer and manager, who is working as Phil Brown's assistant at Preston North End.Horton played for Hednesford Town, Port Vale, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town and Hull City as a midfielder...
(who had been his manager at Hull City) at Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. He remained in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
for two seasons until he finally called time on his playing career in 1997 at the age of 39.
During his lengthy career he played one season of top flight football, when in 1990-91 he kept goal for a Sunderland side that suffered relegation on the final day of the season from the penultimate pre-Premiership First Division.
He made 5 international appearances for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, usually serving as deputy to the legendary Neville Southall
Neville Southall
Neville Southall MBE is a former Wales international footballer, best known for his time with Everton. He has been described as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1985...
.
Since retiring from professional football Norman has been diagnosed with a rare heart condition called cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease," is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium for any reason. People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of arrhythmia or sudden cardiac death or both. Cardiomyopathy can often go undetected, making it especially dangerous to...
. In 2005 he undertook a 190-mile charity walk in aid of the Children's Heart Federation.
In August 2008 Norman returned to Sunderland AFC as Academy Goalkeeping Coach.