The Drury's Out

Carlisle United 0-1 Norwich City

This was the badge of honour fixture for Norwich City fans. The trip to Carlisle had become the one often used to sum up what relegation to League One actually meant. The best part of six hours each way - but worth it because Wes Hoolahan scored the only goal.

Not everybody undertook the full 12-hour round trip though. The lengths some people will go for a more comfortable journey is remarkable.

Adam Drury's wife gave birth to baby Isla the night before the game. He was then flown up to Carlisle, along with Delia Smith, on the morning of the match. The fixture list only came out in June and even with my limited scientific and mathematical abilities I can tell there is no way Drury can be accused of going through all this just to avoid a coach trip to Cumbria. He played very well.

The whole trip got off to a bizarre start when I realised I had managed to book a hotel for the Friday night which was hosting a line dancing convention. It meant Neil Adams and I significantly reduced the average age of the guests but also that we were reluctant to join the queue at breakfast for fear of having to do a Billy Ray Cyrus dance.

Our commentary position was in the back row of the stand, always a slightly worrying moment when you know you have to be critical of the home side within ear shot of some of their fans. The only tense moment was after the game when a red-faced Cumbrian man asked whether we 'got referees like that every week.' I actually did not think the ref had had a bad game but I was too cowardly to take that up with the angry man.

Norwich City are now in the play-off places. I cannot remember the last time we were in the top six of anything.