FAN CRAIC: DELFI, NORWICH FAN

Ahead of the visit of Comrade Chris and his Canaries, we caught up with long-standing Carrow Road Canny Lad, Tristan Delf (which is about as big a yokel name as we have ever heard) aka Delfi, friend of this fanzine who answered our daft questions about this Sunday’s game with his beloved Norwich City. Norfolk exile Delfi has lived in the NE for 6 or 7 years and is possibly the smallest man in the region.

TF: Where Are You? Let’s Be Having You? Discuss.

Delfi: Urban Dictionary defines it as:

A phrased that one uses to call out or pump up a large group of people. Made infamous by Delia Smith - "This is a message for possibly the best supporters in the world. We need a 12th man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let's be having you! Come on!" - Delia Smith to Norwich City supporters

TF: Apart from tip top match day grub what does Delia Smith bring to the Norwich City table? (pun intended)

Delfi: You can’t knock her passion for the club. You can always rely on her for a pissed up speech too. She once told an interviewer: "I always do drink wine and I always will". She also appeared overcome with emotion live on television when we beat Ipshit. Brilliant Stuff

TF: And what does hitherto unknown football fan, Steven Fry bring, other than an excellent standard of Twitter-based repartee?

Delfi: Having General Melchett sitting in the City stand booming out On the Ball City, you would have to be stark raving mad not to enjoy that. Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

TF: Norwich have had an incredible renaissance in the last three years, what has the journey been like and do you fear you’ll run out of steam now Paul Lambert did the off?

Delfi: It has been fantastic, remarkable. To come so far in such a short space of time. More importantly is that we did it in the right way, not throwing millions at it, but buying players with hunger and desire. It makes you very proud. I’m pessimistic when it comes to all things Norwich, so yes I do fear for us this year. Not so much the lack of Lambert, more second season syndrome combined with a worry as to where the goals will come from.

TF: What’s your take on Comrade Chris Hughton?

Delfi: I was speaking to an ex Norwich physio (now at Birmingham) and he said that Hughton was highly respected by the players. That’s good enough for me. Let’s face it after getting Glenn Roeder from you lot no one is going to complain about Hughton.

TF: What’s your “local rivalry” with Ipswich like?

Delfi: It’s difficult to take them seriously when they are so laughably shit. With a comedy manager & players like Chopra they look better suited to the Shadsworth Estate rather than the Championship.

TF: What’s this friendly shite Norwich has with the Mackems from when you happily beat them in the 1985 League Cup Final?

Delfi: Don’t understand it myself. SMB

TF: Give us your best first team eleven from your time following Norwich.

Delfi: Ruddy, Bowen, Culverhouse, Butterworth, Mackay, Huckerby, Bellamy, Goss, Crook, Sutton, Ashton: Bench: Holt, Drury, Fox, Eadie, Fleck

TF: What have been your highest and lowest points of following Norwich?

Delfi: For me personally it has to me beating Bayern Munich, predictable I know, but throughout that European campaign I think we all knew it wasn’t going to happen again for a long time & that we were witnessing something special.

TF: Tell us something we might not know about Norwich.

Delfi: One of the most successful British songwriters of all time was born in Norwich.... Cathy Dennis

TF: Is Barbour massive at Carrow Road?

Delfi: No, we are landed gentry.

TF: What’s the fan culture like at Norwich, do you have an active fanzine, webzine scene?

Delfi: There’s plenty about, suppose the most successful is Capital Canaries. Formed in 1975 it was based in that London, but now has members from around the globe. As for Fanzines, nothing of the quality of TF!

TF: What do you think of Newcastle United (a) the club (b) the team (c) the manager (d) the fans and (e) the city.

Delfi: I am not a fan of the cockney mafia, the whole Lambias/Wise affair stained your reputation. I have a great deal of time for the Club itself.
a) I would happily watch Cabaye every week. Glad you have moved away from the policy of signing ‘marquee’ big name players, think you have to doff your cap to your current scouting system.
b) Still have my doubts that he is cockney mafia connected. Fair play though, good season last season & pushed a linesman this year. Respect.
c) Not a fan of your bed sheet waving in the background of Sky Sports lot. Been fortunate enough to join the Toon on a couple of away trips though. Cracking set of lads & on the whole tremendous fans.
d) I love the city, and love the fact that the Club is at the heart of it.

TF: What’s your favourite memory of visiting St. James’ Park with Norwich and the least?

Delfi: I can’t think of any game in recent history that has had a profound effect on me! It’s always a pleasure visiting the Sports Direct Arena though (Ed: he was doing so well as well wasn’t he?).

TF: How do you think the game on Sunday will go? Prediction?

Delfi: I just can’t see us scoring. Toon to win 2 – 0 comfortable and dull match. I did say I was pessimistic?

Many thanks to Delfi for his time and we do hope his fifteen fingered fellow fans have a good time in NE1.