Tony Norman

Football player infobox
playername = Tony Norman


fullname = Anthony Norman
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1958|2|24|df=y
cityofbirth = Mancot
countryofbirth = Wales
height = 6'2
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Goalkeeper
youthyears =
youthclubs = Burnley
years = 1980-1988
1988-1995
1995-1997
clubs = Hull City
Sunderland
Huddersfield Town
caps(goals) = 372 0(0)
198 0(0)
007 0(0)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = Wales
nationalcaps(goals) = 005 0(0)

Anthony "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 during the 1980s and 1990s.

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 highest finish until they finally won promotion to the top flight 22 years later. [http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10338~640167,00.html]

On leaving Hull, he signed for Sunderland. During his time at Roker Park, he helped them win promotion to the First Division in 1990 and also played at Wembley in the 1992 FA Cup Final, where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.

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 three seasons until he finally called time on his playing career in 1998 at the age of 40. By this stage, he was one of the oldest players to be registered with any Football League or Premier League club.

Despite his lengthy career, he only played one season of top division football, when in 1990-91 he kept goal for a Sunderland side that suffered relegation from the penultimate pre-Premiership First Division.

He made 5 international appearances for Wales, usually serving as deputy to the legendary Neville Southall.

After retiring from professional football, Norman became a policeman in Durham, but had to retire at the age of 47 after being 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. [http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10338~655509,00.html]

References