
FA Cup winner 1987
When Norwich City full-back Greg Downs was left out of the Canaries’ League Cup final team for the game against Sunderland in 1985 he must have thought his chances of appearing at Wembley’s famous old stadium had passed him by. Two years later Greg achieved his ambition of appearing in a major final – in a Sky Blue shirt.
Greg spent ten years at Norwich joining as an apprentice in March 1975 and made 206 appearances for the Canaries. Being dropped for the final convinced him he had to move on and that summer he joined Coventry City in a bargain £40,000 deal.
Originally a striker, he was converted to a full-back by Norwich reserve team coach Mel Machin. He had happy memories of Highfield Road before his move. In 1980 he scored the winning goal in Norwich’s first win at the ground for over forty years, a 25-yard volley which Norwich fans voted goal of the season.
City signed him as a replacement for Stuart Pearce and Greg suffered considerable barracking from the fans in his early days but overcame the ‘boo-boys’ with his enthusiasm and humour. At Wembley in 1987 he was given a torrid time by Chris Waddle in the first half but recovered to control the England winger in the rest of the game.
On two occasions he lost his first team place, first to Nick Pickering, then later to Tony Dobson, but both times bounced back to regain his place. He was finally released in 1990 and joined Birmingham City. However his spell at St Andrews lasted just 17 games before he joining his former City manager John Sillett at Hereford as player-coach.
After Sillet’s departure from Hereford in 1992 Greg took over and was player-manager himself for two years, playing 134 games until he was sacked in 1994. Subsequently he played non-league soccer for Kettering, Merthyr Tydfil, Raunds Town, Redditch, Worcester City, Forest Green, Bridgnorth and Great Yarmouth Town.
In 1997 Greg became a policeman in the Norfolk seaside town of Gorleston but continued playing part-time soccer around Norfolk and played alongside his son Gareth for Mulbarton United.
He later moved to Norwich's Bethell Street station but he couldn't keep away from football - in 2003 he was assistant manager at Dereham Town and at the age of 46 turned out for North Walsham Town.
Penalties (2 - both scored)
1987-88
21 November 1987 v Charlton Athletic A, scored
2 March 1988 v Reading A, shootout, scored
Free kick goals (2)
1986-87
10 January 1987 v Bolton Wanderers H
28 February 1987 v Charlton Athletic H









































































































































































































































































































































































































































