It was in 2002 that Norwich City last contested in the final of the playoffs.
Back then they were denied a place in the Premier League by Birmingham City, who won 4-2 on penalties after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Adam Drury, a veteran of over 350 appearances for the Canaries, played that afternoon and here, Sports Mole caught up with the 36-year-old to reflect on that game, as well as previewing today's vitally important encounter against Middlesbrough.
What was it like leading up to that final in 2002? Was there any excitement? Or were there more nerves?
"I was young when I did it, but I was really looking forward to it. All week I just wanted the game to come, and also not to get injured! The build-up on the day was all about making sure family were getting there okay, then it was just about thinking about the prize at the end of it. I was just hoping to have a good game and thinking 'please let us win'. You never know, you might never get back to that position again.
"It's easy to say try and take it all in, but that's the one thing that I'd say to people - you've got to try to enjoy it. When you're sat here looking back over it once you've retired, you've got to have enjoyed these experiences. The result aside, I have great memories of that day. The atmosphere was one of the best I've played in ever."
Was there a different atmosphere in the dressing room compared to what it was like for a league game?
"Perhaps a little bit, mainly because you're aware of what's at stake. It's billed as the biggest game in football from a financial point of view. You know about it, but you've got to try to shut that out. I always think one of the better sayings is 'play the game, not the occasion'. That's what you've got to do in a final. The way the game is played is no different to any other, there's just a lot more attention."
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What are your memories of the game?
"We were the underdogs, mainly because we finished sixth and a lot of people fancied Birmingham to beat us. Neither team played great, it was a typical tense affair like a lot of playoff finals seem to be. When we scored, Iwan Roberts went crazy because I think he thought that it was a golden goal! Then they scored and it went to penalties.
"The penalties are a prime example of what the playoffs can do to people. Phil Mulryne came from Man United and technically he was a great passer of the ball. Any time he took a penalty in training, he was taking them side footed into either corner. It came to the day and he ends up blasting it straight down the middle.
"Daryl Sutch - we'd been practicing all week and I don't think he missed and all of a sudden he misses the target. That's what can happen."
They say that losing that game is the cruelest game to lose, but you also lost it in the cruelest fashion. What was the dressing room like afterwards?
"The dressing room afterwards was really down. We just said that we don't want to ever feel like this again because we'd gone ever so close to getting in the Premier League. It's the league everyone wants to play in. But, all of a sudden, you get less time off because the playoffs are at the end of May and you're back in training by the end of June."
How hard is the following season? You're so close to the Premier League and yet you have to switch your mindset back to being a Division One player.
"A hangover? As a player, I'm not too sure you think about it like that. But, if you don't start the next season well, people will start insisting that it has something to do with losing that match. There might be something in it. When you get to a final like that, it's important not to get ahead of yourself thinking you're off to Old Trafford and Anfield because you're not there yet. You have to keep your feet on the ground, as hard as that can be."
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Thirteen years on, have Middlesbrough got Norwich's card marked? They've played each other twice this season and Boro lead 5-0.
"I wouldn't say they've got it marked, but Norwich haven't acquitted themselves well in the two games. Away at Middlesbrough, that was hard work. Boro were the best team I'd seen in the Championship on that day. At Carrow Road, it was second vs. third and after Boro went 1-0 up, they gave themselves something to defend and Norwich just couldn't get themselves back in the game.
"Norwich haven't played as well as they can in either of those games. If you play to your maximum and get beat, that's fair enough, but that hasn't happened. The big thing for the final is Norwich have more to offer."
What is it that Norwich find so tough to deal with where Boro are concerned?
"They are very good defensively and because of that Norwich haven't really created anything against them. Against Ipswich [in the semi-final], Norwich went with both Nathan Redmond and Wes Hoolahan, which obviously leaves them a bit more open, but they create a bit more.
"When Boro take a lead, I wouldn't say that they waste time, they are just very professional about their work. They went 1-0 up at Carrow Road and just killed the game. Norwich had plenty of the ball, but didn't do much with it."
You mention Redmond and Hoolahan there. Would you like to see them retain their places at Wembley?
"Will [Alex Neil] change it? From the Ipswich game, I'm not sure he needs to change anything from that. If you look at it since he's come in, there hasn't been a lot wrong from a tactical or team point of view. They were struggling so much as a team, but he's lifted them beyond recognition."
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It's a cliche, but given Boro's defensive capabilities, how important is it that Norwich score the first goal?
"It would be huge for Norwich. If they can score the first goal, it puts Boro on the back foot and also means that they will have to come out a bit more and attack. At Carrow Road, as soon as they went 1-0 up, they shut up shop. That's frustrating to play against from Norwich's point of view, so you don't want to give them any encouragement."
As for Norwich defensively, Sebastien Bassong's form since coming back into the team has been great, including in the semi-final when he nullified Daryl Murphy. How important is he going to be up against Patrick Bamford, assuming that the Boro striker is passed fit?
"Seb was out of favour at the start of the season, but he's come back in under Alex Neil and has been fantastic. What has gone on before goes out of the window when a new manager comes in. He's got his head right and got himself back into team. When you look at the run of form they've been on, he's been a big part of that.
"He brings a presence - he's a big guy. They've kept the back four as similar as possible since Neil came in and that's a big thing. If you can get a settled back four, it makes a huge difference. When I was playing in a settled back four, it helped so much. You get to know each other and how somebody plays."
Obviously defeat will be hard to take, but if that's the case, is there still reason for optimism? After all, Neil has only been in charge of the club for a few months. With a full season and a summer transfer window, surely Norwich will go close next season?
"Of course there would be [reason for optimism], but you wouldn't look at it that way to begin with. What he's done has been fantastic - he hasn't even brought any players in. It will be interesting to see what happens with that whether they go up or not because he's going to want to make it his own squad.
"There's going to be changes for sure. If they don't go up, some of the newly-promoted clubs like Bournemouth might come calling for some the players."
Liam Apicella
