Paul Warne, Derby County manager and Norwich City fan, acknowledges that facing the Canaries is always a memorable occasion, ahead of Saturday’s Championship clash.

Norfolk-bred Warne anticipates a large family group to go to the East Midlands, but the Rams’ coach is determined to spoil their day.

“It is always going to be a special fixture for me,” he told me. “I played against Norwich a lot, managed to beat them a few times, and it probably has more excitement in my family tree. Most of my pals are Norwich supporters, and my uncles and cousins have season tickets.

“I wasn’t. My father played non-league until he was around 40, so I used to go and watch him kick the ball into the nets at halftime. But then I came to the occasional Norwich game, which I enjoyed. I have an old Poll Withey kit.

“I went to the movies to see ‘Escape to Victory’, and it was the nicest birthday I’ve ever had. Yes, all of my family and best friend reside in Norwich, so that fixture is really important to me when it comes out.

“Unfortunately, I lost my uncle the other week, which will make it more difficult for my mother to visit. “The majority of my family and friends are coming or watching.”

Warne has had scant success against his former team, either as a player or as a coach.The former FA Vase winner with Diss has only beaten City once in five encounters, losing the other four as a coach.

“That will always be my club, but it isn’t as important to win as it is for the club I work at,” he told Derby’s official website. “That was the same as a player. So, when we face Norwich, I hope they have a relatively decent season. But not better than the one I’m now at.

“You want to defeat them because the texts I get later are nicer than those on the opposite side if I lose. Your enthusiasm as a football fan wears off with time. When I visit my mother, I always read the EDP and North Norfolk News to learn about Norwich. I also keep track of the season’s results.

“But the longer you play football, which for me is almost 30 years as a professional, the more diluted it becomes. You’ll always have a passionate attachment to one club, but the longer you’re in football, the more diluted it becomes.

In the April 2021 encounter between Derby and Norwich City, Kieran Dowell scored a fantastic free kick. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd).

Warne regarded Norwich’s 4-1 victory over Watford last Saturday as the club’s best performance under Johannes Hoff Thorup.

“Probably had their best win and best performance (against Watford),” he told me. “They, like other Championship teams, made significant signings in the summer. They certainly have (Josh) Sargent in front. From a Derby perspective, I hoped they would sell him in the summer.

“From a Norwich perspective, I was happy they kept him. When their fullbacks come inside, they may play. They have incredible movement in the center, and like with any Championship club, if you keep away from them, they can control the ball and the tempo, and they were brilliant against Watford.

“From the outside, they undoubtedly wish they had received more points for the way they played. However, 23 other clubs in this tier would agree.

Last season, Warne led Derby to League One promotion, and the Rams have won all three Championship home games without conceding a goal, defeating Middlesbrough, Bristol City, and Cardiff City last time out at Pride Park.

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