Interview with new Norwich FC Manager George Swindin and Mr Geoffrey Watling

Anglia TV news item; Peter Hobbes interviews new Norwich City FC Manager George Swindin, and Club Chairman Geoffrey Watling.

Peter Hobbes interviews George Swindin about his new role as Norwich City Football manager. Hobbs says that he is certain that the supporters of Norwich will be delighted that Swindin has been appointed manager. George Swindin talks about his start date and how he hopes to get a short holiday in before then as there is a lot of hard work to be done before the players return in July. Hobbes asks him about his past experience as a manager. George Swindin spent four and a half years at Peterborough and from there went to Arsenal for 4 years. When asked if he’s ever seen Norwich play, Swindin replies that he’s not seen them since the season before last but has looked at their record this season. He hopes he’ll be able to put them in a happy position in the league as the objective of the board is First Division football. He says that he’s a Yorkshireman and so he is hard to get along with, but is fair which he feels is the main thing. Hobbes then interviews Geoffrey Watling, President and Norwich City Chairman, who says Swindin will have full control in everything regarding the players. He says it was easier to choose Swindin than it was his last manager as it’s the end of the season and so it’s easier to come to a decision. Hobbes claims that supporters say Watling chops and changes rather a lot with his managers and staff. Watling strongly disagrees with that statement and says that he hopes Swindin stays with them a long time.

Keywords

Football; Managers; Norwich City Football Club; Personalities; The Canaries.

Background Information

Geoffrey Watling (1913 – 16 November 2004) was a president and chairman of Norwich City (1957–1973 and 1996). A charity in his name was founded in 1993. A stand at Norwich's stadium, Carrow Road is named after Watling. He was awarded this honour because of his instrumental role in saving the club from bankruptcy, both in the 1950s and 1990s; his father had played a similar role in 1919. He has a road named in honour outside Carrow Road called "Geoffrey Watling Way". George Hedley Swindin (4 December 1914 – 26 October 2005) was an English football player and manager. He became Manager of Norwich City for just five months beginning in May 1962.