A Look Back at Bryan Gunn With Norwich City

Goalkeeper Bryan Gunn played for Norwich City from 1986-1998. This was a very successful period for the team, when they were near the top of the Premier League standings and had some European exploits.

Good teams start with a great goalkeeper. Gunn was just that. He had 400 appearances with Norwich City and a is strong contender to be their best ever goalkeeper ever. Robert Green and John Ruddy also come mind when talking about great Norwich City goalkeepers.

Born in Thurso on December 22nd, 1963, Bryan Gunn signed a professional deal with Aberdeen in 1980. He would end up playing just 21 games (15 in the league, one in the Scottish Cup, four in the League Cup and one in the European Cup) for them, with Jim Leighton being the starter.

In October 1986 he signed with Norwich City for 100,000 as a replacement for Chris Woods, who had made the journey to Scotland to sign with Rangers that summer. Gunn quickly replaced Graham Benstead as the first choice at goalkeeper.

Bryan Gunn became a first team regular since. He would make 477 first team appearances over the next 10 years. He won the Barry Butler Player of the Year award two times as well as full Scottish honors on six occasions. Norwich City had very successful seasons with Gunn as goalkeeper. They finished third in the Premiership in 1992-93 and competed in the UEFA Cup the following season.

The Norwich City handbook from 1997-98 describes Gunn as a “brave goalkeeper who commands his penalty area well and is never slow to give defenders instructions”.