It was absolutely teeming with rain the first time I saw Adam Drury play. I was on a wooden bench which the old Wembley Stadium decided passed for a seat in their world famous stadium.

The date was May 26, 2000. The occasion was the Division Three play-off final. Peterborough United were playing Darlington on a miserable Friday night. I don't recall much apart from Andy Clarke scoring the winning goal for Posh.

I'm surprised Drury remembers much more either: he took a hefty whack in the face early on and before half-time had arrived he'd been subbed.

'It was a great occasion,' he once recalled. 'I can still remember Andy Clarke getting the goal and the celebrations afterwards, but having to come off so early did take the edge off it a bit.' (I'm suspicious of his powers of recall because he didn't give a lot of detail there did he?)

But injury has been part and parcel of Adam Drury's career – I can't remember how many times I have asked the question: 'You fit enough to be considered for the weekend game at ....?'

He has taken it all in good grace, usually pointing to a jaw or cheekbone which is held together by bits of metal, or an ankle or knee that has moved in directions that nature never intended. He has lamented his bad luck, but he has never used it as an excuse. Every time he has been knocked down, he has bounced back.

How many of us thought this might be a season spent watching from the sidelines? Instead, when called upon, he's walked into the team and done a superb job. He has never let Norwich City down. He never let Peterborough United down, and I'm pretty sure the same can be said of any other teams he played for before turning pro.

Barry Fry waved goodbye to him in March, 2001, while in the other hand clutching Norwich City's cheque for �500,000. Fry lumbered Drury with the parting shot that Norwich City were signing the best left-back outside of the top flight. Fry has said many things that have made us cringe over the years, but he was spot on with that comment.

Drury was named City's Player of the Season in 2003 and lifted the old First Division trophy in 2004. Captains take on many guises. Drury was never a finger pointer, he never led pincer movements on match officials, he has never tweeted his post-match thoughts, he will never be caught off guard by a pitchside photographer. Simply put, he has always, but always, gone about his job, with no distractions.

Good blokes like Adam Drury finally get their reward, and for him to have earned a testimonial match against Glasgow Celtic says an awful lot about the man.

I won't deny he has always been one of my favourite Norwich City players. The Posh link always helped, but Drury is a man who hasn't sought the spotlight, who hasn't acted the spoilt footballer. His only crime, when we were allowed to do such things, was that he was terrible at returning telephone calls for interviews. If that's his only 'sin' then so be it. I'll take that.

Both sets of fans should have plenty of reasons to be at Carrow Road on May 22. Celtic will undoubtedly have the Scottish Premier League title wrapped up by then and could well have added the Scottish FA Cup just days earlier (they have a semi-final against Hearts in a week and a half's time). City fans should, barring an amazing set of results and a complete and utter disaster, still be a Premier League side.

They, like Celtic, will enjoy the Paul Lambert Effect – the City boss is still revered at Parkhead. No one has to be told how he is viewed around these parts.

Carrow Road will be a sea of yellow and green. And more green. And in the middle of it all will be the quietest man on the pitch. Adam Drury. It promises to be one hell of a night.