Elliott Bennett reflects on City spell and retirement

April 9, 2012. Even 12 years on, the mere mention of it provokes a smile from Bennett. That reaction is mirrored by Canaries supporters when the fixture is mentioned. 

It was the day that City, then managed by Paul Lambert in the Premier League, travelled to White Hart Lane to face Champions League-chasing Tottenham Hotspur and beat them on their own patch - with Bennett cast as the match-winning hero. 

Anthony Pilkington gave Norwich the lead but saw his effort cancelled out by Jermain Defoe's cute chip. Then, enter Bennett, and a moment would come to define his career at Carrow Road. 

"When I picked the ball up, I didn't have the intention of shooting," he recalls. "I can't remember it, if I'm honest. It's just the emotion afterwards and going to celebrate at the Norwich end. It's an incredible moment."

It wasn't just a moment that bound Bennett closer with City supporters for the remainder of his career in Norfolk and beyond; it helped him overcome the imposter syndrome that had plagued his career prior to that strike, even when he was moving to the Premier League. 

"That is number one. I had a promotion with Blackburn and Brighton as well as with Norwich in the Championship play-off final, but it took me that long to realise that I was worthy of being a professional footballer.

"It might sound crazy because I think I'd played 200 games up to that point, but for a long period in my career, I didn't see myself as a professional footballer. I felt like an imposter. 'How am I here?' 'How am I with them?' 'Why am I playing against them?'.

"I think you can see on my face - it's that raw emotion of 'wow, I've done something that I never thought possible - and it's going to be on Match of the Day'. It was a programme that I'd grown up watching.

"My dad text me after that game and said 'you've done it son'. It was a big moment in my career and it turned out to be a winner. That goal wouldn't have meant anything if we were beaten 5-1. It was a memorable day." 

Bennett's journey to Carrow Road was remarkable itself when viewed through the prism of life currently in the top-flight when money is no object and clubs often elect to turn away from the lower parts of the football pyramid. 

Lambert tapped into and prioritised that during his spell at Carrow Road. City's squad consisted of players desperate to take the opportunity and prove to the world that they were capable of mixing it with the best. 

Bennett was part of Norwich City's Premier League group under Paul Lambert. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) In that season, City won at Spurs, drew at Anfield and the Emirates, gave Chelsea a scare at Stamford Bridge, and gained a point from Goodison Park on the way to comfortably securing a 12th-place finish.

Bennett was one of their summer signings and joined from League One champions Brighton. That route feels all the more incredible now - but the winger recalls his emotion of first learning about the chance to move to Norfolk. 

"Excitement. Surprise. Pinch yourself. Then, finally, daunting, to be honest," he admitted to the Pink Un. 

"I was at Brighton for two years and loved my time down there. We won League One to go into the Championship. I hadn't played a single game in the Championship, but all of a sudden, I was rocking up to Carrow Road to sign for a Premier League team.

"It surpassed anything I ever thought possible for myself or my football career. It was a crazy time but one that I was really grateful for and I'll be forever grateful to Paul Lambert, Delia Smith and the football club for making my dreams come true." 

Bennett, who turns 36 in December, played for City until 2016 before moving to Blackburn in January of that campaign. 

The winger made 192 appearances during his time at Ewood Park, playing a key role in their promotion back to the Championship. Like at Carrow Road, he is remembered fondly in Lancashire for his contribution. 

Bennett spent the final three seasons of his career at Shrewsbury before eventually announcing his retirement last month after 17 years in the professional game. 

"I was planning for it, and you get a feeling when it's the right time," he said. "The fact it was my 600th game on the last game of the season at Shrewsbury, the place where I was born, sometimes things are written out for you.

"I didn't ever want to be that footballer that keeps playing, and people say 'his legs are gone' or suffer an injury. I wanted to go out on my terms.

Elliott Bennett called time on his career after a spell with Shrewsbury. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) "I am really proud of the career that I was lucky enough to have. I've had a couple of injuries during my career - the big one at Norwich with my cruciate - some people don't get that option. I was able to prepare for it.

"It was a special moment, and I was able to celebrate. I'm happy with how it ended. I chose to end that chapter. You go into football on your own, and I came out of it on my own terms."

Reflecting on a career that saw him play in all four of England's top divisions, Bennett is proud of his journey that also included spells at Wolves, Bury, Bristol City and Crewe. 

"I would have snapped your hand off [for my career]. The one thing I wanted to do was to play one professional football match.

"As things progress, your goals change, but when I look back now, I played at the highest level possible, which blows my mind now. I was never the best player, but I had a bit of luck, someone in Paul Lambert saw someone in me that he liked.

"I was very fortunate to have reached those levels. I look back with real pride, and it feels surreal that I achieved those things." 

The final word in a 35-minute conversation with Bennett ends with Norwich. Within it there are stops at the Wembley play-off in 2015, an occasion he describes as 'one of the best of his career' in spite of the fact he didn't get onto the pitch. 

In a way, that sums up Bennett. He has no ego or boastful nature, there is a real authenticity and humility that pours out of him. 

Ultimately, that personality comes from his upbringing. It is also something he credits as the bedrock of his strong relationship with City supporters. 

"I owe a lot to Norwich. The place is amazing. It's out in the middle of nowhere, and it takes forever and a day to get there, but when you're there, everyone is so friendly, and it's a beautiful part of the world," the winger said. 

Elliott Bennett enjoyed a strong relationship with Norwich City supporters. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd) "I warmed to the people straight away, and I felt they warmed to me. I think they could see that I was so privileged to pull on that shirt and play in the Premier League for them. That is where that relationship stemmed from.

"I am a human being, and just I'm fortunate enough to play football. The honour of representing the clubs that I've represented, all I've ever done is to be one of them on the pitch and leave everything out there, whether I'm good, bad or indifferent. You can have a bad day, but you can't not try.

"That is why the Norwich fans warmed to me. We have a connection because I'm a council estate kid who had the privilege of representing their team."