Norwich City legends Grant Holt and Simon Lappin feeling chirpy at King’s Lynn Town

(Picture: Tim Smith)
By Greg Plummer
FORMER Norwich City striker Grant Holt arrived at King’s Lynn Town last week hoping to prove the Linnets’ promotion push isn’t full of hot air.
The one-time tyre-fitter-turned Premier League ace has returned to his Non-League roots after a goal-laden career in the professional game.
The no-nonsense centre forward said his desire to “do something different” was behind his surprise decision to sign for the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division side.
Holt, who began his footballing career with Workington as an 18-year-old, was unveiled at a Monday press conference alongside ex-Canaries colleague Simon Lappin.
Now 36, Holt said: “I’ve had a lot of offers. I’m very lucky because I’m getting to an age now where I can decide what I want to do and achieve it.
“Offers have come in and I’ve looked at them, spoke to the family as you always do, and I came to the conclusion that I wanted to look at doing something different.
“I’ve got a fantastic opportunity to come in, work with Ian [Culverhouse], who I’ve known for a long time now and who’s an excellent coach and a good manager.
“I’ve got the opportunity to do coaching as well as playing, so everything has kind of fitted in nicely. I knew that I was always going to keep playing, it was a just a matter of where and when.”

Holt, who had been looking for a club since leaving Hibernian in the summer, earned himself legendary status at Norwich after scoring 68 goals in 154 appearances for the Carrow Road outfit.
He also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Rochdale, Nottingham Forest, Shrewsbury and Wigan, as well as loan spells with Aston Villa, Huddersfield and Wolves.
But despite his pedigree, the Norfolk-based frontman is well aware of the expectations his arrival will bring.
“It doesn’t matter what football club you go to, there’s always high expectations, that’s just the way the game is,” he said.
“When I was at Barrow a long, long time ago we were expected to get promoted. Everyone is involved in the game because they want to achieve stuff.”
Lappin, meanwhile, remains in the Non-League game after a brief spell with York City last season.
The 34-year-old midfielder has been on the sidelines since rupturing his Achilles for the Minstermen during their home draw against Maidstone in February.
Lappin said: “Injuries are part and parcel of the game and I was very fortunate to get to 34 before something like that happened to me.
“I went to York at a time when they were struggling and eventually they were relegated.
“The standard surprised me. It was really tough and competitive and I’m expecting it to be exactly the same here.”
Both Holt and Lappin made their King’s Lynn debuts at home to Hitchin Town on Tuesday night, coming off the bench to help the Linnets to a 2-0 win.
*This article originally featured in The @NonLeaguePaper, which is available every Sunday.