HE scored, arguably, the club’s most famous goal five years ago and now Mike Norton is desperate to add another to his FC United scrapbook.
Fans’ favourite Norton popped up with a 94th minute winner at Rochdale to send the Red Rebels through to the second round where they eventually went out to Brighton after forcing a replay.
It wasn’t the first time Norton had grabbed FA Cup first round headlines. Two years earlier, he scored the third as Curzon Ashton saw off Exeter City 3-2.
The 34-year-old was on a mission to convince manager Karl Marginson that he deserves a spot in the lineup for tonight’s clash against League One Chesterfield, joking he’d “kick him in training” until he relents!
“I’ve scored a couple of really important goals in the FA Cup so I’d love to play and get another,” he told The NLP.
“I’ve got some great memories from that Rochdale game. The game was on November 5 and I was getting some messages on Thursday reminding me about it and asking where I was five years ago!
“There’s only me and Jerome Wright still at the club from that game – I’ve just about managed to cling on!”
Norton scored his first Red Rebels goal in a year on October 27 in the Manchester Premier Cup win over Glossop North End.
An FA Cup tie broadcast live on BT Sport holds a bit more weight, though. And what a story it would be if the striker managed to send Broadhurst Park into raptures.
He ruptured the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee last November and despite coming back at the end of last term, discomfort returned in the summer. Now he’s feeling sharper and ready to add to his 95 FC United goals.
“I was doing pre-season and everything seemed fine until I went on my honeymoon for two weeks and my knee seized up” he said.
“It’s taken a lot to build my knee back up and it was great to get that first goal last week.”
Marginson’s men couldn’t come into the game in much worse form. They’ve lost their last six National League North games but Norton is confident his side can put on a show – and ruin the return of two of their former players!
“Charlie Raglan and Ollie Banks both left us to sign for Chesterfield and they know all about us and will realise it won’t be an easy game,” he added.
“We’ll probably give them both a kick or two just to say ‘welcome back to Non-League!’”
