Fire crews were called to Carrow Road in the early hours of 25 October 1984, following a devastating fire that wreaked havoc at Norwich City Football Club's stadium. Football fans remember the incident with sadness as a major event in the club's history. Kathy Blake, a member of the Canaries Trust supporters group, expressed her feelings about the loss, stating, "I was really upset to see what had happened to my football ground."
The fire, which started around 03:30 in the central section of the City Stand, caused millions of pounds in damage and left the Canaries with a three-sided stadium for two years. Fortunately, no one was injured in the blaze. Ms Blake described her affection for the old stand, noting its unique smell of "freshly-mown grass, cigar smoke and embrocation."
The incident led to the destruction of important club assets, including trophies, changing rooms, and around 700 seats in the stand. By the time firefighters arrived, the 1930s' wooden stand was well alight, and up to 40 firefighters worked to prevent the fire from spreading further. Bob Ledwidge, a journalist, recalled the harrowing scene and the difficulty of accessing the stadium, mentioning a phone call from the BBC in London that alerted him to the event.
The cause of the fire was linked to an electrical fault, with former club employee Dick Cann indicating he may have unintentionally left an electric heater switched on in the stand the night preceding the blaze. However, the club has since stated that the incident is "now of historical interest" and that "the world has moved on."
The immediate aftermath saw the stadium left structurally unsafe, and a replacement stand, now known as the Geoffrey Watling Stand, was completed for the 1986-87 season. Former player Greg Downs noted the unconventional atmosphere of playing in front of only three sides, saying, "It was a bit of a weird feeling when you went out there, because you're so used to being enclosed."
The match against Queen's Park Rangers took place just three days after the fire, with a groundsman cutting the grass to prepare for the game. The club continues to commemorate this pivotal moment in its history, with fans reflecting on the impact it had on their beloved Carrow Road.