CURETON: I NEVER WANTED TO LEAVE NORWICH

Last updated : 18 September 2002 By Rob Cooper
Jamie Cureton
Jamie Cureton
The Royals will hope to register a victory against Norwich tonight at the Madejski Stadium in order to move up from thirteenth in the league.

For Jamie Cureton the match represents the chance to play against one of his former clubs. The striker, who is a huge Royals fans favourite admitted: "I never wanted to leave Norwich. I'd been there since a young lad, I was settled and I loved the place."

Having since played in the lower leagues for first Bristol Rovers and now Reading this will be the first time that Jamie gets to play against his old club.

Curo admits that if he had his time again he would never have left Carrow Road.

He added: "I wasn't getting in the team so I was allowed to join Bristol Rovers on loan. I did well there and scored a few goals. They put in an offer and it was accepted.

"It suited me at the time because I wasn't getting a game under Mike Walker but if I'd had my time again I'd have probably stayed put.

"Scoring the goals had given me a lot of confidence and looking back I should have stayed at Norwich and fought for my place.

"It's a shame the way it turned out but there are no hard feelings now. It all happened a long time ago and things have gone well for me since so I can't really complain.

"In a silly sort of way I still see them as my club. They were the team I played my first game for and the team I scored my first goal for. I've still got a lot of good friends up there - some of them are coming down to watch the game - so it's going to be very strange to play against Norwich.

"We know it going to be a difficult game. Norwich are a good side, in fact, it's probably the hardest game we've faced so far this season."