Norwich City began the summer of 2009 in desperate need of a reset, having had one of their darkest seasons in recent history, being relegated from the Championship to League One for the first time in 49 years.

Supporters were understandably upset as confidence around Carrow Road remained low. There were genuine doubts about how quickly the team could return from such a devastating loss, given that Norwich City was a Premier League regular in the 1990s and 2000s.

It was also a moment of significant transition. Bryan Gunn took over following the relegation, however Norwich’s dismal start to the 2009/10 season saw him leave after only a few games. Paul Lambert was appointed in August and immediately proceeded to reshape the football club’s standards and objectives.

The mood quickly altered, as did the club’s culture. Lambert created a team full of character, intensity, leadership, and belief. However, each effective team requires a consistent source of goals.

Grant Holt, a Norwich City striker, was a bargain for Shrewsbury Town.

In the end, Norwich found just that in Grant Holt, a striker who had recently had a successful season elsewhere in the EFL, who arrived from Shrewsbury Town for a rumoured sum of roughly £400,000 (BBC Sport). He was in high demand after scoring 28 goals for the Shrews the previous season.

However, some may have questioned whether a player coming up from League Two could have such a major impact at a club under pressure to earn promotion. Eventually, those doubts faded.

Holt quickly became the focus of Lambert’s attack. He had an exceptional combination of physicality, persistent work ethic, brilliant movement, and a keen eye for goal. The centre-forward showed to be much more than a lower-league goal scorer. He embodied the spirit of Lambert’s Norwich team and rapidly became a fan favourite.

His debut season at Carrow Road couldn’t have gone better. Holt scored 30 goals in all competitions to help Norwich win League One for the first time. The Canaries scored 95 points, restoring hope to a club that had appeared directionless just months before.

Remarkably, the success did not end there. Many predicted that Norwich would need time to settle back into the Championship. Instead, Holt contributed to another advertising attempt. He scored 23 league goals in 2010/11 as Norwich won their second consecutive promotion, finishing runners-up and returning to the Premier League.

Suddenly, a club that had been struggling in League One was back among England’s top. Many supporters believed that Holt, Lambert, and co. had returned them to their rightful place.

Grant Holt’s England plea to Norwich City

It is safe to argue that Holt’s influence stretched beyond goals alone. He became a symbol of Norwich’s ascent under Lambert. His leadership, attitude, and dedication contributed to the development of a winning culture, and he was a member of a powerful dressing room that revolutionised the club’s atmosphere.

Players, fans, and staff all got behind the voyage, and Holt was at the core of it. There were some noteworthy moments along the road. His goals against formidable opponents and match-winning efforts were critical, but his ability to rise to the occasion in important games cemented his place in Norwich folklore.

Perhaps most impressively, he continued to score after joining the Premier League, demonstrating his ability to produce at a level that many thought was beyond him. He was even tipped for England by some fans and analysts, with Holt telling Sky Sports in 2012 that it was “ridiculous” that he hadn’t been given a chance ahead of the Euros.

Regardless, looking back, £400,000 from Shrewsbury was one of the best investments Norwich has ever made. Holt entered as a successful lower-league striker and left as a club hero. More importantly, his signing contributed to one of Norwich’s most amazing rises in history.