A Canaries fan living Down Under got a 40th birthday present he will never forget when he was surprised by his favourite Norwich City football player and invited to talk about his football team live on The Pink Un Show on Mustard TV.
Leigh Woodrow, who is orginally from Norwich but now lives in Brisbane where he is part of the Brisbane Canaries group and Canaries Down Under, is back in Norfolk visiting family with his wife Rebekah and daughters Erica, seven, and five-year-old Eadie, who is named after his favourite footballer Darren Eadie.
Mr Woodrow thought he was going for a family meal tonight before his taxi instead brought him to Prospect House, home of Mustard TV and the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News. He said: 'We were supposed to be having a family dinner and then suddenly the direction of the taxi changed and we ended up here. We came through the gate and I saw a camera and thought, 'what on earth is going on?' Then I saw Darren Eadie. It was all a bit surreal and very exciting. The other Canaries Down Under will be amazed!'
He described his family as 'awesome' for arranging the surprise.
The idea came from his mum, 61-year-old Alison Woodrow, from Brundall, who had originally wanted to arrange a signed photograph of Darren Eadie for her son as part of his birthday gift, but since January has been planning this extra special birthday present with Mustard TV.
When asked how she felt the surprise went, she said: 'It was amazing, better than I had ever hoped for. To see his reaction tonight was just awesome, absolutely amazing.'
Darren Eadie said it was great to meet Mr Woodrow and his five-year-old namesake. He said: 'I feel really humbled that Leigh and his wife should name their pride and joy after me. It was fabulous to meet Leigh, Eadie and the whole family and it was a real pleasure to have been part of such a special day.'
Mr Woodrow has also been to Wembley to watch England play Lithuania and met Delia Smith, Norwich City's joint majority shareholder, earlier in the week. He is also looking forward to watching his favourite team play Reading.
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