Kenny at 300: McLean reflects on 18/19, Mayorhood and joining City

Eight years, 300 games, two promotions, a Premier League adventure and a nickname that’s stuck ever since - Kenny McLean has seen and done plenty in yellow and green.

The Scot sat down with the Pink Un to reflect on the achievement. Part one includes his memories of early life at Carrow Road.

Q: How did the move to Norwich materialise in January 2018, and what are your memories of how it unfolded?

KM: I was fresh-faced! When you make the move to a new club, you never really plan too far ahead because you never know what can happen, but I can remember it. I came down, it was the FA Cup game, where there was a good result in the cup, I think it was Chelsea. Before that, I'd spoken to Daniel Farke on the phone. I don't think we could understand each other too much, but from the conversation, I got the interest there. At the time, it was about me coming to Norwich in January, but then stuff didn't really materialise the way we wanted it. We just looked at something for the summer and then, obviously, in the end, we did it and I went back up to Aberdeen, which was best for all parties at the time. I was still playing consistently, still getting minutes, and still improving there in a full pre-season when I came down, but I would never have said, eight years later, that I would be sitting here ready to play 300 games.

Kenny McLean signed for Norwich City in January 2018, but didn't join until the following summer. (Image: Norwich City FC)

Q: What did you know about Norwich at the time?

KM: Honestly, not too much. I don't think that'll sound too good, but obviously, when you come down, and you start digging a bit, because obviously, I was coming up to the end of my contract up in Scotland, so I started to speak to clubs. That was the situation, so I hadn't really dived too much into detail about clubs or anything like that. When I came down, speaking to the manager and Stuart (Webber) at the time, it just seemed like a place that was going to thrive and thankfully, I'm still here doing as much as I can.

Q: I'm sure, coming down from Scotland, the ambition was to play in the Premier League. I can't imagine you envisaged it happening so quickly?

KM: It wasn't something that when I signed, I didn't automatically think, right, let's get to Premier League. Obviously, I knew that was something that I wanted to do, and I wanted to come to the club, establish myself, and do as well as I could. That may sound selfish from me, but I think coming from Scotland, that's something that everybody looks at. Go down, establish yourself, show how good you can be and then see where it takes you from there. But I didn't expect in the first year to be obviously holding a banner about going up and it was incredible. It was, as I say, the first half of the season didn't go the way I wanted it, but to get on the team, take my opportunity and finish the season strongly and the way we did was special.

Q: That class of 2018/19 is still remembered so fondly by supporters. It must be so nice to have your name linked with such a special season.

KM: The way we came out of the division, I think even now, fans still speak about those years, which speaks to how much everybody enjoyed it. The football that we were playing and then obviously winning on top of that just makes it even more special. But to do it with the people that we'd done it with as well, the staff we had, everybody behind the scenes, it was incredible. I didn't expect it my first year, but midway through the season, even when I was injured and stuff, I could see that it was something building, and I was just desperate to get back and be part of it.

Kenny McLean celebrates achieving promotion to the Premier League in his first campaign at Norwich City. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Q: It was at the end of that season that you earned your new title of 'Mayor of Norwich'. Do you remember much of the celebrations?

KM: We limped over the line a little bit. I think we drew four in a row towards the end of the season, which made it a bit nervy. We played Stoke away, we drew, and it was like the life had been sucked out of us after that game. I think later on Leeds played Brentford and Brentford beat Leeds, and we were celebrating a different game that had nothing to do with us. It's amazing memories. I say to people this now, something took over me at these times and I half cringe at myself when I look at these pictures now. I woke up that morning, and my family came from Villa Park and stayed at my house. We went out, and we had a party that night. And then in the morning, my dad woke me up with a beer in his hand for me at seven and a half, seven. That explains it, I think. A friend brought me a full case (of Mad Dog) to that Villa game. So he obviously knew that we were going to win that game, and that case didn't last long.

Kenny McLean, a Mayor's hat and a bottle of MD20/20 - soon to become a memorable combination. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Q: Do you still get called that by supporters now?

KM: I still get the shouts out of town and stuff. My kids are starting to get old enough and they don't really understand that. I don't want to show them pictures of me on our balcony with some alcohol in my hand. The bus parade that day, we were obviously celebrating a couple of legends in Russ and Wes. We did a lap of the pitch, went up to the lounge and continued the party up there. I was refused alcohol. But it was all good. I had a quick sleep in the corner, and I was good to go again.

You can watch the full interview with Norwich City captain Kenny McLean below