Sheffield Wednesday
defender Leigh Bromby joined the Canaries on a month's loan on
February 24th 2003. Not manager Chris Turner's first choice in
defence, he has been allowed to join the Canaries on loan to gain
some competitive matches "under his belt".
Bromby made his debut
for Wednesday in the 2000/01 season after progressing from their
youth team. He had made 78 appearances and 1 goal for the Sheffield
club prior to his move to Norwich. He also spent a loan spell
with Mansfield in 1999/2000 where he scored once in ten appearances.
On March 22nd 2003,
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington
stated that he was keen to bring Bromby to Carrow Road on a permanent
basis, even if that started with an extension to the current loan
agreement. Worthington stated that Bromby "has done ever
so well". Wednesday were offered four of Norwich's squad
to take on loan in place of Bromby to ensure that an extension
to the loan deal could take place. This included striker David
Nielsen. No deal could be arranged with Wednesday and Leigh
returned to Hillsborough on 27th March 2003.
With Wednesday relegated,
it appears likely that Leigh would move on and the media has already
linked him with a move back to East Anglia with Ipswich especially
as Ipswich Assistant Manager Willie Donachie
knows him from their time together at Hillsborough. Joe
Royle though stated that "there is nothing in this".
Norwich were then linked with him at the beginning of the 2003/04
season with Leigh rumoured to have travelled to Norwich for talks
according to his manager Chris Turner. Norwich then announced
that they would not be pursuing their interest as the two clubs
could not agree terms.
Leigh was eleased by
Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 2003/4 season. He was linked
the following month with a switch to Huddersfield. Intead, he
switched to Sheffield United, becoming one of many signings made
by Neil Warnock towards the end of June 2004. Warnock also added
Alan Quinn, Andy Liddell, Jon Harley and former Fulham striker
Barry Hayles to the Blades squad. "Leigh Bromby is a player
I have always liked from afar. The change of club will do him
good and give them the gee-up they need to change."
On 31st January 2008, Watford signed Bromby from Sheffield United
for an initial fee of £600,000, which could rise to £850,000.
The 27-year-old, who joined the Blades in 2004, has signed a three-and-a-half
year deal with the Hornets. The former Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich
and Mansfield player had spent much of the season on the fringes
of the squad but he forced his way back into the team and ironically
made his last Blades appearance against his new club. He can be
seen as a replacement for Calum Davenport
who broke a bone in his neck on his debut for the Hornets.