After scoring the final league goal at the Vetch, Adrian Forbes forever etched himself into Swansea history. BEN DONOVAN caught up with the former Swans and Norwich winger to talk about his time at both clubs...

For years, the question about who scored the last league goal at the Vetch Field has rung true around this part of south Wales.

And the answer will always be Adrian Forbes.

The goal in question came on April 30, 2005 as the Swans beat Shrewsbury to set up a grandstand finish on the last day of the League Two season.

Just seven days later and the winger netted the winning goal at Bury to earn the club promotion to League One under Kenny Jackett.

And all of this came in Forbes' first season in Wales after he arrived from Luton Town.

"I can't put into words how good that first season was," he recalls. "Everything I did seemed to come off; every pass I made and every dribble I attempted came good.

"I was very happy at Swansea and I have some superb memories that will stick with me forever. I left sooner than I should have but I'll always have great love for the club."

The winger started his career with today's opponents, Norwich City, after being spotted by scout Gordon Bennett when he was just 12.

And after working his way through the youth ranks to earn a professional contract at Carrow Road, Forbes went on to make his first team debut at the age of 17 before going on to make over 100 appearances for the Canaries.

"It came about a lot quicker than I expected," he said. "But when you grow up you set out to become a footballer and hope that you are good enough to make it at a big club like Norwich.

"However, there is also the fear at the back of your mind that you might not make it and fall by the wayside like so many other young players.

"But to come through the youth teams and then to pull on the yellow shirt at Carrow Road, was a dream come true really."

During his time as a player in East Anglia, Forbes played with a number of Welshman including Chris Llewellyn, Iwan Roberts and Craig Bellamy.

With the latter having gone on to play for the likes of Celtic, Newcastle and Manchester City, Forbes recalls how he always knew the Liverpool striker would make it to the top.

"I was very fortunate to play with Craig," he said. "I came up through the ranks with him, playing youth and reserve team football before eventually appearing for the first team.

"He was a superb player, and a determined character. You could see, even back then, that he was going to be a top player and I'm pleased that he has gone on to play for some top clubs in his career.

"We had a great mix of players that knew what they wanted and it's no surprise that many of them have gone on to forge good careers."

After Forbes departed Carrow Road in 2001 he spent three years at Luton before arriving at the Vetch Field in the summer of 2004 on a free transfer.

Following promotion to League One in that first season, no Swans fan would have believed that they would be in the Premier League within the next six years.

But there was always a part of Forbes that knew something special was around the corner.

"It was always a club that had a dream," he said. "I was fortunate enough to play at both the Vetch and the first season at the Liberty, so I was able to savour two contrasting experiences.

"The atmosphere at the Vetch was something special, but the club knew they had to move to a new stadium and a superb one it is too.

"You could tell that the club had ambition and plans to be in the Premier League one day. But it was only when we got promoted in 2005 and lost the play-off final the following year that you thought the club was going somewhere because of the momentum we had."

Lining up alongside him in the final game of the season at Bury in 2005 were Garry Monk and Leon Britton, with Alan Tate also playing his part as the Swans won promotion.

And after seeing all three players play in every division to help the club reach the top flight, Forbes has nothing but praise for his former teammates.

"It's just brilliant," he said. "They were there with me in League Two when we visited some horrible grounds, and its little things like that that will always stick with you.

"We had a great team spirit and it's great to see players like Leon Britton getting the plaudits he deserves and being compared to the likes of Xavi and Iniesta.

"They are all genuine lads and I'm very proud to be able to call them my mates because they deserve the chance to play in the best league in the world."

But it isn't just the Swans that are causing a stir in the Premier League this season.

Paul Lambert's side, who finished second in the Championship last season, have adapted well after giving lower division players a chance to shine on the biggest stage of all.

And Forbes insists that he isn't shocked with how well both teams are doing after many pundits tipped both for relegation at the start of the season.

"I'm not surprised in the slightest," he said. "Having known the ambition of both clubs, it hasn't come as any surprise how well they are doing.

"Norwich always wanted to be a Premier League club; they have got a good fan base and the board there are fantastic.

"I think it's fair to say that both clubs would be surprised with how quickly they have reached the Premier League respectively, both there's no doubt in my mind that they deserve to be there."

Both Lambert and Swans boss Brendan Rodgers have won plenty of plaudits for the way they have guided their respective clubs into mid-table this season.

And Forbes, who now plies his trade with non-league Lowestoft Town in the Ryman Premier Division, believes Rodgers in particular is someone he looks to as he himself looks to work his way up the coaching and managerial ladder.

"From a player's point of view, to have a manager like that is fantastic," he said. "They were superb against Arsenal recently, and who would have thought when I joined the club that they would one day be outplaying Arsenal in the Premier League.

"Even in the last two minutes they were passing it around at the back, so it's great testament to stick to their philosophy."

Forbes now helps to coach the youngsters at Norwich's Player Development Centre and will be in attendance at the Liberty this afternoon as a pundit for BBC local radio.

But the former Swans and Canaries favourite knows exactly the result that would please him the most.

"I've already had plenty of banter on Twitter ahead of the game," he joked. "They are both clubs that are dear to my heart, but I honestly believe that football will be the winner on the day.

"So I think it will be a draw as both teams are full of confidence, and a draw for me would be an ideal scenario."

As well as today's teams, Forbes turned out for Blackpool, Millwall and Grimsby in a stellar lower league career in which he became a popular figure at every club he played for.

But the winger is in no doubt that both Swansea and Norwich are the two clubs that have had the biggest effect on his life, and his career.

"Without a doubt they are the two clubs that I owe the most to," said Forbes. "Without Norwich I wouldn't have had a football career and gone on to make a name for myself at other clubs.

"I had two years of happiness at Swansea and I always had a smile on my face when I played there because we won more games than we lost.

"The fans know what I think of them and hopefully they appreciate what I did while I was there as they are very dear to my heart."