Zema Abbey, born in 1977 in Luton, started his Footballing career playing for non-league teams. His brother, Nathan Abbey, also plays professional football, playing as a Golkeeper for Luton and later Chesterfield. Zema came to notoriety for his performances with Hitchin, and soon attracted the eye of Cambridge Town, who signed him soon after his move to aforementioned Hitchin. Abbey made 22 appearences in games for Hitchin, but only scored 5 times - not quite living up to his reputation as a pacey yet powerful striker.
Norwich City came the rescue (Thank God!) and signed him on the 15th December, 2000, for a quite cheap £350,000. The media had been pushing rumours about his move for over a month, and NCFC fans were all-round delighted to have such a powerful new member of the squad for what proved to be a trying season, 00-01. Zema Abbey made his debut for The Canaries in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Grimsby (16th December) just three days after his signing.
Zema missed most of the following season, unfortunately, due to a nasty Cruciate Knee Ligament injury. He had made only 7 appearences in the 01-02 season, and still did not live up to his name - he scored only once. However, Zema recovered for Autumn 2002, appearing first as a sub against, coincidentially, Grimsby on the 28th December 2002 - almost exactly a year after his stint with Norwich City began.
Abbey was the only saving grace when he scored the only goal of the game in the 90th minute in the FA Cup fourth round clash at home to non-league Dagenham & Redbridge - still a disappointing turnout, but Abbey made it work. He finished the 2002/03 season with just 6 goals to his credit.
In only the third game of the 2003/04 season, Zema injured his other knee at Sheffield United and was ruled out of the remainder of the season. City remain hopeful that he will recover - as do his fans!
