Jamie Mitchell joined the club in 1990 at the age of 12 - moving with his family to Norfolk from Glasgow - and was once described by Gordon Bennett, a senior Canaries executive, as the best young player he had ever seen.

When Mitchell turned 16, he began his apprenticeship and began mixing with the senior players at the club.

“I was aware I was miles behind the rest in terms of physique and body," Mitchell told The Athletic. "My voice hadn’t broken yet. I looked about 10 or 11."

Current legislation dictates that players aged 16 are not permitted to change with senior first team players; however, such rules did not exist at this time.

Mitchell was forced to shower with the older players every day when he was called up to the reserves, despite not yet hitting puberty.

“I didn’t want to be naked in front of them, you get used to people walking around with nothing on as it’s how it would have been at clubs around the country," he explained.

"I hadn’t matured, and it was badly impacting me."

Things came to a head when the teenager heard that he was to take part in a humiliation ritual put on by the older players at Christmas.

They had to team up in groups of threes, stripped of their clothes, and run into the first-team dressing room.

Senior players and coaching staff were waiting for them with cameras at the ready.

They then had to clamber up on the medicine table, perform a Christmas carol while being sprayed with, among other things, condiments, flour and ice water.

“They were the worst minutes in my life," Mitchell added. "I had to stand in front of my peers and coaches, get sprayed and then run through a shower.

"Why? Because it’s Christmas. Or to earn our tips."

Mitchell, who came through the youth academy with players like Danny Mills and Craig Bellamy, did not make a first team appearance for the club.

The midfielder turned professional in 1995, under Martin O'Neill's management, but was released in 1996.

He signed for Scarborough, making 96 appearances before returning to Scotland where he played for Clyde and Partick Thistle, making more than 100 appearances for each.

A spokesman for Norwich City said practices at the club had changed significantly since the 1990s.

He added: "Our Safer Sport department has embedded safeguarding and player care at the heart of the academy experience.

The humiliating rituals involved being sprayed with condiments, flour and ice water while naked (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images)

"We are regularly inspected in this area by regulatory bodies and meet strict standards of professional practice.

“All Academy staff receive significant training in this area, including the threat from maltreatment and bullying.

"Our industry-leading alumni programme provides a three-year support programme for all released players from over 12 years of age.”

Mitchell had chosen to speak out as part of his new venture in life after football.

Edge Futures, Mitchell's organisation, aims to design bespoke digital badge qualifications with a range of private companies that will offer the 99pc of youngsters released from British academies alternative employment pathways.

© Norwich Evening News