Veteran Iwan Roberts marked his Norwich swansong with a double as the Nationwide Division One champions signed off with a 3-1 win at Crewe.
The former Welsh international striker is being released after a seven-year stay at Carrow Road, but he was made captain by manager Nigel Worthington.
And he helped Norwich to another three points in a rare start up front alongside Mathias Svensson by thrashing in a half-hit volley in the first half and converting the twice-taken penalty late in the game.
Norwich were followed by 2,200 fans from East Anglia and there was a party atmosphere at Gresty Road with Mexican waves and celebrations on the pitch at the final whistle.
Norwich have spent nine years in the first division and are good value for a return to the top flight on the evidence in which they dominated Crewe for most of the game.
But Worthington revealed afterwards that while he was putting faith in the squad taking him to the title he would try and recruit Premiership standard players including Arsenal's David Bentley.
Darren Huckerby, who has proved to be such a match-winner for City this season, played second fiddle to Roberts whose 32nd minute strike after Huckerby had laid the ball into his path was the second Norwich goal in three first-half minutes.
Another veteran, Curtis Fleming, had earlier glanced Marc Edworthy's cross past Crewe keeper Ben Williams for the opener.
The hosts' Dean Ashton had a good chance to reduce the arrears when he was set up by Steve Jones but pulled his shot past the post.
Earlier, before the Canaries had taken the lead, the England Under-21 international had seen Robert Green push his wonderful strike on to the post and out.
But uncharacteristically, the goalkeeper who is being talked of as the future England No 1 allowed Ashton's 81st minute effort from 25 yards slip out of his hands and trickle over the line.
But Norwich restored their two-goal advantage swiftly. Crewe substitute Anthony Tonkin held back Leon McKenzie as he bore down on goal and although Roberts' first penalty was saved by Williams a Crewe player was encroaching inside the box.
The centre-forward, who turns 36 this summer, sweetly signed off in a yellow and green shirt by ramming the second penalty to the same side while the keeper dived the other way.