Say What You See

What do old photographs get you thinking? Olly Wicken gives us a stream of consciousness on a shot from February 1982.   "It’s 1982 and I see the kind of goalmouth scramble that rarely happens these days. Barnesy and Luther are getting stuck in. Cally’s putting his head where today’s players woul...

Olly Wicken examines a photograph, with the brief to...   "I see rolled-up sleeves. Quite right too. We’d had to apply for re-election at the end of the season before. There was a job of work to be done to keep Watford in the League. Quite right too, too, because short-sleeved football shirts ar...

Mark Harrowell examines a photograph from the late 70s   "Immediate reaction in 150 words you say? Among others, João Pedro, Emmanuel Dennis and Ismaïla Sarr ensure a vital Carabao Cup tie can go ahead before Mr and Mrs Ranieri arrive with a Spear and Jackson no. 4 and a flask of tea.  Darling, ...

Dave Messenger examines a photograph, with the brief to... Say What You See   "I’ve said it so many times when leaving matches at Goodison... one of these days we’ll get all that bad luck we’ve had there and one day we’ll batter them. I long since pledged to go to every match there until it happ...

Nick Catley looks at a picture, and just has to... Say What You See   "I was in Australia for this match, in the middle of five months’ travelling.  I watched it in a pub that turned out to be the unofficial headquarters of the Melbourne Liverpool supporters’ club. A hundred-odd red shirts and m...

David Harrison looks at a picture, and just has to... Say What You See   "Scully! Wee Stewart was my favourite back then. Well, except when Barry Endean was. This was the 1970 quarter-final against Liverpool. They squeezed 34,000 into The Vic that day. There’s not been a bigger attendance since....

Colin Payne looks at a picture, and just has to... Say What You See        "This is the moment that the news comes through that Manchester United didn’t get the points they needed on the final day of the 1982/83 season, and as such Watford have just finished runners-up in Division One. Elton’s un...

Ian Grant looks at a picture, and just has to... Say What you See   "Anfield. That one word is enough to unlock the memories. What a day. What a team, in that moment.  “One-nil and we spent fuck all.” Sir Tommy Mooney at his peak, before injury scuppered his, and arguably our, season. Everyone r...

Jack Ottman looks at a picture, and just has to... Say What You See     "This was a special night. In isolation it was of course an incredibly impressive win for many reasons, but I think the events which unfolded in the subsequent months made it even more noteworthy for me.  Sarr’s first goal w...

What do old photographs get you thinking? Geoff Wicken gives us a stream of consciousness on a shot from 1973. "Early 70s’, pre-season – it must be pre-season, the grass never looked like that once they started playing matches on it. Mike Keen’s the manager, and that’s John Farley with the crink...

What do old photographs get you thinking? Dave Messenger gives us a stream of consciousness on a shot from 1983. "Oh what a night that was. And look... black shorts, how majestic. One in the eye for all those red-shorts oddballs who bang on about famous results in Ronald McDonald red and yellow....

What do old photographs get you thinking? Nick Catley gives us a stream of consciousness on a shot from May 1993. "I miss the scoreboard. I know it didn’t really show you much but it used to dominate the ground, plus it reminds me of going when I was a kid. I know we have the video screens now…w...