Mark Harrowell sees something that takes him back in time
Today (the one millionth day of lockdown and associated home schooling – “please, for the love of God, just put a fucking circle around the right angle”) the Watford Observer published this image on their website.
This sent a pulse throug...
This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.
Nick Catley on Aidy Boothroyd and the 2005/06 season
It now seems almost a truism that the 2005/06 promotion just isn’t, somehow, remembered as fondly as any of our others. Further evidence of this, if it was needed, comes from the fact that when preparing these special issues, regular contribu...
Olly Wicken on the yellow subconscious mind
As Watford fans, it’s the things we do subconsciously that reveal the most about us.
I can give you a couple of examples. When Kiko lands a cross on Troy Deeney’s head, we all instinctively nod goalwards. That’s totally normal. And when, most nights, I...
Matt Rowson says farewell to Étienne Capoue
A wholesale revamp of a squad is rarely anything other than exciting. In part this is because wholesale revamps cost money and therefore tend to only happen when you’re kinda on the up… unsuccessful squads tend to crumble more gradually because, well, p...
Ian Grant looks back at Nordin Wooter
The celebrations were vast and emotional. We’ve become used to feeling that almighty swell of pride as more chapters are added to this extraordinary story. But any sense of familiarity, any idea that this is only another famous victory to revel in, is swept...
Matt Rowson recalls the 1997/98 season
This was a significant promotion in many respects. Looking back, it was probably the last time prior to this season that we dominated a division; we’ve had good teams since, won promotions, dominated divisions for bits of seasons, but even in 2015 (our onl...
The red debate isn’t just about shorts. Nick Catley explains why.
I’ve pretended to, of course. Any Watford fan who doesn’t have a preference between red and black shorts risks looking like one of those German spies in a film who speaks perfect English, but is exposed by grimacing when they dri...
Peter Morgan looks at promotion in 1998/99
Let’s face it, as far as Watford were concerned, season 1998/99 started on 3 April 1999, 38 games from the official start of the season. I’d go as far as to say that we were three-quarters through the game played on that date against Tranmere before ou...
Nick Catley remembers an overnight adventure, in the quest for a match ticket
As a teacher, I’m often amused by the kids at school who will sneeringly dismiss my team of choice (actually, my team of no choice at all) as not fit to be on the same pitch as their Chelsea, Arsenal or whoever. They’...
Colin Payne on something extraordinary in Essex
It was my fifth-ever away trip. I know this because my first four were Oxford (lots of snow), Forest (a semi-final), Shrewsbury (my first trip on a Football Special) and Sheffield Wednesday (the most terrifying day at a football ground in my life ...
Nick Catley looks at what makes going to football special
It’s different for everyone, of course…
I imagine there are people who treat football like it’s any other leisure activity – the cinema, say, or a game of ten-pin bowling. Turn up just before the start, enjoy the afternoon, go home.
But ...
Richard White recalls a watching his football from a place called the F-Block
In the early 1990s as my children grew old enough to take to Watford matches, we graduated to the family area, and sat in the East Stand F-Block. This was the only bank of uncovered seats in the ground, and was nickna...