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The (Preston North) End of the season

A huge thanks to Anthony for taking the time a) to go to Preston and b) to write about it for us. Enjoy!

Proud to be a Hornet

Well that’s it then. Vicarage Road is closed for (football) business until the new season kicks off again in a few months. It looks like our visitors today will be plying their trade in the Premier League next season thanks to the contributions of a battalion of ex-Hornets, including legends Tommy Smith and Heidar Helguson, so it’s only right they pop in and express their gratitude to us today. What’s that? You couldn’t have done it without us? We know, we know…
Of course, we haven’t had a bad season ourselves have we? Things are never usually dull at Watford for one reason or another, but it’s been a true joy and privilege to be a Hornet this season, so I thought I’d use this edition of the programme to recount a few of my highlights.
This has been the first full season for me as a Dad and the club have made ensuring my daughter grows up a Hornet easy. From meeting John Eustace, Malky and Harry the Hornet at the pre-season open day, to the helpful attitude of the stewards as Florence, her pushchair and what felt like a thousand bags made their Vicarage Road début against Doncaster, Watford have done a magnificent job in living up to their famous ‘family club’ image.
The slightly older generation was catered for away from the action too. A series of ‘At your place’ events gave us mere mortals the chance to quiz the likes of Malky, Julian Winter and a number of high profile first team players at an array of local venues. Questions weren’t censored and were answered with honesty and no little humour. Illuminating and heart warming in equal measure, it isn’t every club that would let the management and senior players loose in a pub with 200 or so fans.
There was some pretty pleasing stuff on display on the pitch too. Martin Taylor and Don Cowie have been exceptional, whilst Will Buckley has shown enough to put a smile on supporters faces and a horrified look on those of opposition defenders. Scott Loach has been called into numerous England squads and John Eustace has firmly underlined just how important he is to our club. Before the season began, many of us were concerned that we were going to be reliant on youth. We needn’t have worried. Matty Whichelow, Marvin Sordell, Piero Mingoia and Adam Thompson have played an enormous part this year and have showed themselves to be hugely impressive young men and professionals whilst also highlighting the importance of our Harefield set-up.
Not missing anyone am I? Ah yes, you there, with the tattoos and the vest under your shirt. Graham isn’t it? Yes, Danny Graham. You appear to have done reasonably well, developing a desire to score goals. All the time. Let’s have 40 next year though eh?
The entire squad have played their part and in doing so have put on some unforgettable performances. Today’s visitors won’t enjoy being reminded about playing host to us in front of the TV cameras and if Kenny Jackett was expecting any favours from his former employees, he was sorely disappointed. Six times. Then of course there was the seven game winning streak in which we demolished promotion hopefuls Cardiff, before eventually coming unstuck in the return fixture.
That trip to Cardiff saw us take the ‘From the Rookery End’ podcast on the road and listeners will have heard the disappointment of defeat and being told to ‘Do one’ when requesting an interview with Craig Bellamy was negated by a quick chat and a picture with boxing legend Joe Calzaghe. You never know who you might run into supporting Watford! Doing the podcast has really reaffirmed how lucky I am to be a Watford supporter and has been the main highlight. My fellow presenters and I have met many of you during the course of the season, including Curtis and Geoff who came all the way from Denver to watch the Hornets in action. We’ve been lucky enough to interview players, the manager and the Chief Executive. We’ve watched training and seen the youth teams in action. We’ve even met Lloyd Doyley. It’s been brilliant, due in no small part to the club trusting and appreciating us, the fans. It’s a nice feeling – long may it continue.
There have been mistakes this season, but in the main the club has played a blinder. Thanks to everyone involved for making the 2010/11 season one to treasure and remember.
Come on you Horns!
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Photos: Watford vs QPR 1

We were lucky enough to spend some time pitch side at the Watford vs QPR game on Saturday and we took some great photos. You’ll see them in this and the next few blog posts. Enjoy, and come on your Horns! Not enough? We’ve got more!

Photos: Watford vs QPR 2

We were on the touchline at the Queens Park Rangers game and this is part two of the photos we took during the game,

PHOTOS: Watford vs QPR 3

FOR MORE PHOTOS CLICK HERE
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PHOTOS: Watford vs QPR 4

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Red Shorts… Where to start?

Personally I’m a black shorts man. Not sure why. I’m going to put it down to the kit from the 88-89 season. When I first started supporting the Hornets in 1980, they wore red shorts. And that was the way it stayed until that first season back in Division Two (that’s in old money folks). Now there were certain things in football that got me excited with anticipation. They still do, despite me being in my thirties! The F.A. Cup Third Round Draw, the release of the fixtures for the new season and of course, a new kit. Forget the thought of having to pay out another £40 some time over the summer for a new shirt, I want to know what gloriously yellow number I’ll be sporting every other Saturday in the Rookery End. Anyway, when I first saw that kit during the summer of 1988, there was a definite “Whoah” moment. Black shorts! This departure from the norm was not the Watford I was used to. It was a little bit daring, a break from the tradition I knew. A talking point for my WFC supporting friends and I. And I liked it. So that’s me – black shorts.

From the Rookery End