Blog
At Your Place
Despite remaining badly traumatised by his penalty miss at half time in the Middlesbrough game I had persuaded my brother to come along and as we walked to the venue we admitted to each other we didn’t really know what to expect.
I WAS THERE WHEN
There are rare occasions when it isn’t worth thinking about going to the football, let alone mentioning it. Saturday 18th September was one such day. So, while Watford were kicking off against Millwall at the New Den, I was ordering my starter in a local pub, as I joined in celebrating my Mother in Law’s 60th birthday. Even with my famed negotiating skills, this was an engagement I was never going to get out of.
LIVING THE NIGHTMARE
It’s every Watford fans dream. A chance to play football on the same pitch as your heroes in front of a packed stadium. Sometimes though, that dream can quickly turn into a nightmare.
FAMILY FORTUNES
I’m a sort of grown up now. I say sort of because I still listen to my iPod too loud, laugh at silly jokes and wear a baseball cap, baggy jeans and t-shirts with writing all over them. Despite looking like a slightly overweight American teenager, I promise you I’m a responsible adult. I have to be. I’m a Dad.
WINS, DRAWS and LOSSES…
Watford have had the lot already this season. Is it any wonder that Mike Parkin, season ticket holder and co-presenter of From The Rookery End Podcast, doesn’t know if he’s coming or going?
A Song for John
For Podcast 4 (due out at the end of September) I have set Mike a challenge. He’s been going on about my bad singing for so long that I’ve told him to put his money where his mouth is. I’ve challenged him to write and sing a song for his man crush John Eustace. You’ve all heard his love for John in our podcasts. So in Podcast 4 we’ll see if he can express that love through song.
When Mike met Jacqui…
I don’t think there is necessarily a common view about Watford these days. We all think of the iconic figures from years gone by like Luther Blissett, John Barnes, Elton John and Graham Taylor. But financial problems have been high on the agenda since Luca Vialli came in and spent a lot of money, so they’ve had a tough time of it since then.
Whilst at the World Cup, you worked a lot with Graham Taylor. Graham is rightly idolised by all Watford fans – is he as nice a guy as we all hope and think he is?
PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
“If you are a qualified referee can you please make yourself known to a steward”
They basically needed someone who not only knew the rules of the game, but also had decent physical movement. Hop-a-long Kettle wasn’t keeping Malky and Aidy in their technical areas because at one point they must of been a good 5 yards on to the pitch barking instructions. Later in the evening, whilst watching the highlights of Blackburn’s 1-0 win over Everton on Match of The Day, I heard a clip of another announcement over a football stadium PA system. The Ewood Park announcer was asking a fan to call his wife as she had gone into labour. I love those little moments you get at football matches. They can really add a little bit of spice to the matchday experience and in the case of the Blackburn vs Everton game the labour announcement gave fans something to talk about on the way home – the game wasn’t exactly inspiring.
It’s tough on TV…
Of course, there is a long way to go. I’m sure I’m not the only one to have celebrated the Norwich victory with some class of maniacal jig, offered thanks to the heavens (and Malky) for the retaining of John Eustace then sat down, puffed out my cheeks and said: “Just 47 more points to go…”