Johnny Williams - 1947-2021 - Rip

Discussion in 'The Hornets' Nest - Watford Chat' started by wfc4ever, Jan 22, 2021.

  1. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

  2. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Yes,Dave has just told me.
    Very bad and sad news indeed.
    My brother painted on his trademark Mexican moustache to our Subbuteo team and Dave and I were only saying the other night that the bearded *** on Winterwatch should be renamed JW in his honour.
    I learned "Walker,Welbourne,Williams..." long before any times tables.
    RIP Johhny.
     
  3. onion8837

    onion8837 Reservist

    Sad news. Played in my first game at the Vic - very good player, great sideburns. RIP
     
  4. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    A true stalwart of the club. Always a Hornet. RIP. Learnt his trade locally in Hemel at Bennetts End FC.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2021
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  5. Leighton Buzzer

    Leighton Buzzer Reservist

    I learned Slater Furphy Williams Welbourn Garvey Eddy...... I think - unless dementia has got the better of me.
     
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  6. Luther Bassett

    Luther Bassett Reservist

    Watford 1 Portsmouth 0 (Williams 70)

    EJ tribute concert for his testimonial.

    RIP
     
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  7. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Well I could be wrong but I expect Paul would have punched me if I got it wrong.
    Perhaps it was after one particular game,I was only five at the time!
    I knew Furphy was the manager but I was never taught to include him in my recital.
    RIP Johnny.
     
  8. cyaninternetdog

    cyaninternetdog Forum Hippie

    Well before my time but one of the golden boys, R.I.P. What years did he play for us?
     
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  9. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    From 1964-1975.
    419 appearances and 9th in all time list.
     
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  10. Teide1

    Teide1 Squad Player

    Yes that’s right, Elton John performed at Baileys for Johnny Williams, sung “someone saved my life tonight” for the first time and forgot the words!

    R.I.P. Sir you were a fine servant to Watford F.C.
     
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  11. WillisWasTheWorst

    WillisWasTheWorst Its making less grammar mistake's thats important

    Mid 60s to mid 70s. He was a regular in the first teams I watched at Watford and I went to his testimonial match, against Sheffield U I think. A great club servant - RIP.
     
  12. HantsHorn59

    HantsHorn59 Academy Graduate

    I lived in the same road as him and had many a chat with him.
    He was such a nice chap and one day gave me a programme signed by all of the squad which I still have to this day.
    I think he was the reason I started going to the matches so I could see my "mate" play.
    RIP Johnny.
     
  13. Johnny Todd Sings

    Johnny Todd Sings First Year Pro

    73 seems very young these days.
     
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  14. Leighton Buzzer

    Leighton Buzzer Reservist

    No you are not wrong, I was not meaning to dispute what you said at all.
    I should have said that I also remembered a slightly earlier time when Ken Furphy was player manager.
    My line up at the back was from 1966/67. After Ken finished as player, then Duncan took the number two, and we had Walker Welbourne Williams as you so rightly said.
     
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  15. Forzainglese

    Forzainglese Reservist

    Ouch. Yes.
     
  16. leighton buzzard horn

    leighton buzzard horn Squad Player

    Very sad and too young. He’d been ill for a while, sadly.
     
  17. Warrington Hornet

    Warrington Hornet Reservist

    Sad news - played at left back when I first started watching Watford in the 60's. RIP.
     
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  18. Sahorn

    Sahorn Reservist

    Solid reliable left back.
    The Walker Welbourne Eddy Garvey Williams back 5.
    Watched them so many times.
    Could do with Johnny Williams in his prime in the team today.
    RIP
     
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  19. Since63

    Since63 Squad Player

    You always assumed he’d just ‘do the job’ every game, no fuss. Unassuming, solid, reliable, consistent. A real team player. RIP, JW.
     
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  20. LondonOrn

    LondonOrn Squad Player

    Was that the same back five who played in the team that won promotion to the second tier for the first time?

    That seemed a solid if not very prolific team and that's what kept them up for three seasons there.
     
  21. Teide1

    Teide1 Squad Player

    I think Lees replaced Garvey, apart from that the other 4 were constant!
     
  22. Sahorn

    Sahorn Reservist

    Correct.
    Tight defence and some great games including the record crowd FA Cup replay vs Man U.
    The big win was away vs rivals Swindon which put us on a great run.
    Lost last 3 games but were champions on goal difference above Swindon.
    A great season.
    I think Williams was ever present? - players didn’t get so many injuries in the good old days..
    We even had some Johnny foreigners in the team from Wales, Scotland, Ireland ... lol ...
    Our squad and results....
    upload_2021-1-23_23-27-43.jpeg
    upload_2021-1-23_23-28-29.jpeg
     
  23. Dorset-Orn

    Dorset-Orn First Year Pro

    I like JW... My memory of him was tough as old boots but had big sideburns.
    My first game was around 1966/7 home against Reading. We beat them 3.0 and I was endeared immediately. I thought Short/tubby Barry Dyson was the dogs nuts...I think he scored a couple.? Called him Francis Lee's brother. (I was quite young)...
    My other favs were Duncan W and Steward Scullion.. What a great name.! I used to pull my shorts down below my tiny hips to emulate him..
     
  24. Teide1

    Teide1 Squad Player

    Nice run of 15 games where we took 25 points out of 30, sort of run we need now! COYH
     
  25. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Oh you're right!
    It was the sideburns my brother painted on the Subbuteo man.
     
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  26. Dorset-Orn

    Dorset-Orn First Year Pro

    Anyone remember mad Bert Slater... Goalkeeper come right winger.!?
    Almost every game I watched him, if we were struggling or not doing much, he would receive the ball at his feet and go on a rampaging run down the wing before humping it forward and sprinting back to his goal posts.
    Always brought out a great roar from the crowd, wouldn't get away with it these days....
     
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