After the usual getting up/breakfast/wash routine we hit the road for what proved to be an uneventful and quicker than expected car journey from Chelmsford to Wythall, just south of Birmingham. My daughter read and listened to her MP3 player (The Clash & Nirvana – not bad for a 12 year old), and I listened to 5 Live and wondered whether I was really serious in thinking we would score twice. My brother and his boy had driven from their home in Worcester and we met them at Wythall where we had a spot of lunch. Neither had seen Watford play before and I could see my brother was really looking forward to seeing the ‘orns for the first time. After lunch we left our cars in Bournville near the Cadbury’s factory and jumped on the train for the five stop trip to Aston. The blues supporting guy in the ticket office expressed his dislike of Villa and wished us every success for the afternoon ahead. On the walk to the ground I chatted to a couple of Villa fans who were neither confident of beating us, or of signing Young, sure that Spurs would clinch the deal at the death. Once inside the ground we took our ‘uncovered seating’ seats which were better than I had expected, just as the teams came on to the pitch. I so hoped the boys would put in a top notch performance that would really give the travelling fans something to get excited about. It didn’t happen. The atmosphere felt flat to me, the worst in the five away games I have attended this season. My brother commented that he thought both Villa and Watford performed like a couple of pub teams. I felt this was a tad unfair – but only a tad. My daughter is now experiencing both ends of the Watford supporting spectrum, the delirious joy of the playoff semi at Palace, and enduring woeful performances like Blunts at home earlier this season. Good character building stuff. Before saying our goodbyes we discussed possible meets at Watford away fixtures for next season, with West Brom, Wolves and Coventry all being earmarked as possible meets. Don’t you just love that fizzy pop league? Bring it on!
That doesn't surprise me. Green belt, right near the M42 and not too far from city centre. My brother reckoned the house prices are pretty steep around there.
