Ok.. time to take things back in time First a couple of pics from the old Cassio Road ground. The first pic is self explanatory. In the second pic we are also wearing the old horizontal stripey pyjama kit which we wore from 1903 to 1909.. so presuming date wise it was about the same time as the Bradford game. PS I was trying to work out if either pic shows the roof that was transported to Vicarage Road but its a bit difficult to tell. Could have been either of the roof's here, well apart from the ornate one.
Have a go here smudge back row.P Moiloy R Jenkins, A McGlennagen? A Garner,L Blissett, A Rankin,TWalley,S Sherwood,T Howe,S Ellis,I Bolton, D Butler Front row,R Jocelyn, K Pritcett?, donno,dunno,dunno,, D Booth, GOD,B Pollard,K Mercer, B Downes,D Bond?A Mayes. B Mee. May have Booth and Downes mixed up. Help with my ? and dunnos would be good. Is the middle dunno J Stirk?
I think this is 77/78 or sometime in 78 before 78/79 start as bond had gone by then- the dunnos are-i think Tony Geidmintis Bobby Svarc Peter Coffill The rest look right -a good effort, 37 years on !
The middle dunno is Jimmy Walsh definite The right hand side dunno looks like Bobby svarc Not sure on the left hand side dunno could be pat morrissey but I thought he was a swop for josyln therefore wouldn't be in the same picture
1984-85: Maurice Johnston didn't stay for long. A prolific striker and one underrated by many. I expect Scotland would give their eyetooth for one like him now.
Mo was the best out and out finisher I have ever seen in a Watford shirt, Gerd Mulleresque. Hatrrick at wolves on his debut I think but the best goal he scored IMO was in the 84 cup run against L't'n. Far post header in extra time. What a player
This site should have a museum section for this kind of thing, loads of stories coming out also. Why havnt we got a museum section for this?
Aye, Sunday best cloth cap and starched collar and tie - but there's always a non-conformist who has to wear a boater just to be different.
Me too. Greyhound racing at the Vic had an interesting history. There were two different types of racing. In 1928 there were up to 4 race evenings per week under NGRC rules. However, late in 1928 NGRC withdrew their approval and until 1969 it was an independent track (aka as a flivver track) which meant that all kinds of skulduggery could (and I'm told did) go on (ringers etc) This closed in 1969. In 1974 greyhound racing started again, this time once more under NGRC rules and respectability. The last race was on 13 October 1978.
As I'm in one of my boring moods that does bring back a memory. In the mid to late 60s there was a stallholder in the old Watford Market called Tony. His stall sold flowers. Tony always wore a straw boater. He always turned up at the Vic around half time when he got in free. He always shouted the same thing as he arrived "one more the Blues" (even if we were losing 5-0) The crowd responded like Cheers did to Norm "Hi Tony"
Pictures of the squad in the old days got me thinking. At one time you'd buy your Paninni album at the beginning of the season, and the people on the stickers used to still play for your club 4 weeks in. How quaint...
ANd tis was all done after being out on the razzle and leaving "Bailey's at around 3 am. This is one player I would love to see a big interview with - unfortunately he doesn't give them because of him crossing the "Glasgae" divide which is all people question him about. His Watford anecdotes should be very, very interesting. A real loss to our club's history.
I found the promotion book of 1978-the pictures of the players are in it so the dunno's are Paul Williams (next to Pritchett) Jimmy Walsh Paul Saunders
Thanks mate only remember Walsh now you've mentioned him. Don't recall the other two, old age I guess.
I started off in the Shrodells stand A21 in 1968. Wooden planks with the seat number painted on. Does anyone remember the barriers giving way in the Vicarage Road end? Think it was an evening match. Possibly FA cup replay against Liverpool? Ended up sitting on the grass for the rest of the game.
I remember the fence at the front of the Shrodells giving way during a league game against QPR. I think it was 1977. It was down towards the Rookery next to the away end. That's before the seats were introduced. I think the terracing was fenced off and the seats actually installed due to this incident. There were a few kids semi crushed against the bent fence and they sat on the grass in front of the stand for the rest of the game. It was my first game as a St John Ambulance Cadet and we used to sit on a bench right next to where it happened.
The family of Paul Williams (sitting to the left of Pritchett) have announced in WO Obituary column he has passed away aged 57-not sure he actually played for us but that is no age.RIP
I'm pretty sure I remember his debut so I think he did. R.I.P Paul (edit: According to Wiki he didn't so I guess it was for the reserves, I attended several B games in those days.)
I keep forgetting how long Ross Jenkins was a part of our club (one club player). Would his début have been in '74? He was a fixture in the team during Taylor's glory years.
Not quite.. He played for Palace before us, making his debut in 1971 (72 for us) He also had a spell in the States for the Washington Diplomats before rejoining us for the final push to the top flight.
