Same game. January 1967.. http://www.watfordfcpics.co.uk/watford-v-liverpool-fa-cup-3rd-rd-28-01-1967/print/7654520.html Must say i havent seen that for any other game at the Vic. I wonder if people used to climb the tree(s) that lined the back of the Vicarage road terrace once upon a time?
Another from the Furphy era. http://team-shots.co.uk/images/Watford_605x480.jpg?osCsid=dljb339n620n133ks6g696ere1 Dyson was one of my favourite players, having seen him score two, with one being an incredibly powerful acute-angled strike from the corner of the penalty area, at Bristol Rovers in what I remember as his debut, but which I think
Occasionally, as a ball-boy, I was asked to help with the Half Time scoreboard located in front of what later became the family terrace alongside the main stand. We had two boxes of large quite heavy numerals to hang next to the letter which represented the game. Often the scores had not come through until about 5 minutes into the 2nd half, so when doing this job, you missed some of the game which I hated, hence I avoided it like the plague. I still remember the gasps from the crowd when a big score occasionally went-up, like C - Man U 0 Sunderland 2 or similar
No you are correct - it was Dyson's debut. I was there at Eastville - a ground that had many similarities to Vicarage Road, including a dog track round the pitch and sparse stands!
I thought the tops of the walls had bits of broken bottles and other glass shards cemented into them to prevent this type of thing? Never the most welcoming of sights....... I recall Liverpool fans in the trees behind the bend by the Rookery in the infamous Ian Rush/Roger Milford quarter final replay.
Definitely broken bottles in cement on top of walls late 60's and by mid 70s barbed wire was put around base of floodlight pylons to stop the climbing. Maybe the broken glass was introduced as a result of this game.
Yes i remember the broken bottles.. in fact i think that was my first impression of the Vic arriving there in the mid 70's as a young boy. Looking at the pic though you can see the people sat on the wall have protected their posteriors by putting down jackets etc to sit on. They were well ard in those days
Found another picture from that game: And the large, high res version can be seen here: http://media.*****images.com/photos...rs-to-head-the-picture-id98003675?s=2048x2048
The two Watford defenders are Keith Eddy (of course) and Johnny Williams (not renowned for his heading ability). Williams and St John also played in the League Cup tie and FA Cup ties at Vicarage Road in 1969-70, a win for both sides resulting. Eddy played in the League Cup tie but was injured for the FA Cup tie. Reminds me of the piece of graffiti seen on a church notice board in Liverpool around this time. The main poster asks: "What would you do if Jesus Christ came back?" The answer was scrawled underneath: "Move St John to inside left". It was original at the time......
1950's goalkeeper Ted Bennett, 92 today. I'm friends with his son (also named Ted). Unfortunately Ted Snr has been in a care home for approaching three years (dementia sadly, has good days & bad days, but apparently his football memories are still quite sharp)
Easter time ? I think there used to be a transfer cut-off in those days, so we always seemed to be desperate to bring in someone, anyone to bolster our flagging fortunes.
That was the game where a crowd of us autograph hunters followed Liverpool's team to the Junction and while they waited for their train on the platform ( no barriers and first class lounge for footballers in those days ! ) we had full access to them for signatures. Bill Shankly was in conversation with reporters on the platform and he was asked about his view of Watford captain ( and public heavy smoker ) Keith Eddy's performance. His response was "Well...errrr...if yer gunna smoke...ehhh...youre never gunna...errr...win...errr". The group of us repeated that phrase, in full Shankly mode, for weeks afterwards whenever we saw anyone smoking.
Actually end of January/beginning of February 1968 so long before the so-called "Transfer deadline". As I mentioned in another thread, Dyson was signed to replace Tony Currie who was sold (as were a succession of our best players in the late 60s and early 70s) to Sheffield United. Bonser (the chairman and owner of the club) then sold a player per season not so much to boost our "flagging fortunes" as to keep the club afloat financially. It was his refusal (or inability) to invest in the club in the first half of the 70s (especially during our brief 3-season stint in Div. 2) that lead to our plummet down to the basement division, before SEJ bought the club.
This was posted on Twitter earlier by Derrick Williams: https://twitter.com/derrickw59/status/900487890886696962 Have posted it here for those that haven't seen it. As mentioned in his tweet - check out the xmas schedule in 1924!!
...and check out the result at K*n*lw*rth Rd! We were still playing most of these clubs 40 years later - except Norwich and Aberdare Athletic (for differing reasons)...
A couple of good pictures surfaced on Twitter recently on those old football accounts: Watford manager Neil McBain with the players on the vic Road pitch, 1957 Large, high res version can be seen here: http://media.*****images.com/photos...fc-talking-to-a-picture-id3429809?s=2048x2048 And Barry Endean celebrating his goal against Liverpool in 1970 (any older members of the forum in the crowd pictured?) Large, high res version can be seen here: http://media.*****images.com/photos...ed-by-the-crowd-picture-id3252235?s=2048x2048
Re the Barry Endean picture, can you imagine some (any?) of the current players ending up in the state he did during that game. I know that the pitch was like a ploughed field, but even so...
A bit more recent history.. but certainly an historical moment. A really great photo i thought. Especially like all the gaping open mouths of people in the crowd.
Taking it back in time again.. One of my fav wfc pics. Villa Park 1984. Also from Villa Park. The word "God" will have a different meaning to Watford fans!
Pat Jennings - that must have been his first season for us? I keep forgetting what a long career in football he had.
Not good on this era, but recognised Roy Brown for sure (of course) second left sitting, and Sammy Chung closest standing (not quite so sure). Who said football was intollerent? I checked their records, and both were there in 57, though it seems to be the only year tbey crossed over. Pretty sure there was an article in the program in the eighties, v Birmingham, saying that Roy had become Mayor of Birmingham, or a near by town to it, and he was coming along to the game in official capacity. Edit: Checked it. His Brother was mayor of Stoke! So near, but so far.
Who'd have thought a Watford history thread would run to six pages. Getting a bit big for our boots aren't we?
I'm in that ! mouth wide open ! Amazed that the guy in the crowd to the left of the centre LCFC player showed no emotion , not only just after the goal !
2nd from left is Keith Mercer - only know this because I have a cropped version of this picture with just him and his name on it! Now I know where the picture came from. Otherwise, no idea - was still a twinkle in the milkmans eye!
Correct Keith Mercer. Two of the others are well known. One is a current football league manager and the other is more famous for another sport.
