Why do you support Watford?

I'm not from Watford, never lived within 40 miles of Watford, have no family connections, or friends or other connections with Watford, yet there has only ever been one team for me. For the record and to add a bit of context (but without meaning to start any kind of 'what makes a proper fan' argument) I would just like to state that I am a STH, go to as many away games as I can afford and that the missus lets me go to, and class myself as a 'proper fan' rather than a 'take it or leave it, and not get properly pished off when we lose' type of fan.

It's fairly normal for people to support the big clubs having never lived there, but probably not so usual to support the smaller teams.

People always ask me why I support Watford and I don't fully know to be honest but from the age of 5 (1983) there are photos of me in Watford replica kits (#fkw) and my first game was in 1984. I presume it was because we were the nearest top division club to my hometown when i became interested in football. I guess it'd be fair to call me a glory hunter seeing as I started supporting us at our peak! But then I did stick with us for the next 30 years through thick and, mostly, thin without wavering and whilst having the pish taken out of me throughout school for supporting such a sheeite team!

Anyway I've always been interested to know any other peoples stories behind why thry support our club and what were the driving factors behind it? and if there's anyone out there like me with zero affiliation to the town!

Ps it's my first thread I've ever started, a bit bored on a Friday night so go easy on me! Apologies if there is a similar thread to this anywhere, feel free to move it if so.

 

Since I was young,
I followed them,
Watford FC,
The team for me.

Born next to the ground,
Dad supports them,
Granddad supported them,
Etc......

 

Born and lived in Watford.

 

Old man asked me if I wanted to go watch Spurs ... I asked "what for dad?" and somehow we ended up at the Vic

 

Because Bournemouth's too far away.

Dad used to take me as a kid in the 4th division and then he became a steward so I used to get in free.

 

Because it's a farking long way to Coruña

 

When I was just a little boy I asked my mother "What will I be? Will I be Watford? Or L***n Town?" Here's what she said to me...

...you know the rest.

 

Because Graham Taylor held me as a baby and annointed me.

 

I went to the FA cup losers open top bas parade and thought it was great, damn football ruined it all though when I found out that's what it was about, already had the kit and rosette by then though so I was in. Highlight of my career as a Watford bus parade fan was the 1999 bus.

My first memory was at school when Watford lost that FA cup final and everyone was upset. I recall asking my friends if they supported a football team and then asked my dad which was the closest team to us. The next season my dad took me along and I loved it, because we went on a bus.



(I may be over-egging my love of buses for dramatic effect).

 

Because my Mum told my Dad if he wanted to go to the footy he had to take me with him as she couldn't handle me being at home with her. I was a maniac as a kid.

 

Interesting, in that respect your circumstances in supporting Watford are very similar to mine (just replace 40 with 15), but there the resemblance ends! I'm two years older than you, but having not come from a footballing family (apart from my brother, who's an armchair Arsenal fan and goes to one game a season if he can be arsed) and being useless at any kinds of sports at school (and no, cross country doesn't count) I didn't seriously become interested in the beautiful game until the 1998 World Cup when I was in my early 20s. I don't know what it was, because for quite a while I didn't really understand anything about the rules of the game other than the objective being to put the pig's bladder into the onion bag more times than the opposition (I didn't even know a full match was 90 minutes), but something about the magic of the sport clicked with me and made me realize that there was some appeal in watching twenty-two stick figures running about on an unchanging green pitch (of course, more so if you actually go to a live game).

For a while I was only really interested in the England team, but I (don't hate me for this, we were all young and na*ve once) also keenly followed the progress of Man Utd in the Champions League during the year they won the treble, because I didn't realize how much they were hated and was keen for any sports person/team representing England to do well on the world stage (even if in this case they had a large foreign contingent). After quickly becoming disillusioned with the lack of success of the national team and realizing that it would be a long time, if ever, that they would taste glory again, my attentions focused more closely on club football, and round about early 2000 I somehow realized that Watford FC were the team for me.

So, after that somewhat rambling intro (thanks if you've got this far!), the question is why Watford? Well, I'd actually already become quite interested in the club and the town in the last year or so as a mate at Manchester Uni from Abbots Langley was a Watford fan, and was amazed to hear they'd recently won promotion to the Premiership, as from what little I've heard about them (didn't even know they existed until 1996) I assumed they were one of those perennial lower league clubs that only die hard lower league football fans are likely to have heard of - I noticed the photos and memorabilia of their Division 4 title winning season in the Watford museum, but somehow managed to overlook the phenomenal success that followed shortly. Well, that was a large part of its appeal - an underdog, a club regarded as (excuse the clichés) unglamorous, old-fashioned, often mocked by the media and ignorant fans alike, a club who had the disgracefully vilified "Turnip" Taylor, quite different from the usual Chelsea/Arsenal/Spurs that people around my area and at school supported. As someone who's often been regarded as a bit "different", there was something about its quirkiness - the gaudy but fun kit, mascot, the supporters' wacky sense of humour, its friendly family club atmosphere, its unique, colourful and amazing history that struck a chord with me that no other club could. Spurs were out of the question, because it's situated in a horrible area which is a nightmare to get to with obnoxious moaning fans who think finishing 10th in the Premiership constitutes a crisis of epic proportions, I liked Arsenal's team and their football but felt I'd get bored with a team that is winning most of the time, and I knew Barnet were unlikely to achieve much success beyond the odd promotion push in Div. 3 (old). As for having an affiliation to the town, having lived in north London most of my life and being a sucker for peaceful leafy suburbia, while I wouldn't say the place itself is any great shakes (the nearby Bushey and Rickmansworth are far more attractive) I guess it made sense that I should gravitate towards that area for a team to support, which is a quick drive up the M1, and actually much closer in time than most London clubs.

Though I'll admit that having come round to football at such a late stage of my life, I did have to learn a few harsh lessons quite early on and quickly - that we're not going to have it all our own way and there are going to be some tough and frustrating times ahead where we will often lose more often than we win, and it's not always going to be pretty to watch by a long shot. I didn't mind being relegated by a country mile from the Premiership because I was confident that under GT we'd bounce back as champions (oops) - after going the first 15 games unbeaten it was a bitter pill to swallow to see us fall so far off the pace and made me wonder whether I'd actually chosen the right club to support. But I stuck with them, and to this day I'm really proud and satisfied I made that choice, especially when having chats with intelligent and right-minded supporters during a time when our club is something to be respected rather than mocked. And here's for more happy times ahead - at least it's never dull - for the most part, anyway!

 

Born and bred in Watford.
My Dad took me to my first game when I was 3 or 4, I don't know who against. I can recall the excitement, the crowds, the noise; I could hardly sleep that night. The first game I can recall clearly was a 4-0 demolition of Barrow in 68 a year or so later. Loved Keith Eddy and Stuart Scullion.
71-72 was a bit of a struggle but I have seen most home games since then.

 

When I was a kid I used to follow the results of one team from all the main divisions including in Scotland, and Watford was one of those teams, which at that time were in the old 4th division.

As I got older, though still to young to go on my own, I started going to Fulham as I had an older friend who was a Fulham supporter and they were my team from the then 1st division.

I did not go to football very much for a few years after that, though I still continued with my childhood habit of following a team from each division, but somehow I always stuck with Watford as they progressed through the divisions, and basically abandoned all the other teams in the late seventies and I have been yellow through and through ever since.

Though I have to admit I did consider supporting Plymouth Argyle when I moved to the city in 1986, as their ground was just a 10 min walk from where I lived, and I actually went to a few games, but the Horns were in my blood!!!

 

I heard one Watford fan decided to support the team because he liked the colourful kit of its subbuteo set in the 1980s. He decided to support the team without knowing anything about them or even know what the team was called. When he found out the yellow shiny kitted team was in Division one he was pleasantly surprised and has supported Watford since.

For me the reason is due to location and it was a lot cheaper going there than some other clubs in London when I started going.

 

My family moved to St James Rd (the next road after Liverpool Rd that runs parallel to Occupation Rd) in 1971 when I was 4.

When I was 8 or 9 I remember playing in our back garden and hearing the crowd roar whenever we scored, and it was that that got me curious to go and watch a game. I must have convinced my dad (who was then an Arsenal fan) to take me and initially we ended up going to watch the Reserves before upgrading in 1976/77 to First team games. We were incredibly lucky to have started going just as Sir GT joined us.

 

I was born in Chelsea and then Lived in Northolt till I was about 6 and then moved to Potters Bar. My parents didn't like football so I just supported Chelsea cos all my friends did, till I was about 13 when Chelsea got taken over and I never went to a single game. I never really cared about them, and I knew i'd never be able to watch them. I'd always followed Watford because one of my parents friends had a ST but then my best mate joined the academy and got me tickets to Watford v Spurs when Brendan was in charge, which was my first ever football match. I absolutely loved it and knew I was hooked. Went to about 5 games that season and then my brother came home from uni, I got him to come to the first game of Malky's first season and he was hooked too. Got a half season ticket after Christmas that season and we've had one ever since.

I wish i'd supported Watford my whole life. But I couldn't care less about Chelsea now.

 

Why?

Because its the right thing to do

 

I knew from a very young age that there was only one team for me, and I've been a loyal fan since, trying to make it to the ground whenever possible.

Then, when Sir Alex left, I realised that Old Trafford was far too far away and went for the local team instead. I've seen some dire performances in the second Zola season and almost gave up my season ticket, but I feel my pain and sacrifice has finally reaped its benefits.

 

Father, grandfather and great grandfather (after he moved from North London, thankfully he didn't choose Spurs) lived in Watford and always supported WFC, dad took me along when I was younger. As a kid, always had links to Watford as lived in Tring and Berkhamsted area nearby so always seemed most natural team to support.

 

Because all 1200 kids in my school in harrow supported qpr, chelsea and arsenal. I thought "I'm not having this".

 

Been walking up from the Holywell est for 35 years thanks to my Uncle, Dad was fishing.

 

I had two relatives that played for them.

We had players lodging with us when I was a kid.

Father born in street next to the ground, parents still live nearby, and I had trials as a teenager (and failed miserably).

No brainer, really.

 

I am a huge Elton John fan, and because I knew Watford was his team, my ears would pricck up every time Watford was mentioned and I would make that association. It just grew from there.

 

Never been anywhere near England.

I was based in Canberra and joined a tipping comp as work was full of Expats, the only link I had to any of the teams was my wife was born at Watford General and that was the year we were promoted under Aidy Boothroyd.

I love the ups and downs of the team, from relegation, Russo's/Bassini era to now with the Pozzo reign, promotion and quality of players were bringing in.

 

I was football crazy when I was a kid, living in Bedmond and then Croxley. Just liked any type of football and having been born in 1961, I was just about old enough to see England winning the world cup.

Nobody else in my immediate family was into football at all, though I had an uncle who was a Hornet. I think the first big thing that turned me on to Watford was the 1969/70 FA Cup run. Probably the win against the giants of Stoke, then the miracle win over Liverpool.

I eventually managed to persuade my dad to take me to a couple of games at the Vic and the Hornet Uncle gave me a scarf for my birthday and that was pretty much it. For better or worse, there's only been one team for me.

I became a ball boy in the 70s. Went to every game I could get to.

As others have said, it was hard sometimes to suffer the insults and mockery during the difficult times from supposed supporters of "big" teams.

Had our revenge though in GTs time in the 80s (most especially those same big team fans begging for an FA cup final ticket on the grounds that they'd always actually been secret Watford fans) and once again now.

I've been lucky really to have that opportunity. Watford were like Orient and we could quite easily have enjoyed the same success levels as they have over the last 40 years or so i.e. none. It wouldn't have mattered though. I could never look at another team.

 

I was born in Watford so I didn't have a choice.....not that I'm complaining.

I did come across a taxi driver in Sydney who, like you, had never been to England but was a loyal 'orn. He fell in love with the style of play under GT in the late 70's and early 80's. Despite the disparaging comments from the pundits about long balls, it was very exciting football to watch during that time and he has been following the 'orns ever since.

 

As a kid I had absolutely no interest in any toys, just football. Sort of supported Man Utd until I was 6 and in fact my dad took me to see West Ham vs Man Utd for my first ever game. It kicked off everywhere which put me off for about 5 minutes. My dad was a Chelsea fan but followed the fortunes of Jimmy Greaves wherever he went but back in the late 70's you only went to Chelsea if you were a few sandwiches short of a picnic so dad took me to my local team, I lived in Amersham, Watford. That was season 79/80. 36 seasons later and still love match days.

 

Born in Watford. Sadly followed Man Utd in the days of law, best and charlton but joined the bandwagon when GT and SEJ rolled into town

 

Brought up in Sussex and "supported" Man U at the time of the 76 cup final to go against the flow of the rest of the school suddenly becoming Saints fans. Moved to Chalfont St Giles when I was 10 and one of the village newsagents used to sell the old Watford scratch cards, which got him complimentary tickets, which he couldn't use as he was in his shop. He used to coach football at school on his half day closing and would let us have his tickets (actually a note written on one of his brown paper bags saying please give .... my 2 tickets!)

My old man was a Chelsea fan from the post war years who hadn't been to the Bridge since he got married in 1959 but agreed to come to the Vic with me - about 1980 I think. After a few games together he started to let me go alone or with school friends.

I've moved around a bit, Northolt then Aston Clinton, then Bicester then Witney (all fairly doable for getting to Watford) but while around Oxford I got into watching Oxford United when I couldn't get to the Vic. 2 of my girls played in their youth set up/Centre of Excellence so I had complimentary season tickets there. I let my girls support their local team while seeing the Orns as often as I could manage.

Have now moved to Plymouth and watch Argyle quite often but still try to get up to see the Orns a few times a season - 2 live home games, plus Bournemouth and Swansea away so far, plus Sky/BTgames and any other ways I might find to see a game if I'm not at Argyle. I will always be a Watford fan (and am proud that 2 of my girls are too - the other one's boyfriend is an egg chasing fan) but also love the atmosphere of the live game so I'm happy to follow my local lower league team, while being an Orn at heart. Weather permitting (which looks unlikely) I will be in the away end at Exeter to catch up with Oxford fans this afternoon.

 

I grew up in Bushey, my dad was taking my older brothers to Vicarage Road, when I was 7 I pestered him enough to start bringing me along as well, that was in December 1983; I haven't looked back.
My dad on the other hand grew up in Plymouth and was an Argyle fan. He moved to Bushey in 1970 but only ever went to Watford when Plymouth were in town, he started supporting Watford regularly from 1977 onwards.

 

Born in Sligo, Ireland in 1980 - was 4 years old when we played Everton in the FA Cup.
My older brother (7) was an Everton fan

Apparently according to my dad during the match I started shouting for the 'yellows'
When quizzed by my brother what I was doing I said 'They're my team'

The room I shared with my brothers was wall papered with centre pull outs from Shoot magazine.
Was proud of my Watford Section (dash of back to the future in there too)

I've been a Watford fan for the past 34 years and very proud of that fact..
Everyone who knows me, or has ever met me will generally know I'm a Watford fan - live and breath football.

Would love to attend more regularly but unfortunately that's not financially viable.
Have considered moving to Watford on a number of occasions - maybe in the future.

 

Isn't she a little bit young to be married then?

It only took me one Boxing Day visit with dad and brothers back in the early 70s to a crumbling ground with a dog track around it and a tatty little tea hut as the full catering experience - I was sold!

 

I live in Wiltshire, my Great Aunt used to live in Watford (back in the late 80s) and we would visit her a couple of times a year. Her son used to go and watch Watford and I remember him talking about the games. I became interested and started looking out for the results on TV, went to my first game in 1988.

 

Was this the game-October 1975 (?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEJ6Xe7_LOs

If so then funnily I was there as a few of us teenagers used to go together to certain games at Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham that season and maybe the next (its a long time ago), occasionally even when we were playing at home so we were at that match.

This was our division 4 season having been relegated back in April- we had home gates of 4,000 and it wasn't much fun compared to when I first went in 1967