As it's all gone a bit quiet down here i thought i'd kickstart the history section again with a new thread. Although the other main history thread is also mainly photos there's a lot to trawl through so thought i'd start a new one. What better place to start than this cracking shot of Luther scoring against Sunderland in the 8-0 win in October 1982. I have a bunch more other shot of this game that i will post up shortly.
Indeed it is. Funny ive been looking over the years for a pic of him playing in this game and hadn't thought about him being in this one (which i just come across recently)
Thanks for posting these. One of my memories of this game was that Turner in the Sunderland goal was their man of the match, despite conceding eight!
My overriding memory was swapping from the Rookery to the Vic end to watch the last bit of the game and missing Luther's first ever hat trick goal in the process! PS Be sticking up a load more pics here when i get around to it.. but does anyone have any requests for pics they'd like to see?
Do you have any from our first ever away match in the top flight at Southampton? I t happened to be my first ever away game as well
St Andrews.. https://media.*****images.com/photos/sport-football-pic-10th-february-1984-birmingham-city-1-v-watford-picture-id78979591?k=6&m=78979591&s=612x612&w=0&h=9iDqe5_H8wZ47gD3FiPs6adx3m9fLZyitg1ebzEAFKU= https://media.*****images.com/photos/watfords-les-taylor-celebrates-after-scoring-the-second-goal-against-picture-id95688508?k=6&m=95688508&s=612x612&w=0&h=TkriDTvihu11d1ctvtm-1aTn_FlNoiq1sSHAw3UAa0s=
Ok a real test. What about the 2-1 home win vs Darlington in Sept(?) 1977 which was my first game and when the wfc bug bit me.
Thanks yes - in a box somewhere ! The game featuring the guy I was convinced would become the best player in the world, Peter Coffill. The debut and final career game for the on-loan goalscorer, Bobby Svarc from Blackburn. I thought Doug Alder made his one appearance too but maybe that was the next game vs Bournemouth. EDIT - just checked that was Rochdale away, about a month later per that brilliant website http://watford.fcdb.info/?pageno=4&orderby=date_desc ....
Don't recall Svarc. I thought it was an obscure, Cold War acronym when I saw it written on the programme. (Vaguely remember his Blackburn association. Apparently, still runs a burglar alarm company in the town.)
Proven goalscorer brought in on loan. Was excited as I'd 1) heard of him and 2) seen his goals record. Played less than a half before getting a career ending injury.
Bobby Svarc's story is an interesting one. He played in the same Lincoln side as GT.. and John Ward, Ray Hartford and Jim Smith among others. Was replaced by Luther Blissett in his last (half) game in football. Had a testimonial for Colchester 18 years after hanging up his boots and became a Jehovah's Witness. No wonder Half Man Half Biscuit named dropped him in one of their songs! You can read more about him here.. https://i0.wp.com/oldwatford.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Scan-134.jpeg?w=2216&ssl=1
I can picture the look of fear on my face still when I realised I would have to walk through their baying mob of idiots after the match. I've felt like that at any game before or since, I seriously thought we wouldn't get out alive!
Most of the pics ive seen of that day focus on the post match celebrations.. as you'd expect. I do have some match action pics i think but i will post later as it's food time for me. Actually this is a great shot as it captures the very moment that the stadium announcer reads out the United score and confirms us as runner up. GT takes it in his stride.
Less sang froid from Elton. JB winner of the Short Shorts comp. And Sherwood's amazing 5 foot arm. Great days!
If you look at the gap just to the right of the 7 on Scully's shorts, that's me. I had a tough time jumping up & down to see what was happening...
I hadn't noticed Sherwood's arm He should have plucked the ball easily off of Gray's head with that thing! Scalexman (wfc kit guru) tells that during this period some players used to roll their shorts up as much as they cold to show off their.. ermmmm.. long ball game. As if the shorts during that time really needed to be hitched up! PS Luther's gone one better.. he isnt wearing any.