Not quite 20 years but there was a dinner held last night at Shendish Manor with the majority of the players who represented the club that season attending. They had 7 different players up on stage at various times throughout the night recounting their experiences during that run in and then the 2 leg semi final and of course the final. They were "questioned" by a combination of Richard Walker and Jon Marks. Adam Leventhal was in attendance but as a fan along with another 329 of us on 33 tables crammed into the room. Rita Taylor was there which was fitting as so much of what was said related to him. Mr Pink Shirt-Ciaran Cosgrave also spoke. Organised by the club-mainly Richard Johnson-and sponsored by Bugler Group-it as a really good evening with lots of funny stories and anecdotes. Those who stood out for me were Darren Bazeley (who last game was that Wembley match) -became asst coach for the New Zealand national team and now with Colorado Rapids in MLS Alon Hazan. Spoke so movingly about GT and also that for someone not speaking good english to be roomed with Peter Kennedy meant he didn't get to understand much more english. Also didnt understand who was "gaffer" when asked to go see him Nigel Gibbs-so professional and a loyal servant Micah Hyde-again spoke so movingly about the atmosphere at the club and the team spirit-i think he was overcome with emotion at one point such was the memories of that time and the sadness of no GT Michel Ngonge-who son played in the champions league on Tuesday Gifon-Noel-Williams scored 10 in 19 but a terrible tackle by a sunderland player ended his season and career effectively as we all recall Robert Page. All remarked how good he was as a captain for someone aged only 24 Ronny Rosenthal. Told the story about moving on from Liverpool and Spurs to come to us in the lower reaches of football -largely because of GT. He asked for a bonus for promotion-fair enough said GT but even he was taken aback when RR said it was not for getting out of the third tier but out of the second into the Premier. He got his money All the usual suspects were there like Tommy Mooney, Alan Smart and Paul Robinson plus Nicky Wright, Steve Palmer and Alec Chambo" and Peter Kennedy All the players stayed around in the bar afterwards to talk to fans and have pictures taken. We had ours with Tommy Mooney You left feeling there was indeed something unique about those two years of successive promotions not just for us fans lucky enough to experience it but also left a mark on all those players that still resonates today. Largely down to one man sadly no longer with us
Saw a photo of that. Allan Smart has aged like fine wine: an absolute dish. His goal was one of my all time favourites. I'll never forget the feeling of absolute elation but at the same time a zen line calm that came over me when that goal went in. We'd fcking done it. Our absolute dominance of bolton that day was nothing short of sensational. Their team was decent. Nothing now compares to the feelings back then, but I suppose I'm older and a bigger **** these days.
GT also showed a "zen line calm" when the final whistle went (1:51:15) As explained before on another thread, it was also the best ever final as I appear in the video at 1.52.30 bottom right hand corner.
Nice write up @We hate 48 Always thought Nick Wright's goal must have been in the top 10 to have ever graced the Wembley pitch...& then topped off by Smart's pinpoint laser for the 2nd. Could do with a bit of that now. Not too bad for 250k each. Couldn't buy a toenail off Pereyra for that these days.
Back row left to right, Not sure, not sure, Baseley, Mooney, Wright, Chamberlain, Palmer, Hazon, Hyde, Noel- Williams, Ngonge, Johnson Front row! , Gibbs, Smart, Robinson, Page, Kennedy, Rosenthal
It was an amazing day. Probably the least talented group of players to ever get promoted to the premier league, which makes it a great achievement
Is that Chris Day on the left at the back ? Not sure of the guy next to him. Rocket Ronnie is the only other one I didn't get - he looks so different ! Such a shame about Gifton. That injury killed what would have been a great career. He'd received an England U21 call up on the day of the injury.
According to his Wiki page Chris Day is 6ft 3in. He looks about 6ft 8in in that pic! But who is the mystery man next to him?
Is the 2nd from the left in the back Guomundsson he is just about the only player from that season it could be unless it's one of the coaching team?
Think you're right Teide. This from 5 years ago.. https://fotbolti.net/fullStory.php?id=144729 Looks like him.
My memory of the 90's is terrible probably in part do with it was a pretty poor decade for Watford, certainly up to 97 and then it picked up somewhat! Just seen this chap played 22 games for us!
Don't remember him at all, other than the fact he scored twice ! Mental block. Confused him with Melvang and Gudmundsson.
It's funny some players are so underwhelming you completely forget about them, a bit like Steve Cherry and Dean Yates who remembers those two!
I remember them in name but probably wouldn't recognise them now. That said there will be a number of players from the last few years that will be difficult to remember in 20 years time.
I only remember Yates as he scored against Bristol City i think ?? Other than that he was permanetly injured. Would have fitted in well this era.
Matt Jackson although more recent is another one, falls in the why did we buy him, what did he do for us catagory!
I believe GT rated Yates highly, but it was the injury he got with us that effectively ended his career early. I remember seeing him looking forlorn in the car park outside Wembley before the play-off in '99.
He was injury prone before he joined us and that was really the only reason we were able to get him at the time, from Derby was it ?
I don't think any of them had the technical ability required now to be playing in the premier league, if so they probably wouldn't have been playing for us in those days which was primarily a division one team with a few additions, the season (our first in the P.L.) showed us up to be not good enough!