Sad news just posted by Luther. Martin Patching has passed away. I remember the goal he scored against Liverpool in the final match in 1983 to ensure we won and finished 2nd in the top flight.
Condolences to his family and friends, didn’t play that many games for us but was quality when he did play! R.I.P.
RIP I actually saw his debut away at Preston on a friday night just before Xmas in 1979-he scored as we won away for the first time that season being back in Div 2 (as it was).Played a bit that season and early the next but from October 1980 he didnt feature at all for nearly 2 seasons-missing all of 81/82 as we went up -only to then have a fairytale ending to our 82/83 season as mentioned by @hornetboy1. Condolences to his family
Very sad news. He also did a stint as co-commentator on Watford games for BBC3 Counties for a while some years ago.
While not completely ignorant of past players, I was trying to figure out why I felt I knew Martin Patching's name more than most from that era. That explains it. 65 is such a young age all told.
Sad news, may he rest in peace. I was also at that Friday night match which we won at Preston, such a cold night as I remember.
Really surprised when he joined us from Wolves. Thought he'd be too good for us. But we rose to his standard.
Very sad, my first games coincided with him joining the club I never realised Cauley Woodrow is his son
Yes,I was surprised too. Quality player whose career was shortened by injury. How sad that his life has too. RIP.
Sadly suffered a brain tumour on the way to the play off final in 2006 but made a recovery after a 2nd scare . https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/sport/football/67630136.amp
No age at all. I'm sure the club will do something to remember him.by at the next home fixture. RIP. https://www.wolvesheroes.com/2023/12/06/martin-patching-our-tribute/
I’m surprised he played so few games, as I remember him well. Scored 3 big goals for the club, even the goal on his debut at Preston made sure we won for the first time in the Second Division. One of the goals in that iconic Southampton win and of course that brilliant goal against Liverpool. He was very instrumental in those glory years, however fleeting it was.
Very sad news. Martin was a lovely man. I got to know him a bit in the mid-2000s and, as someone has said, he was taken very ill on the day of the play-off final against Leeds in 2006, which was a couple of years after I'd got to know him and I lost touch. He once gave me a DVD of the original club video recording of the Watford 2 Liverpool 1 game from May 1983. I've still got it but no longer have a DVD player. When I first watched it I remember being struck by what a furious yet calming presence he was in midfield that day – up against Graeme Souness and Sammy Lee in the midfield. He could win the ball and pass it and he burst forward well. It was the complete midfield performance. Unfortunately, he had a recurring knee injury and couldn't stay fit. If I remember rightly, that performance against Liverpool persuaded GT to keep Martin on for another year but at the start of the next season he broke down again and they agreed to settle his contract. Although we'd lost touch a number of years before, when a mutual friend passed away five years ago Martin reached out to extend his condolences, which speaks volumes for the type of person his was. Condolences to all who knew and loved Martin.
I could be wrong but i remember going up to Preston on a Friday night before Christmas in 1979 we sucred our first away win of the season coaming back to win 2-1 my memory might be playing tricks on me but i think both Posket and patching made their debuets and poskets scored not sure if patching got the other goal i could be wrong it was 44 years ago. What i do remember is a bricks being thrown at the coach as we reproached the ground also fighting as some preston fans were in our end and snow on the ground as we got dropped off back in Watford at about 3am Happy days
He managed/owned a pub in a village outside Hemel Hempstead after he retired. My wife's uncle bought it off him or the brewery. I think it's closed down now. RIP (Martin - not the pub)
No. It was a couple of miles out of Hemel going towards Berko/Ashridge. Unhelpfully I can't remember the name of the place or the pub
Was The Red Lion at Potten End that Martin Ran initially, he then moved on to run The Bull in Bovingdon. I THINK. - My memory may be clouded, but I don't think so.
That's it! The Red Lion in Potten End! Mrs Lloyd thinks her uncle changed the name of the place - she can't remember what to though. I think we must both be going senile!
