More than likely yes - the origin of the word is the Medieval Latin libraria, which is the noun form of the adjective librarius, meaning of or concerning books, implying, therefore, that the presence of books is not actually necessary.
I suggest someone takes a tape recorder to Pompey, Palace, Liverpool, Sunderland etc. and records generic chants, singing, vitriolic abuse etc. (i.e. where the actual team/players/words are indecipherable). Then play these recordings through the tannoy back at Vicarage Road. The recordings could be indexed through software and specific chants etc. and could be played by the click of mouse button at appropriate moments/periods before/during/after the game such as: Build-up to game Team playing well Team playing badly Watford player booked/sent off Away player booked/sent off Half-time Build-up to second half Ludicrous referee mistake Watford shot well wide Away shot well wide Watford goal Final whistle - victory Final whistle - defeat (but no booing) etc. etc. Then we wouldn't need to sing! I'll get my coat.............
Trouble seems to be when there is a bigger crowd which could create a great atmosphere the team always play poorly. The 12/13k do try at times particularly in the Rookery but it is hard when there is a empty stand next to you...
Maybe we shouldn't want a bigger crowd. The att. figures are the best for the season. 2012/13 Leeds (16,968) LOST 1-2 2011/12 Blackpool (16,314) LOST 0-2 2010/11 QPR (15,538) LOST 0-2 2009/10 Newcastle (17,120) LOST 1-2 2008/09 Wolves (16,386) LOST 2-3 2007/08 QPR (18,698) LOST 2-4
For those too young to remember we could always have a rousing blast of "Come on you Horns" over the tannoy. Yes children, it has been done... I nearly died of shame... a little something from the Petchey era that is not generally mentioned.
Just a theory but it strikes me that with a slightly smaller crowd those who make the noise are able to congregate together. When it is a larger crowd then everybody is somewhat stuck in their own seat and there may be too much of a gap to get things going. Okay I sit in the UR but I have done my bit over the years in The Rookery and The Vic and still do when I travel away. I am more vociferous than most in the UR too, not that that really helps. I think the same thing happened at Wembley: those who would sing were split apart and in with those who generally don't. I had a great seat for the match but and there were 9 of us 'together' - except that we were not together as all we could get was a row of 5 and a row of 4 with two rows in between. Well that was our atmosphere gone by the time the telephone went down on purchasing the tickets. Probably not a lot we can do for creating some intensity for next season but hopefully the moves are afoot for 2014-15. Our Wembley experience has struck a very raw nerve indeed, that's for sure.
Yes indeed. It was one of those 'I was there' moments. Wondered what the hell was going on when it started!!!
I mentioned on a previous thread about Crystal Palace having 'Glad all Over' while we don't have our own song. Almost all of our songs are generic with just the name of the club or the player switched around. Nothing wrong with that, but it is good to have you own stamp on a song I think. I've always like "We all follow a yellow football team" to the tune of yellow submarine, as there aren't many yellow teams! Its a shame Z-cars has no lyrics really.... Unique chants and songs are difficult to consciously invent though. Liverpool fans didn't start singing You'll Never Walk Alone because of an internet forum. Perhaps someone should try and work up some lyrics to the tune of the Italian national anthem and see how that goes? I just hope its not played all the time over the tannoy like the Saracens song that Right Said Fred did! A singing section would be good, but its a bit late now, needs to be defined before season tickets are sold. I think there when there were a group of clubs in favour of investigating safe standing recently, we were one of the clubs that supported the idea. I don't know what they had in mind, perhaps a new standing only stand on the east side of the ground is a cheap way to replace the stand.
Ok so The Group has been named The 1881, website addresses have been secured. Roy had a meeting with the Podcast guys to hopefully get them inside. He has a meeting with the club to find out what they can offer and to get them onside. This is really rolling guys. This is about Watford fans grouping together to make a noise, but longer term there being a group so that when the East Stand is built as a group we can approach the club to secure our area.
You have to wonder how many non Watford fans were at the Newcastle and QPR games given the trouble both matches caused and games like Blackpool were Quids for a Kid when we NEVER seem to do very well and you aren't likely to get much of an atmosphere. In fact at one game this man told me and a friend to sit down BEFORE the game started as he (and young son) couldn't see a few players warming up...and I'm certainly not a big/tall chap so you've got no chance of them standing and singing. Ofcourse we need those fans those for the future so its tricky to blame fair-weather supporters but I must admit I expected more of an atmosphere at Wembley even if it was just "yellow army" Maybe we just need to move on from signing "shooting Luton..." or "something is a hole" (I know all clubs do it..) Palace for example have a good variation in terms of songs about their club.
Right guys and gals. I know many of you arent ST holders, but many are. The 1881 group seems to be going from strength to strength. But now they need your help. If you wish to be involved they need a minimum of 200 fans to send Fan ID's and Seat numbers into [email protected]. The club need to know there is an interest and that it will work. This is our chance to get behind the team and make a lot of noise, lets take it.
The lyrics to the Z-Cars theme - Johnny Todd Johnny Todd he took a notion For to cross the ocean wide. There he left his true love a-weeping Waiting by the Liverpool tide. For a week she wept full sorely, Tore her hair and wrung her hands Till she met with another sailor Walking on the Liverpool sands. O fair maid why are you weeping For your Johnny gone to sea? If you'll wed with me tomorrow I will kind and constant be. I will buy you sheets and blankets, I'll buy you a wedding ring. You shall have a gilded cradle For to rock you baby in. Johnny Todd came home from sailing, Far across the ocean wide, There he found that his fair and false one Was another sailor's bride. So, all you lads who go a-sailing For to fight the foreign foe. Never leave your true love like Johnny, Marry her before you go!
I think you've just cracked the problem there Mark - our fans are signing instead of singing - no wonder the yellow end of Wembley was so quiet.