I have always enjoyed reading Oliver Phillips's articles and I believe today's lives up to the highest standard. The jist of the article is of the 3 scenarios in appointing a new manager, Dyche's appointment comes into the "the rookie manager will take the opportunity, whatever the budget". He also suggests that MacKay was aware of his likely departure, and the chief reason for this, he suggests, was an expectation of "difficult times ahead with the new owner". I am not usually a psychophant, but I do buy into the article. I have always backed the Watford Observer because it is clear they will outlive any "custodian of the club", and I only hope Sean Dyche establishes himself as a fine manager at the club. As for Baz my view remains, he is not in charge of the destiny of the club. I only hope he leaves it in no worse a condition than he took on.
Ollie has sort of shot himself in the foot at the end though. He's implying that the next time he speaks to Dyche, he'll be off.
Leo, no its not available online. I was going to tell you to buy the paper (that is how they pay their wages!), but then I remembered you lived in some "wild enclave" in the UK!! LOL
No they never seem to put his articles on-line, which is annoying. Would you like to scan it and post it for us poor exiles Elixir?
good point to start us off Elixir - the WO will be there longer than any one person at the club* along with many dark days in the Petchey era was the big falling out between club and paper - culminating in the cancellation of the half time shoot out...crazy times when I started following the 'orns the WO was required reading, not so much for the match reports, but for Ollie's articles and the sense that they were 'breaking news' times have changed, so it's not that realistic to expect that anymore, but I think the WO can still do a decent job in covering the team (+ associated topics) behind the scenes
Yes. I remember the Evening Echo and its darker sister paper the Evening Post (for that place up the Motorway). Both produced by the same company, in the same building in Maylands Avenue Hemel. Probably the most bizarre editions (certainly as far as sport is concerned) were the ones on the day following the infamous 'Battle of Kenilworth Road' at the end of the 68-69 season when we finished top and L*t*n finished 3rd (and missed out on promotion). The game itself finished 2-1 to them, but the battle between the fans on the terraces went on for over 3 hours, back and forth across the Oak Road End. 2 Watford players and a L*t*n player were sent off. It culminated in the Horns fans invading the pitch when we went 2 down, walking from one goalmouth to the other with a few fans trying to dig up the penalty spot at the Oak Road End before being chased back into the terraces by the Police. One woman broke her back and several fans broke bones before order was restored. Not too many 'Happy-Clappers' there that night..... There were no National Daily's on the day following the 'game' but the Echo & Post were both best sellers around Herts & Beds..... The Evening Echo's back page headline was along the lines of: L*T*N HOOLIGANS WORST IN LEAGUE! Evening Post's headlines: WATFORD HOOLIGANS WORST IN LEAGUE! Written in same office - I would love to have been a fly on the wall as the respective reporters battled it out. Sadly both papers disappeared around 1983.
I used to deliver it on Leavesden High Road and the Sherwoods Estate. Never used to read it for some reason!
I remember being totally mystified by those sendings off - Tom Whalley, Barry Endean & Alan Slough. Slough grabbed Endean from behind and pulled him down backwards with his arm around his neck. We were screaming for a penalty and the plank of a ref sent Endean off - and Slough. I'm sure it was the Evening Echo who printed a photo of the incident, showing Endean being half strangled - which is what would have happened to the ref if we'd caught him!
I used to do a paper round in the mid 1950s. 10/0 a week for seven days cycling round the outskirts of Bushey. It did however give me the means to go to all of the home games, including reserves. Thursday you got your first bit of Watford news with the West Herts Post, but Friday was the big day in more ways than one when the WO came out. The papers were rather late that day if there was some interesting stuff on the club.
OK I can scan and email a copy of the article. Please send me an email. (don't mention copyright!!! cough, splutter). I think the article hits a certain spot and I found myself nodding whilst I read it.
