please log in to view this image WEST BROMWICH ALBION v WATFORD please log in to view this image Venue: The Hawthorns Date: 16th April 2016 Kick Off: 15.00 BST please log in to view this image Our Hosts History. The club was founded in 1878 as West Bromwich Strollers, by workers from George Salter's Spring works. They became West Bromwich Albion in 1880 when they added Albion to their name which was an area where some of the players lived and worked. please log in to view this image The Albion team of 1888, FA Cup winners and Football League founder members. Albion won the Football League title in 1919–20 for the only time in their history, but in 1953–54 Albion came close to being the first team in the 20th century to win the League and Cup double, beating Preston North End in the cup but finishing runners up behind Wolves in the league. They moved to the Hawthorns in 1900 having outgrown the previous grounds, and it received it's name as the land it was built on was covered with hawthorn bushes that had to be cleared. The record attendance at the Hawthorns was on 6th March 1937, when 64,815 spectators saw Albion beat Arsenal 3–1 in the FA Cup. Its capacity today is 26,850 following the change to all seater stadia. The Last Match: Saturday 15th August 2015. Vicarage Road. Final Score: Watford 0-0 West Bromwich Albion. THE points were shared at Vicarage Road in Watford’s first home Premier League game of 2015/16. Despite dominating for large periods of the game, Quique Sanchez Flores’ side couldn’t capitalise on their chances and had to settle for a solitary point. HORNETS XI: Gomes (GK); Nyom, Cathcart, Prödl, Anya; Capoue, Behrami; Ighalo, Jurado (Berghuis, 83), Layun (Abdi, 55); Deeney (c). Subs not used: Gilmartin (GK), Angella, Holebas, Watson, Vydra. Booked: Capoue (66), Nyom (90+1) BAGGIES XI: Myhill (GK); Dawson, McAuley, Yacob, Olsson; Morrison, Gardner (Rondon, 61), Fletcher (c), Brunt; Lambert (McClean, 69), Berahino (McManaman 89). Subs not used: Rose (GK), Chester, McClean, Lescott, Anichebe. Booked: Lambert (66) Attendance: 20,011 (2,045 West Brom) Referee: Paul Tierney With West Brom having their remaining games against teams looking for top of the table finishes, they are really hoping for a win as their owner says they need the place money. Watford have their FA Cup semi-final on their minds, and the head coach has said players will be given the chance to show they have earned the right to play at Wembley. Team news: West Brom striker Salomon Rondon is fit after recovering from the back injury he suffered last weekend. Alex Pritchard is doubtful with a hip injury and could miss out, along with Callum McManaman. James Morrison is expected to miss three more games. Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue has recovered from the knock he suffered in last weekend's draw with Everton. 14 please log in to view this image West Bromwich Albion 32 10 10 12 31 39 -8 40 15 please log in to view this image Watford 32 10 8 14 31 37 -6 38 With so little between the teams a draw would seem likely, but as we know form has not been a good guide this season to results. Wherever You Are In The World- Enjoy The Game
I reckon that even if we lose and Sunderland win we'll still be safe. That would put Norwich seven points behind us with four games left - and their next two games are against Arsenal & Man U. Not mathematically certain I know - but I can't see them getting any points from those two. And then, of course, they have to play us...
great thread M Frenchie, thanks so much! To quote a fair few, this has 'bore draw' written all over it, which is why i'm predicting a 1-3 scoreline! lol. A couple of days ago Alan Brazil was going through the weekend fixtures on Talksport and when he got to West Brom v Watford, he decided there was nothing more to say, except that the game was being played. Harsh i thought, but i can see why. We are very similar teams and neither score much, so i'm looking forward to breakfast, coz that may be the highlight of my day! See you there if you're going! COYH!!
Nice one OFH, many thanks Really looking forward to this game. Hopefully I will witness a win at The Baggies for the first time, this will be the fourth visit! I took a gamble on this game not being moved for TV and booked the train tickets months ago - at £9 return each on the Virgin Train from MK, it was a bit of a bargain! So train to Brum and few beers near New Street and then the train to The Hawthorns. I will go for a 1-2 Watford win (luckily for H as she has stolen MY 1-3 prediction)
Need to go to Snow Hill for the train or Bull Street/Snow Hill for the tram - both go to the Hawthorns, no trains from New Street go to the Hawthorns - just saying in case, is all.
Yeah, train from MK to New Street - few beers there (there are 2 Spoons between New Street and Snow Hill), then walk to Snow Hill and train to The Hawthorns. £9 return from MK to The Hawthorns
Exceptional value - good luck! I remember the last (Boothroyd) visit to the PL, booking in advance for the Newcastle game at St. James' and paying £8 each way from Kings Cross to Newcastle! Mind I did book in September and the game was in December - looking back I realise how lucky I was that they didn't reschedule the game - the rail tickets were for that day and for specific timed trains - one false move from S*y...... However cheapest match I ever did was for 1s 3d all in going to Leeds Road Huddersfield the season (and evening) that they went up to Division 1 (Frank Worthington and all - think it was 1970). I hitched a lift from Garston, all the way in one lift, to Huddersfield town centre, got a complimentary ticket for the main stand from one of the Watford players in the supporters club before the game (can't remember which one) and bummed a lift from the supporters coach on the way back by putting the 1s 3d into the driver's whip-round. I wonder if I was included in the attendance figure of nearly 28,000 there that evening. The team repaid me by losing 3-1! Of course the beer money spent in the supporters club is not included in that total - I would have spent it that night anyway.
Yeah, booking early is a risk, with both the TV games and the Cup games, but worth it. I love those stories about supporters hitching lifts and skanking a ticket...great stuff.
Better pubs than those Spoons around there if you know where to look - The Wellington and the Post Office Vaults to name just two.
Sadly I don't get to many games these days - I'm one of these glory hunters, half-and-half scarf wearing, flask of tea at half time drinking, "sit down in you in front of me" moaning, "in my day it was much better getting beat at Darlington - that was real football" whinging, quiet at games types. But I'd be happy to drip feed some recollections on the board over time - when I can remember them! Many of the folks I used to go with have many more, encompassing games at Lowestoft, Carlisle, Barrow, Workington, Torquay, Hartlepool and the afore-mentioned Darlo! Maybe I'll ask them to contribute if it is of interest.
Steven Berghuis and Ikechi Anya have both travelled, but Craig Cathcart has not according to WD Sport.
