In 1957 I was a star-struck kid watching Hearts in their 'glory years' - with names such as Dave Mackay, Alex Young, Willie Bauld and a certain Johnny Hamilton in their ranks. I've never regretted the later 'switch of allegiance' though...
One or two pictures here from the past. http://m.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/11736985.The_five_previous_5_0_home_league_wins/?ref=mr
What amazes me, on viewing this clip over and over again, is how static the Liverpool defence is. Three Liverpool players are standing still as Endean runs into the box.
i was at that gillingham game we totally boss there ground but i went by train and most of our lads when by coach so there was a lot of there fans wanting a fight at the station big hide scarves time lol
OK - I started watching under Bill McGarry in 1963. So that places me third behind OFH and Charlie until others reveal their longevity.
How old are you Yorkie? 61 when you started supporting Watford. When you say the Grave Bank, I take it you mean gravel or was there bodies buried under the slope? Was it really gravel? I seem to remember it as clinkers & cinders but may well be wrong. The rookery end in those days used to be occupied by the visiting supporters our supporters used to be at the Vicarage Road End. Can't remember exactly when (I suppose I could look it up) when the Terrace was built at the Rookery End (Before you could look over the wall and see Benskins Brewery and people working the Allotments) but I remember thinking how posh we were to have a new covered end. (Similar to how I felt when the Elton John Stand was completed) I digress but I too used to stand there, well my Dad did, some of the time me and my mate used to walk around the ground when they opened the gate at half time.
The Rookery terrace and roof were there in autumn '64 when I started. (Never really realised how recently it had been put up). That was always our starting point. But as has often been stated you could reach any part of the ground except of course the seats, so we would drift up through the gate in front of the Shrodells stand to watch the 2nd half If we were kicking that way, or stand on the terrace next to the old main stand where there was a burger and tea stand, or likewise on the cinder bend where young Reg D says he stood.
Pretty sure the newly formed Junior Hornets were sitting on orange boxes to the right of the main stand (as seen from this camera angle) . We ran on the pitch after the 5th goal (this one?) and we were not given the chance to sit there again.
I think it was 1961.... I am actually 61 now....... sorry it was the cinder/clinker bit..... and yes we used to walk from end to end etc
Sorry Yorkie, it was only a tongue in cheek comment asking your age, so you were 6 or 7 when you first attended a live match at Watford same as me. The ground seemed massive and lasting memory was my first floodlight match.
sorry to butin im also 61 we could have gone to the same school did ether of you go to legats way or berkhamsted
I was only taken to the reserve matches during Ken Furphy's tenure as my Dad managed a shop and, as he was actually a Millwall fan, didn't really fancy the idea of supporting Watford. A neighbour took me to Watford v Fulham in October 1971, a 2-1 defeat, with George Kirkby in the hot seat. My first 'regular' season was Mike Keen's last season after Dad had changed jobs and had taken me to Arsenal, QPR, Chelsea and Tottenham (anywhere other than Millwall or West Ham for opposite, yet very similar reasons) but it was my idea to go to Watford..." 'cos we live here Dad"..."But they're 17th in the 4th division, son!!!...." and then, as they say, the rest is history.
