Their three league titles is better than 10 years of dominance in England and Europe at a time when any team could win the league? Better than our own three league titles across different spells, along with two continental trophies, an FA Cup and a League Cup? Forgive me if I don't seem utterly convinced by that predictable Huddersfield horseshit. Ever since football became a true adversarial sport, they have been the joke of West Yorkshire. And yes, Leeds City were forced to disband despite every other team of the day doing the same fiddling and dodgy payments, and them receiving no punishment. And Leeds United were created to show we were the 'city who passed through fire' and had 'a fair chance of rehabilitation'. **** 'em all, basically. If some supporters of Weird Wee Watford want to hate the candid, innocent, all-white purity of our new club, Leeds United, then fine.
As Exodeus said, Leeds City were simply the club that were made an example of at a time when every club was doing the same thing, although of course we don't claim their history so I don't see how it's relevent. And Watford have no reason to hate us, at least with Hudds etc.'s weird jealousy there's some semblance of a local rivalry, you just hate us because it's what's done.
You're right. It's what's done. How strange that there are a few clubs in the country who are hated. Leeds is one. Arsenal is another. And there are other clubs who are liked, for no particular reason. Watford is often in that bracket . Clubs that people from other clubs have a soft spot for...no idea why, it's just...what's done .
During the Sprake, Hunter, Bremner era Leeds became a nasty club during a nasty period for football. Nothing to be proud of and a sticky reputation. These days not so bad although I think Grumpy Ken fits the image quite well; is he on his way again with full pockets? Watford, little ol' Watford, family club loved by all, soon to become an Italian sponsored giant. coyh...
I don't actually dislike Leeds any more than any club with whom we have healthy rivalry. Like it or not we are both fairly well established Championship teams. You clearly have had a lot more success than us in the past - not surprising really. When Leeds had their fiinancial meltdown I felt for the fans. Idiots running clubs for the sake of their own egos to the detriment of the club and the supporters are a problem in the modern game. We nearly went the same way you did. What this debate illustrates is how clubs develop an image that is not manufactured by the club itself. I suspect the image of Watford is summed up by Douglas Adams - (Mostly) harmless. For Leeds the image is linked to your successes in the past and the current attitude of some to your position now. This thread was started for similar reasons. Part of our self image as Watford supporters is a very fierce rivalry with Luton. That rivalry is becoming meaningless. Where do we go now? I doubt if most Watford fans know anyone who supports Leeds so they base their decision on what they think they know about the club. Our closest team, QPR, are so meaningless to most of us, on an emotional level, that we can't see them as rivals. There are other teams who have an image that is easier to dislike - teams like Millwall, but they have had even less success than us. So, Leeds fans, don't take what is said here so seriously. I personally, would have no problem with you getting promoted this season, provided you do it behind us. And next season I would be absolutely delighted if you finished above that lot who used to play in Norwich's colours. (Remember this comes from someone with Huddersfield heritage!)
When I started following Watford I always saw Brentford and Southend as the rivals, not Luton as we were down the pile and they were up near the top. I could never really understand the anti-Luton feeling of the fans, until we played them regularly; and especially after their antics regarding Wilf Rostron. I've even been to Kenilworth Road, never again, a horrid place. As to rivalry now, certainly not Luton Town, but who else? After the Charlton fans called our team scum it will have to be them this season.
I have no idea why Leeds were chosen as the main team Watford fans dislike really...have no real love or hate for anyone miles away really (or that close apart from Luton!) and TBH I think most of our supporters would feel the same. Know they aren't that popular though..but then nor are most of the bigger teams in the country. Don't think our non-league friends will too happy tonight up the road..losing albeit with 10 men at home to Braintree! Off topic maybe but I have often wondered if Liverpool were disliked like Man U are during their domination of english and european football in the 70/80s or was there a feeling of good will in seeing english side (mainly with british/irish players ofcourse) doing well?
I went on my mates stag do earlier in the year, we stayed in Liverpool for the weekend and on his request we all went to watch his beloved QPR away at Blackburn. So he'd sorted out a bus to take us from Liverpool to the ground and the subject of rivalries came up amongst the 20 odd lads present. There were fans of around ten different sides there and every single one of us expressed a strong dislike for Leeds. I've got Leeds supporting friends, I've never got into a row with any Leeds fans and none of them have ever done anything directly wrong to me. I'm certainly not a person that does things 'just because it's the done thing'. So it has to be something else. The only thing I can put my finger on is the 'big club' arrogance that they still seem to display- "weird wee watford" for example. Perhaps I'm not so good at putting things into words. It's a curiousity.
I watched a great deal of football during the 70's and 80's and never had the feeling that Liverpool were generally hated for their success, (other than by Man. UTD fans of course). The reason is probably that Liverpool's dominance was not seen as being based on financial clout - even during this period United were the richer club of the two. I do not hate success as such, but rather the combination of economic power and the success it can buy. Man. UTD, however hated they may be, are a club based on continuity and have always been a tradition based great club - Chelsea in comparison are a second rate club elevated to success only by the whim of a multi millionaire who knows nothing of either continuity or tradition - so for me Chelsea are definately number one on the hate list by a long way. The idea of hating Luton because they are, or were, our local rivals doesn't apply for me. Obviously I've been to derby matches both at the Vic. and at Kenilworth road and was as much swept up with the tide of unfriendly rivalry as anyone else. However, I would rather that someone born in Luton supported their home town club rather than Arsenal or Chelsea. When it comes to local rivalry a lot of fans could do a lot worse than looking to Merseyside for an example of really healthy rivalry. Although the two clubs desparately want to beat each other I have not met one single Liverpool fan who would not support Everton against a non Merseyside club. Fans in Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham or London could learn a lot from this.
I have a dislike for Leeds due to an incident in October 1988, which was the only time I've been scared at a football match, and I have seen a game at Luton. In those days I was a Junior Hornet and we used to play matches against the junior supporters of other teams in the morning before the match, have lunch with them and sit in their family areas and returned the hospitality when they came to the Vic. We won 1-0 to stay top, and keep Leeds in the relegation zone. After the game, a few Leeds fans decided to wait outside the main entrance for either the manager or chairman. As we were away fans who had been sitting in a home area, we were kept back as the Police didn't want us being turned upon. I looked out of the window of the family room and as we could see the main entrance, I saw those "fans" and that scared me, even though their anger wasn't directed towards us. I was the oldest JH there, 3 months shy of my 16th birthday, so I dread to think if any of the younger ones saw that and if they did, how scared they were.
