Around 35 years ago my dad introduced me to my local club. I suspect it may have been earlier but my first real memory is being taken to watch us play Peterborough away 1-0. I think Luther got the goal and maybe someone can look that up. Since then I have had experiences a fan of a club such as Watford would never realistically have dreamed of. Our humble little Hertfordshire club jumped through the divisions before anyone had really heard of Wimbledon, causing big Cup upsets along the way almost as a little hobby on the side. We went on to beat all of the big boys, OK Livepool were almost exempt but the likes of Man United and Tottenham were handed 5-1 thrashings in our time. Arsenal were done 3-1 in their own back yard in the Cup. We finished runners-up in League and Cup and produced one of the best wingers of all time. I was lucky enough to be taken to Anfield and the Cup Final among others. Recent times have perhaps been even more extraordinary in the current climate. Not just one but two seasons in the Prem and multiple visits to Cup semi-finals. We did however, lose our way a little from what it means to be Watford the family and community club, we got caught up in the rich mans game and are still paying for it. My father was diagnosed last year with pancreatic cancer. The doctors and surgeons did a wonderful job but in the end were unable to stop the disease. He is being given drugs to make him comfortable but I have effectively had to say my goodbyes as when he is ocassionally awake he will not be lucid. He is Watford through and through and even though he would bitch and moan about the teams performance, often even when we had won, he would be there through thick and thin. A few weeks ago I emailed Julian Winter. I really did not know what I could do to help my dad but I asked Julian if he would be so kind as to try and arrange for Graham Taylor to give my dad a call, maybe spend 5 minutes going over old times. Mr Winter emailed me back immediately saying he would see what he could do. The next morning I received an email from his PA saying GT would be only too happy to give my dad a call and sorted out a time. I went home to visit my folks and take the call. When I got there my dad seemed fairly tired so I was worried if he would be up for taking the call but once he got over the shock of having GT on the other end he perked up and was buzzing (pun intended)! For the next half an hour I left my dad chatting before thanking Graham for taking time out of his busy schedule to make my dads day. This is what our club is all about. Whatever happens on or off the field as long as we have the ethos of Graham Taylor and what he has bought to the club we have something we can be proud of. Clearly Julian and I'm sure many others at the club share this ideal and as long as we have people like this involved Watford FC's spirit will live on. Sorry for the ramble. See you at the ground sometime!
Si, that's a wonderful, sad, uplifting story. Thank you so much for sharing it, and i do hope that when your dad's time is up, it's peaceful and painfree. And i agree, GT, along with the whole club, has got that feeling back at Watford, long may it continue.
That is fantastic Si (and made my eyes moist) You are so so right! I wonder how many club chairman and CEO`s would have set that up! Hope your dad is as pain free as possible! and thank you for making my day! five * article from me!
Great posting Si ... all the very best. It was my dad took me to Watford for the first time and I have great and fond memories.
Si - a great story - I tried to give you a rep point for that but it seems I have given you one too recently - so I will but later when the system allows it - maybe H or N will give you one My wife's brother died of Pancrreatic cancer 4 years ago - terribly fast but I suppose that limited the suffering - but he was only just turned 50 and left 3 kids. Thanks for the uplifting story
Leo your wish is my command ! rep given Was my Dad that first took me to the Vic ,which got me hooked!
i can't give Si a rep point, it won't let me, sorry Leonardo my dad wouldn't have ever taken me to football lol...i can't remember who i first went with but i started being a regular at Vicarage Road only when my son was old enough...to walk! lol
My dad wouldn't know a football if it hit him. My first games were going to see Hayes town with my brother and my first Watford game was with friends from school
My grandad was a lifelong fan and died of terminal cancer. The week he died he was due to sit on the bench with GT, that man is an absolute legend somebody you'd be proud to call a friend...
This thread is about what it's like to be a Watford supporter. Si, that really is a wonderfully life-soaked thing to write. All the very best to you, your Dad and the rest of your family.
Hello everyone and thank you for your kind wishes. My father passed away last Saturday and funeral was yesterday. Back at work today in Reading proudly wearing my 125th anniversary Watford shirt. I posted this as a reminder that sometimes, when things are at their worst, people can come through for you. That includes friends, family and even people you have never met such as the great crowd on here and those at the club. My dad was lucky enough to have had a very good and fulfilling life and he never stopped reminding me of that. He will be missed. Thank you once again.
My Heartfelt condolences Si ,So glad you managed to set up that phone call for him with GT! I guess we will have another loyal Hornet looking down at us from above! Be strong for the rest of your family!
Si, Thank you for sharing this story with us. Not only does it show that the club do still have fans at the core of their thinking, but it also makes it plain that the people who gather here are a pretty caring bunch. I just read this to Mme and her response was that "GT would do it because that is the type of man that he is." Best wishes to you and your family at this sad time.
My condolences to you and your family, Si - a death in the family is never an easy thing to get over & only time heals. Your story prompted me to think - on the 'sun always shines on a hornet' map, we may need to designate an area for 'Hornet's in Heaven'.
Si - my sincere condolences to you too - and thank again for posting your story which reminds us of some good things in life
My condolences to you and your family, Si and thank you so much for sharing this with us -it could not have been easy. It does demonstrate exactly what Watford is all about - a community of many that really care about each other. I hope that you and your family comes to terms with your sad loss in good time and that when you think of your dear Dad you will do so with a big smile on your face...that is exactly what he would have wanted. My thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult days my friend..
