On This Day...

On this day 56 years ago Barry Dyson scored 4 and Stewart Scullion got one as we beat Northampton Town 5-1 at Vicarage Road.



https://oldwatford.com/1968/04/02/12th-april-1968-division-three-watford-5-northampton-town-1-2/

 

On this day 26 years ago GT achieved his fourth Watford promotion as we drew 1-1 at Bristol City to ensure we'd be playing in the second tier next season.


https://oldwatford.com/1998/04/13/13th-april-1998-new-division-two-bristol-city-1-watford-1/

 

On this day 40 years ago we reached the FA Cup Final for the first time, George Reilly's goal giving us a 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle at Villa Park.



https://oldwatford.com/1984/04/14/14th-april-1984-fa-cup-semi-final-plymouth-argyle-0-watford-1/

 

On this day 36 years ago, our final 80's win over Arsenal. Our record over them that decade was P14 W9 D1 L4 F28 A18.



https://oldwatford.com/1988/04/15/15th-april-1988-division-one-arsenal-0-watford-1/

 

Those were the days!

 

On this day 47 years ago Mike Keen's final game in charge of Watford was very eventful as we beat Huddersfield 2-0 after being reduced to nine men.



https://oldwatford.com/1977/04/16/16th-april-1977-division-four-watford-2-huddersfield-town-0/

 

The game when an ‘Uddersfield crew calling themselves the Yorkshire Republican Army ‘invaded’ the Vic Road end. Fun days.

 

A sensational and tireless performance from Keith Mercer in this one, occupying the Huddersfield defence single-handed and scoring twice while we were down to 9 men.

 

On this day 18 years ago, Aidy asks everyone to stay behind after our 2-1 win over Ipswich so he can stage a penalty shoot-out ahead of our involvement in the playoffs.



https://oldwatford.com/2006/04/17/17th-april-2006-championship-watford/

 

That season really was fun!!

 

On this day 9 years ago, we moved to the top of the Championship as a Craig Cathcart goal gave us a 1-0 win over Birmingham City.



https://oldwatford.com/2015/04/18/18th-april-2015-championship-watford-1-birmingham-city-0/

 

On this day 68 years ago we welcomed Rampla Juniors from Uruguay to Vicarage Road for a friendly on their tour of the UK. We won 4-2 with goals from Les Graham, Ben Madden, Chris Adams and George Catleugh.



https://oldwatford.com/1956/04/19/19th-april-1956-friendly-watford-4-rampla-juniors-uruguay-2/

 

On this day 33 years ago, we closed the gap to just one point in the battle to escape relegation from Division Two as we beat Charlton Athletic 2-1, Willie Falconer scoring both goals.



https://oldwatford.com/1991/04/20/20th-april-1991-division-two-watford-2-charlton-athletic-1/

 

That was a hell of an escape that season. Something like 7 wins in the last 10 after no wins in the previous 13 and looking dead and buried ?

 

Yes. We actually lost the very last game of the season once we were safe, but it was 23 points from 10 games before that, which was amazing for a team rock bottom of the division. A great day when we stayed up at Oxford too.

 

Up until the run started, we'd only managed 5 wins all season and none since Boxing Day. The defeat we had had home to Blackburn in mid March we were 7 points from safety with 11 to play, we were as good as down.

 

Yes i was there.

 

On this day 37 years ago John Barnes scored his 85th and final goal for Watford as we beat Luton Town 2-0 at Vicarage Road.



https://oldwatford.com/1987/04/21/21st-april-1987-division-one-watford-2-luton-town-0/

 

On this day 29 years ago we beat Bristol City 1-0 with a goal from Kevin Phillips as the Rookery Stand opened for the first time.



https://oldwatford.com/1995/04/22/22nd-april-1995-new-division-one-watford-1-bristol-city-0/

 

On this day 28 years ago, the last time two players scored a hat-trick in a Watford game as David Connolly and Craig Ramage each got 3 in our 6-3 win at home to Grimsby Town.



https://oldwatford.com/1996/04/23/23rd-april-1996-new-division-one-watford-6-grimsby-town-3/

 

Six years today, April 23 2018, we didn’t fire a Head Coach.

 

3 years ago today, April 24th 2021, we were promoted back to the Premier League.

Just about the last really happy day we all had as supporters.

 

I honestly don’t count that season as we weren’t able to be there. (Well, I saw a 1-0 home defeat to Cardiff.) For me the last really happy day was the first day back after Covid against Villa. It’s been pretty much grindingly grim ever since.

 

Indeed we were. An Ismaila Sarr penalty gave us a 1-0 win at home to Millwall.



https://oldwatford.com/2021/04/24/24th-april-2021-championship-watford-1-millwall-0/

 

What about the many draws Tom Cleverley has masterminded? They've all been super happy days for some fans...

 

On this day nine years ago, one of the best away days as promotion was secured on the south coast.



https://oldwatford.com/2015/04/25/25th-april-2015-championship-brighton-hove-albion-0-watford-2/

 

An incredible day. Will never be repeated.

 

On this day 42 years ago, our youth team won the first leg of their FA Youth Cup final tie at Manchester United.



https://oldwatford.com/1982/04/26/2...inal-first-leg-manchester-united-2-watford-3/

 

Watched the second leg at the Vic. Hughes, Whiteside, Blackmore....I wonder whatever became of them ? Worth a google.

 

Whiteside was a superb player but injury ruined him at a fairly early age I seem to remember
Edit - 26 years old when he retired

 

Yes it did. Finished at 26.

 

11 years ago today Chalobah’s finest moment for us!

 

That goal at Leicester ?