Alec Chamberlain

Discussion in 'Former Players Archive' started by hornetboy1, Dec 15, 2017.

  1. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    Alec Chamberlain is set to leave Watford after 20 years of unbroken service.
     
  2. ITKJim

    ITKJim Reservist

    Fantastic keeper for us back in the day. Not so sure about his coaching qualities though, I think there is a reason he was demoted not long after the Pozzos arrived.
     
  3. hornetboy1

    hornetboy1 First Team Captain

    He made the best ever save I've seen in a live match. It was against Scunthorpe in a routine league encounter. We were winning 4-0 at the time, so it didn't really matter, but the Scunthorpe forward headed the ball down at point blank range into the corner of the goal. Somehow Alec threw himself and tipped the ball over Gordon Banks style.

    Everyone, including the 10 Scunthorpe fans, gave him an instant standing ovation. He even doffed his cap in acknowledgment. Pure class.
    As a footnote, we did conceded two goals in injury time, so the final score was 4-2. Somethings never change!!


    Another memory was in an away match or a friendly, can't remember which. It was when GT came back for the second time. Fans were singing "Taylor, give us a wave, Taylor, Taylor us a wave" to which GT deliberately ignored. Alec turned around to the fans who were behind his goal and shouted to us....."call him Graham".....to which the fans responded with "Graham, give us a wave, Graham, Graham gives us a wave"......and he duly did.
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2017
  4. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Didn't know this scummer was still at the club.
     
  5. hornmeister

    hornmeister Tired

    I think he was good at the start. Got Loach and Foster into the England set-up. Without his guidance they both dissappeared back into obscurity. Not sure he's had a lot of input in recent years.
     
  6. Burnsy

    Burnsy First Team

    Could’ve just said ‘Good luck’?

    His saves from Gudjohnsen and Frandsen in the playoff final live long in the memory.
     
    Otter likes this.
  7. Halfwayline

    Halfwayline Reservist



    No other words needed..
     
  8. ITKJim

    ITKJim Reservist

    Loach had huge flaws though. Mainly command of his box and dealing with crosses which was often Alec's problem too.
     
  9. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    good shot stopper but overall a below average keeper.

    Nowhere near a legend.

    **** haircut too
     
  10. Leighton Buzzer

    Leighton Buzzer Reservist

    He has served us well over the years, and I wish him well in his future endeavours.
     
    Happy bunny likes this.
  11. Forzainglese

    Forzainglese Reservist

    What a miserable post.
    And not even right, either.
     
  12. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    side-parting fan alert.
     
  13. Luther Bassett

    Luther Bassett Reservist

    One of the nicest blokes ever to don a Watford shirt. And he had to don some pretty dodgy ones.
     
    Leighton Buzzer likes this.
  14. Jossy

    Jossy Reservist

    A club legend for me, especially when you consider that GT paid only £40k for him.

    Also had the rare ability amongst goalkeepers in being two footed, so none of this nonsense about having to pass back to his strong side or him having to run round the ball to get it on his favoured foot - Alec was comfortable clearing with both left and right.

    There was a period during the promotion season in 98/99 where he seemed to make at least one world class save per game. As well as the magnificent save mentioned by HB1, I recall another blinding save against Grimsby on the final day as I was sat directly behind the post at the Vic Road end; our 1-0 win confirmed our play-off place.

    And his heroics in not just the penalty shoot-out but throughout the whole game against Birmingham in the play-off semi-final provided me with one of my happiest memories as a Watford fan.

    Good luck to him, whatever he goes on to do.

    1999-05-20T000000Z_1_MT1ACI99298_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-DIVISION.JPG 1999-05-31T000000Z_1_MT1ACI1717775_RTRMADP_3_SPORT.JPG
     
  15. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    I had forgotten how rancid our promotion season kit was. Horrific
     
    Leighton Buzzer likes this.
  16. Hornpete

    Hornpete Squad Player

    That Birmingham game was just terrific.
     
  17. Luther Bassett

    Luther Bassett Reservist

    Indeed. If you were writing a script that involved losing a game, barely having a shot for two hours, half of it against ten men, and calling it one of the great football nights, it’d seem very far fetched.
    The goal inside two minutes felt like the beginning of a tsunami, the ground resembled a war zone and you never felt for a moment we were going through until the split second we did. Never experienced anything quite like it.
     
  18. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Not many players can play for sometime at a rival club but then become a club legend...
     
  19. Aberystwyth_Hornet

    Aberystwyth_Hornet Squad Player

    I thought he was a great keeper for us as demonstrated by the fact he played for so long. Said hello to him during a pre season match on the Isle of Mann back in 1999 and he seemed very approachable as well.
     
  20. Stevohorn

    Stevohorn Watching Grass Grow

    We have never beaten Scunthorpe 4-2.. and Alec Chamberlain has never played against them.
     
  21. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    Stockport he means .
     
  22. UEA_Hornet

    UEA_Hornet First Team Captain

    Why were 10 Scunthorpe fans at a Watford v Stockport game? The plot thickens!
     
    Stevohorn likes this.
  23. I Blame Pozzo

    I Blame Pozzo First Team

    Good luck Alec.
    So long and thanks for all the fish.
     
  24. wfcmoog

    wfcmoog Tinpot

    Pretty sure it was Roeder who signed him
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  25. Jossy

    Jossy Reservist

    Roeder was sacked in Feb 96, and GT returned as general manager/director of football and almost saved us from relegation but Leicester beat us on the final day. Pre season 96/97 GT signed Alec as backup to Kevin Miller whilst Jackett managed the team. Following season, Miller was sold, Alec became number one and GT returned to the dugout and the rest is glorious history....:)
     
  26. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    I think he made his debut when Miller was sent off at Crewe.

    And we won 2-0!!
     
  27. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    We can only dream of winning 2-0 away at the moment.
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  28. PhilippineOrn

    PhilippineOrn First Team

    I can confirm, my last English gf, Michelle from Slough, only became a Watford fan because of AC's bum.
     
  29. wfc4ever

    wfc4ever Administrator Staff Member

    With 10 men too for quite some time as well.

    Tommy Mooney and Steve Palmer scored.

    Could do with their type now in defence !!
     
  30. Teide1

    Teide1 Squad Player

    This can only mean three things:-

    1 you married Michelle from Slough

    2 All of your girl friends since Michelle have not come from these shores!

    3 I should be doing something else and not replying to you at this time of day!
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2017
  31. PhilippineOrn

    PhilippineOrn First Team

    No, God no I never married Michelle from Slough. I was married to a Shari from Sioux Falls once, but (2) is correct.
     
  32. brumhorn

    brumhorn First Year Pro

    Tsunami and war zone describes it perfectly. I was 12 at the time and couldn't believe that we'd be able to get something out of such a hostile place. One of the greatest Watford games I've been to
     
  33. Happy bunny

    Happy bunny Cheered up a bit

    Agree. It was like Dunkirk only with a bit less violence
     
  34. With A Smile

    With A Smile First Team

    I thought it was stockport and Brett Angel the striker
     
    wfc4ever likes this.
  35. Relegation Certs

    Relegation Certs Squad Player

    Why is your font always different from us pleb's?
     
    wfcSinatra likes this.

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