Are you sure? I only recall this one.. The starburst free kick pic did appear on a programme cover though.. https://oldwatford.com/1983/01/#jp-carousel-9506
Here's a bit of Watford fc history I randomly and inexplicably discovered tonight. Jock Strain http://vintagefootballers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/StrainJockWatford1922.jpg Spotted by manager Harry Kent as a Bo’ness trialist in a Scottish League Second Division match, he was signed by Watford for “a small fee” in November 1921 to stiffen the defence. During his 6 season stint at Vicarage Road he scored 6 goals in 193 appearances before returning to Scotland in August 1927. Not sure when he was born but would have lived through WW1.
Actually ive found him here.. http://www.watfordfcarchive.com/downloads/players/+Smith-Strouts.pdf Full name Joseph Strain but known as "Jock" at Vicarage Road. "A hard‐drinking Scot" Born in 1894 and passed away in 1973, so would have lived through both World wars.
Sorry yes, I misremembered. The picture seemed familiar so I may have confused it with the programme cover
Ah yes, that picture. I've got that on my dining-room wall - about A3 size, I would say. The so-called 'explosion free-kick': I've often wondered whether it should be revived. It surprised and confused quite a few defences. Also referees, unfortunately: One ref awarded a free-kick to the opposition when Watford did it! Much to the amusement of Oliver Phillips. GT was a very inventive manager. Edit: Ah, I see from a couple of other posts it had other names, as well.
I thought it was Manchester City, hence the light blue fence colour and the light blue supporters clothing? Could be wrong.
I'd say that's the Paxton Road end in the pic. Spurs had some blue in their kit back then and had blue fences.. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B3PEKU1CYAABGLk.jpg:large Also looks like a standing paddock in front and they had seats behind both goals at Maine Road then.
If Spurs, then we won that 0 - 1, with Taylor scoring a late winner, I think. Your version is a little bit cropped. From left to right: ??, Jenkins, Barnes, Taylor, Sims, Jackett, Rostron and arm belongs to Nigel Callaghan. But I can't make out ??, whoever he is.
Gotcha. Sorry Steve. I remember Luther sitting amongst the travelling 'Orns in the Paxton Road end when Cally put that cross over that I think Thomas volleyed into his own net. Best own goal I've ever seen.
That must have been the famous 5-1 game.. which sadly i didnt go to. It's a minor point but he would have been sat in the Park Lane end as the Paxton was the home end
So Jock Strain would have been 22 in 1918 which would have made him prime volunteering/conscription age throughout WW1. Then would have played 193 games for the Horns (actually well before the Horns so probably the blues or something). What an early life, with a different set of challenges and horrors to what we face today.
Jock Strain appeared in an early episode of Hornet Heaven, I think I remember. Similar kind of gag about his name, rounded off with something saucier about Tuggy Beach - who, these days, sounds like a location on ITV's Love Island.
I have this on my study wall framed bought as a 3' x 2' poster many years ago, will stay there until my executors remove it!
Because the pitch slopes down towards the Rookery end.. and the stand was obviously built on the level.
Read a few posts after this, explains it a little bit more: http://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/stadium-expansion.48315/page-64#post-2531884
On the anniversary of GT's untimely death, a quick reminder of just one of the things he did at the club that made him so special - raising money for the family terrace fund: (from oldwatford.com)
Pic from the family enclosure, I think taken on the last day of our prem season against Coventry, May 2000. Any forum members captured in the shot?
The family terrace was opened for a fixture also against Coventry. Only it was the first game of the season.
Is that not the fake family enclosure though that was only put up for the Premier league season using temporary seating? The original, where I sat for my first game, was a lot smaller. They took the seats out a few years before from the original.
It is, yeah. But the photo was looking back across the whole open enclosure part alongside the east stand, so I lumped it all in together. I know we all used to get wet on the Vic Road terrace - but once the covered stand was built, it always made me wonder why the club still put families in the only unprotected-from-the-elements part of the ground that remained!!
A new find today.. and what a cracking shot. I believe there are 7 Watford players in this pic. One is pretty much obscured.. but who are the 6 visible?
Close but no cigar. One missing who is clear in the photo. Good guess for the hidden player. He played in this game but ive a feeling its John Mac.
