https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-60994152 As I've posted on here before, I stopped buying a programme at away games many years ago when I realised there was generally nothing of interest in them about Watford beyond syndicated nonsense. Then a handful of years ago I stopped buying home programmes because almost all the content was available elsewhere online. I think most fans, certainly of my generation, initially felt they were a necessary purchase as some kind of proof of attendance at the game and indeed at one time vouchers on the programme served as tokens for purchasing tickets for big cup games. I doubt many people just threw them away. You could even buy folders to keep a whole season's worth in. Eventually, however, you accumulate so many you are inundated with them and they get moved into the loft. For what? Anyway, it's interesting to read that some clubs have actually done away with them. Should it/will it be an increasing trend?
I accumulated a few thousand programme's but realised they would go in a skip when I've gone so as an exercise have been selling them very cheaply on Ebay, if anyone is missing any for their collection, send me a pm.
Nope. Don't think I've bought one at the Vic for over 5 years. Stopped picking up away ones for the same reason as you. I think the last Watford one I got was the FA Cup Final, where it promptly went in the box of Watford stuff I keep and will probably never see the light of day again.
I used to keep the last 2 pages of the WO every week that had all the news, photos and match reports etc. Would place the new week pages inside the previous week's and make a huge 1 inch thick WO book for each season which made a great read back at the end of a season, esp a successful one. Can still remember a few of the headlines eg "WOW" when the £200k signing of Sims was announced. Must have collected them from about 78 to about 90. Much better than the programmes though i have stacks of those too. All somewhere in the loft, I only ever see them these days when I empty the loft when moving house. At least they're helping insulate the loft !
I haven't bought a programme in years but it was always amusing to read the absolute nonsense in the "opposition report" in programmes at away games. Particularly pre-social media when no-one had a fuucking clue about other teams.
I’ve got a programme somewhere from the first league game at The Walkers Stadium. I’ll have a bloody good look for it this weekend and see what it said about Watford.
I've got 2 suitcases full of them in the garage, I keep thinking of getting rid but something stops me every time, it's ridiculous. Haven't bought one for donkeys but will always buy a fanzine if I see one being sold by home/away fans.
It said Watford are a top side which must be feared, and it's important to stop Hogg heading down for Deeney.
I think the last programme I bought was for the PO Final against Leeds. Since then the W.Obs became the source of pre-match reading and now it's the internet. I binned most of my programmes a few years ago, with a few kept for posterity eg. Man Utd away 1-2 League Cup in 1978, Southampton home 7-1 in 1980, all three away UEFA Cup games from 1983, Luton 0-4 in 1997 etc.
Interesting fact. Leicester's keeper that day was born in Watford.. and he shared a name with the new stadium!
Its still the Walkers to me.. i love a bit of tradition! PS The programme can be found here for anyone who doesnt own a copy.. https://oldwatford.com/2002/08/10/10th-august-2002-new-division-one-leicester-city-2-watford-0/ Looking at who played it feels like ancient history. Allan Nielsen!
I too cannot let go of the away programmes from when I first started to go away which was the season before GT came . Southport, Uddersfield, Rochdale, Northwich Hillingdon etc
Funnily enough when we sold our house recently I found a whole box of old programmes and fanzines I bought going back to the 90s. Might dig them out if I get time this weekend and post some pics on here for old times sake.
