On This Day...

Surprisingly, in pre-GT days, we went over a year unbeaten at home between March ‘76 and April ‘77 when we missed two penalties against Brentford. Back then home records were generally better than they are now, I think mainly because travelling to away games was more arduous.

 

On this day 41 years ago we played our first game in Division One.



https://oldwatford.com/1982/08/28/28th-august-1982-division-one-watford-2-everton-0/

 

On this day 42 years ago a Nigel Callaghan goal gave us a 1-0 opening day away win at St James' Park.



https://oldwatford.com/1981/08/29/29th-august-1981-division-two-newcastle-united-0-watford-1/

 

On this day 101 years ago the first ever game at the Vic.



https://oldwatford.com/1922/08/30/30th-august-1922-division-three-south-watford-0-millwall-0/

 

....and 101 years later, we still can't score a goal.

 

On this day 41 years ago two Nigel Callaghan goals helped us thrash Southampton 4-1 at The Dell.



https://oldwatford.com/1982/08/31/31st-august-1982-division-one-southampton-1-watford-4/

 

My first ever away game. It was downhill after this!

 

That was the result that made the whole league and all supporters alike sit up and take notice.

 

'Those happy highways where I went.
And cannot come again ".

 

On this day 44 years ago we won a physical encounter with West Ham 2-0 thanks to two Luther Blissett goals.



https://oldwatford.com/1979/09/01/1st-september-1979-division-two-watford-2-west-ham-united-0/

 

Remember this clearly. It felt a real indication of our incredible progress since 1977 that here we were, playing and beating the mighty WHU at home in a regular league match. Less than 2 years earlier we'd been welcoming the likes of Darlington, Southport etc to the Vic.

 

On this day 43 years ago the amazing League Cup second leg come back against Southampton.



https://oldwatford.com/1980/09/02/2...fter-extra-time-watford-won-7-5-on-aggregate/

 

I love this thread. It should be stickied so it’s never lost. Thanks again for the ridiculous effort you put in @Old Watford.

 

I wasn't at the match, but I remember the day very well. I was on holiday with mates in the Lake District. We shared a bottle of vodka, having already been at the pub. Shall we just say the vodka didn't agree with me. I haven't touched a drop since.

Thanks for the reminder.

 

On this day 54 years ago Liverpool won 2-1 at the Vic in the League Cup. We would get revenge in the FA Cup when they returned later in the season.



https://oldwatford.com/1969/09/03/3rd-september-1969-league-cup-second-round-watford-1-liverpool-2/

 

On this day 77 years ago Football League action returned to the Vic after a 7 year stoppage due to WW2. Mansfield were the visitors and won 2-1 in front of 4,219.



https://oldwatford.com/1946/09/04/4...ision-three-south-watford-1-mansfield-town-2/

 

This is actually the highest ever attendance at Vicarage Road if you go by the number of people claiming to have been there that night. I once spoke to a chap who said he's been at the game and because he looked quite young I asked how old he was. The age he gave me meant he was born in 1986!

 

Fancy Mansfield being in Div 3 South. They’re quite northern, really.

 

What a fantastic thread…..thank you old Watford!

 

On this day 42 years ago John Barnes made his first appearance for Watford coming on as a substitute for Malcolm Poskett in our 1-1 draw at home to Oldham Athletic.



https://oldwatford.com/1981/09/05/5th-september-1981-division-two-watford-1-oldham-athletic-1/

 

Are you sure?

 

On this day 46 years ago the BBC cameras visited Vicarage Road for a feature on chairman Elton John during our 1-0 win over Grimsby Town.



https://oldwatford.com/1977/09/06/6th-september-1977-division-four-watford-1-grimsby-town-0/
https://oldwatford.com/

 

FTFY.

 

Just the 5 minutes?!

 

On this day 26 years ago Elton watched us beat Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 just 24 hours after singing at Princess Diana's funeral.



https://oldwatford.com/1997/09/07/7th-september-1997-new-division-two-watford-2-wycombe-wanderers-1/
https://oldwatford.com/
#WatfordFC

 

On this day 88 years ago we ventured abroad for the first time playing Ajax in a friendly. Billy Lane scored both goals as we won 2-0 in front of a crowd of 6000.



https://oldwatford.com/1935/09/08/8th-september-1935-friendly-ajax-0-watford-2/

 

On this day 23 years ago we beat Portsmouth 3-1 at Fratton Park with goals from Allan Nielsen, Tommy Mooney and Heidar Helguson.



https://oldwatford.com/2000/09/09/9th-september-2000-new-division-one-portsmouth-1-watford-3/

 

Pull your socks up, Claridge!

 

That 3-0 defeat was part of a poor away start at a worrying time under Ray Lewington. The first game was actually 0-2 at Leicester (first competitive game at the ‘Walkers’ stadium), then 0-3 at Portsmouth, then 0-4 at Norwich (!).

 

On this day 7 years ago a wonderful afternoon at the London Stadium.



https://oldwatford.com/2016/09/10/10th-september-2016-premier-west-ham-united-2-watford-4/